With a Fall semester in full swing Oxnard, Ventura and Moorpark College are expecting a group of professional peers who will serve as an assessment team for an significant inspection this coming October.
The Department of Education has granted the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges to conduct the inspection.
“My primary focus for this inspection is to have the best site visit,” said Oxnard College President Dr. Richard Duran. “I want the evaluators to have access to whatever they need [including faculty and students], in order for them to validate us against the standards.”
Educational institutions are given the rank of being accredited as a symbol of standards, quality and excellence. Through accreditation, students are able to transfer their credits to other regionally accredited colleges or universities, and institutions qualify for financial aid eligibility on this basis.
At Oxnard College as many as thirteen follow-up reports had to be addressed from the previous accreditation inspection since 2004. The inspection team will review paperwork and conduct interviews of faculty, staff and students throughout their four-day visit.
Ed Knudsen, executive vice president of Moorpark College said the process has been a long one, saying they began the process in Spring 2009, which was the beginning of MC’s Self Identification Process.
“I fully believe the accreditation will be reaffirmed,” said Knudsen. “[It will] commend the work the faculty and staff have done.”
Connie Owens, president of the Classified Senate at OC was involved in completing the Self Study Report for the Accreditation.
“This inspection should be very important to students,” said Owens. “If we remain accredited, students will be able to pay for their education through the financial aid programs that are authorized to us through accreditation.”
According to Ventura College Executive Vice President Ramiro Sanchez the accreditation team will be talking to all the components of the school including faculty, staff, maintenance and even some students.
“As far as the regular study week goes, I don’t anticipate much interruption,” said Sanchez. “They may talk to students randomly.”
Robert Pond contributed reporting to this story.
