Accreditation Background

Accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution that has been found to meet or exceed stated criteria of educational quality. Institutions voluntarily seek accreditation and it is conferred by non-governmental bodies.

 

Accreditation has two fundamental purposes: 

 

• To assure the quality of the institution; and
•  To assist in the improvement of the institution.

 

Accreditation of an institution by an institutional accrediting body certifies to the general public that the institution:

• Has appropriate purposes.
• Has the resources needed to accomplish its purposes.
• Can demonstrate that it is accomplishing its purposes.
• Gives reason to believe it will continue to accomplish its purposes.  
   

Los Angeles Southwest College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.  Currently, Los Angeles Southwest College is completing its self-study for the Spring 2006 reaccredidation report submitted to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).  For more information, please contact the Accreditation Faculty Co-Chairs Allison Moore or Glenn Yoshida.

 

The Organization of Our Self-Study

 

Strategic Value I:  Serve Student’s Needs

 

 

Strategic Value II:  Quality Education

 

 

Strategic Value III:  Commitment to Students

 

 

Strategic Value IV: Leadership

 

 

 

Strategic Value I: Serve Student’s Needs

Serving student’s needs by

•  Listening
• Interacting with students
• Providing feedback and comprehensive services and programs
• Monitoring and modeling good behavior

 

Subcommittee I:  Improving Institutional Effectiveness – The institution demonstrates a conscious effort to produce and support student learning, measures that learning, assesses how well learning is occurring, and makes changes to improve student learning. The institution also organizes its key processes and allocates its resources to effectively support student learning. The institution demonstrates its effectiveness by providing 1) evidence of the achievement of student learning outcomes and 2) evidence of institution and program performance. The institution uses ongoing and systematic evaluation and planning to refine its key processes and improve student learning.

 

Improving Institutional Effectiveness (.doc)

 

Improving Institutional Effectiveness (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subcommittee II:  Student Support Services - The institution recruits and admits diverse students who are able to benefit from its programs, consistent with its mission. Student support services address the identified needs of students and enhance a supportive learning environment. The entire student pathway through the institutional experience is characterized by a concern for student access, progress, learning, and success. The institution systematically assesses student support services using student learning outcomes, faculty and staff input, and other appropriate measures in order to improve the effectiveness of these services.

 

Student Support Services (.doc)

 

 

Student Support Services (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subcommittee III:  Library and Student Support Services - Library and other learning support services for students are sufficient to support the institution’s instructional programs and intellectual, aesthetic, and cultural activities in whatever format and wherever they are offered. Such services include library services and collections, tutoring, learning centers, computer laboratories, and learning technology development and training. The institution provides access and training to students so that library and other learning support services may be used effectively and efficiently. The institution systematically assesses these services using student learning outcomes, faculty input, and other appropriate measures in order to improve the effectiveness of the services.

 

 

Library and Learning Support Services (.doc)

 

Library and Learning Support Services (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strategic Value II: Quality Education

• Comprehensiveness
• High quality faculty and staff
• Student-driven scheduling
• Campus appearance

 

 

The institution offers high-quality instructional programs in recognized and emerging fields of study that culminate in identified student outcomes leading to degrees, certificates, employment, or transfer to other higher education institutions or programs consistent with its mission. Instructional programs are systematically assessed in order to assure currency, improve teaching and learning strategies, and achieve stated student learning outcomes. The provisions of this standard are broadly applicable to all instructional activities offered in the name of the institution.

 

 

 

 

Quality Education (.doc)

 

 

 

 

Quality Education (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

  

Strategic Value III: Commitment to Students

 

 

 

Consistency:  You come, you stay, you do your best Planning, Share….a willingness to be a part of

 

 

 

 

Subcommittee I:  Mission of the College - The institution demonstrates strong commitment to a mission that emphasizes achievement of student learning and to communicating the mission internally and externally. The institution uses analyses of quantitative and qualitative data and analysis in an ongoing and systematic cycle of evaluation, integrated planning, implementation, and re-evaluation to verify and improve the effectiveness by which the mission is accomplished.

 

 

 

 

Mission of the College (.doc)

 

 

 

 

Mission of the College (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subcommittee II:  Technological Resources - Technology resources are used to support student learning programs and services and to improve institutional effectiveness. Technology planning is integrated with institutional planning.

 

 

 

 

Technological Resources (.doc)

 

 

 

 

Technological Resources (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subcommittee III:  Research & Planning - Physical resources, which include facilities, equipment, land, and other assets, support student learning programs and services and improve institutional effectiveness. Physical resource planning is integrated with institutional planning.  Also, this committee addresses the financial resources of the college.  Are they sufficient to support student learning programs and services and to improve institutional effectiveness?   Does the distribution of resources support the development, maintenance, and enhancement of programs and services? Does the institution plan and manage its financial affairs with integrity and in a manner that ensures financial stability? The level of financial resources provides a reasonable expectation of both short-term and long-term financial solvency. Financial resources planning is integrated with institutional planning.

 

 

 

 

Physical Resources of the College (.doc)

 

 

 

 

Physical Resources of the College (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

  

Strategic Value IV: Leadership

	Leadership Training
	Reduce abuse of leaders / respect and support
	Recognition
	Promote from within / grow your own

 

 

 

Subcommittee I: Decision Making Roles & Processes - The institution recognizes that ethical and effective leadership throughout the organization enables the institution to identify institutional values, set and achieve goals, learn, and improve.

 

 

 

 

Decision Making Roles and Processes (.doc)

 

 

 

 

Decision Making Roles and Processes (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subcommittee II: Board & Administrative Organization - In addition to the leadership of individuals and constituencies, institutions recognize the designated responsibilities of the governing board for setting policies and of the chief administrator for the effective operation of the institution. Multi-college districts/systems clearly define the organizational roles of the district/system and the colleges.

 

 

 

 

Board and Administrative Organization (.doc)

 

 

 

 

Board and Administrative Organization (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subcommittee III: Human Resources - The institution employs qualified personnel to support student learning programs and services wherever offered and by whatever means delivered, and to improve institutional effectiveness. Personnel are treated equitably, are evaluated regularly and systematically, and are provided opportunities for professional development. Consistent with its mission, the institution demonstrates its commitment to the significant educational role played by persons of diverse backgrounds by making positive efforts to encourage such diversity. Human resource planning is integrated with institutional planning.

 

 

 

 

Human Resources (.doc)

 

 

 

 

Human Resources (Standards of Evidence) (.doc)