All three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District are now off of probation, as of February 2013, which means that all programs and classes will continue to be transferable.
VCCCD Chancellor Dr. Jamilla Moore said that she is glad that the students no longer have to worry about the accreditation status of the schools.
“It is so nice to wake up and not have to worry about accreditation and budget cuts,” said Moore.
AJ Valenzuela, student trustee for VCCCD, said that he was very excited when he heard the news of our re-affirmed accreditation status.
“Just like everyone else in the district, I was ecstatic with a huge grin on my face,” said Valenzuela in an email interview. “Coincidentally, I went to all three schools that day as well, spreading the message.”
The district was originally put on probation in fall 2012 and was given seven recommendations to correct the Board’s policies. These recommendations include planning, communications with the colleges, policy, decision-making, and professional development. If these recommendations had not been addressed, then the district could have lost its accreditation.
Moorpark College President Dr. Pam Eddinger said that the issue of probation made the district aware of some things that they needed to work on.
These include making sure they have the right governance structure and good paths for communication, that the trustees conduct professional development, that they formalize their district-wide planning,and so on.
“That we have addressed these to the Accrediting Commission’s satisfaction indicates that our district is an organization that is capable of self-reflection, and that we can learn to grow,” said Eddinger in an email interview. “That is a terrific fact to celebrate.”
All three colleges, Moorpark, Ventura,and Oxnard, the district office, and all of the trustees worked towards the same goals to help get the district off of probation.
Eddinger said that the re-affirmation was never at risk, despite the imposed sanction of probation.
“The removal of the probation status meant that our college and district is now 100 percent compliant with accrediting standards,” said Eddinger.
Valenzuela said that being re-affirmed is the first step in continuing perpetual improvement in the district.
All of the trustees must now continue to work together as a team and hold each other accountable as required by the code of ethics. Moore said that when accreditation is on the line it weighs heavily on the students and faculty, which is one reason why they work so hard to get off probation as quickly as possible.
“That’s our job, to make sure we advocate for students and protect them,” said Moore.
The District Council on Accreditation and Planning committee is now starting the Master Plan, which will help the district continue to improve for the next five years.
“This is the best opportunity for students to have an input in how their institutions are [run],” said Valenzuela.
