The Accreditation Oversight Committee (AOC) met on Monday morning, November 17, 2014 to continue the work that never stops: ensuring the ongoing accreditation of Skyline College. Far from being a once-every-six-year event, the AOC maintains focus on accreditation issues in between the intense cycles of the self-evaluation process. As such, the AOC discussed two important substantive change proposals that will be submitted to the Commission: the first addressing the ongoing growth of Distance Education offerings that are resulting in more degrees and certificates available more than 50% online (a threshold that activates the substantive change process), and the second involving the expected development of a Baccalaureate degree at Skyline College. Both submissions are scheduled to be submitted by March 5, 2015.
The AOC also established three Work Teams that will be helping to develop infrastructure to provide greater support for the College with regards to accreditation. The Accreditation Evidence Team will be working to identify systems for use in tracking and storing the volumes of evidence that are used in the writing of the self-evaluation study. The Professional Development Team has been tasked with identifying individuals willing to support the writing of the next self-evaluation study, a process slated to begin in 2017-18, and helping those individuals and the campus engage in professional development opportunities to be well prepared for that process.
Finally, the Accreditation Standards Review Team was formed in order to review and address the newly revised Standards released in July of 2014. These standards contain new requirements from the Department of Education, addressing topics such as Distance Education and Institutional-Set Standards for Student Success and Achievement. It will be the role of the work team, and the AOC as a whole, to ensure that Skyline continues to meet all the standards of accreditation as they evolve.
The next meeting of the AOC will be held Monday, February 9, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Article by Aaron McVean
