Skyline College put its best foot forward over the past two years to engage in an extensive self evaluation. That evaluation was followed up with a visit by an external evaluation team who looked at how well Skyline College meets the standards set forth by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). The team filed a report with the Commission who then met in January to consider the status of the college. Skyline College received both commendations and recommendations.
The team commended the College on:
• The morale and enthusiasm which is “palpable and infectious.”
• Our commitment to learning and the civility and respect they had the opportunity to observe.
• The students first environment and our shared vision of social justice, integrity, diversity and access.
• Its spirit of innovation, creativity – noting such programs as SparkPoint, CTTL, Learning Communities, Boot-Up for New Faculty amongst many. The entire campus, administration, faculty, staff, and student leadership were all commended for our compassion and sincere valuing of the diverse life experiences at our college. The team chair also took a moment to recognize the leadership of the president, “Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, for her visionary leadership…..This is a fabulous, fabulous college and a great part is due to your visionary leadership.
The Commission made the following College and District recommendations, of which Skyline College is required to profide a follow up report to the commission.
College Recommendation 1
In order to meet the Standard and ensure quality instructions, the team recommends that the College adhere to its systematic and regularly scheduled process of performance evaluations for all adjunct faculty members (Standard III.A.1.b.).
College Recommendation 2
In order to improve and increase effectiveness, the team recommends that the College complete a systematic review of its integrated planning and resource allocation cycle, in its entirety as a holistic process, and to do so in a purposeful and well documented manner to promote transparency and sustainability (Standard I.B, I.B.6, I.B.7).
College Recommendation 3
In order to improve quality instruction, the team recommends that the College adhere to its policy ensuring that all Distance Education courses are effectively facilitating student learning by providing continuous, regular and substantive faculty interaction with students ( Standards IIA.1.b, II.A.2, II.A.2.a, II.A.2.e.).
District Recommendation 1
In order to increase effectiveness, the District and Colleges should broadly communicate the modification of the evaluation process for faculty and others directly responsible for student progress, which includes student learning outcomes, and ensure the process is fully implemented. (III.A.1.c)
District Recommendation 2
In order to improve institutional effectiveness, the Board of Trustees should develop goals for increasing its professional development and orientation of new Trustees. (IV.B.1.f)
District Recommendation 3
In order to improve institutional effectiveness, the District should establish a regular cycle for the evaluation of its services and provide documentation regarding the outcomes of the evaluations. (IV.B.3.b, IV.B.3.g)
As the president of the college, I would like to take a point of personal privilege and thank all of the faculty, staff, students and community members who dedicate their life’s work to serving the Skyline College community. You all are amazing and I am quite humbled to have the honor of working with you for this college, for these students and for our community.
Thanks are in order starting with the Board of Trustees and Chancellor Ron Galatolo, all of whom provide the visionary leadership and stewardship that makes it possible for Skyline College to do so well. And thanks to the Accreditation Co-Chairs, Donna Bestock and Christine Roumbanis who led the way to an exceptionally well executed process. Thanks to Dennis Wolbers and Christine Themoleas for managing the evidence for the self-evaluation. Thanks to Nancy Kaplan-Biegel for editing and essentially, perfecting the report. Thanks to the accreditation steering committee for their leadership in the writing process. Thanks to Dr. Gina Rosabal who provided consultation and writing expertise to help us amass an impressive set of integrated plans and manuals that is more impressive than we could have imagined. Thanks to Kayla Razavi, ASSC President, Leigh Anne Shaw, Academic Senate President and Linda Allen, Classified Senate President for their leadership and support in responding to the standards, ushering the various plans through the processes and calling on the faculty, staff and students to be engaged. Thanks to the faculty, staff, students and district staff on the standard committees. Thanks to Chancellor Galatolo, Deputy Chancellor Jim Keller, Vice Chancellor Tom Bauer, Vice Chancellor Harry Joel, Vice Chancellor Jose Nuñez, Vice Chancellor Jing Luan, Vice Chancellor Kathy Blackwood, Chief Information Technology Officer Frank Vaskelis, Director Barbara Christensen, and the entire District team for the unconditional support and engagement we received during this process and always. Thanks to Katie Beverly, the staff in the Skyline College Reprographics Department, Kevin Chak and the staff in the Bookstore for the production of a beautiful set of documents and for being at the ready to do whatever was necessary to have a successful visit. Finally, thanks to Dr. Sarah Perkins for her leadership and guidance as the Accreditation Liaison Officer and to the staff in the Office of Instruction and the Instructional Leadership Team for putting forth stellar work before and during the visit. During the visit, Theresa Tentes was stellar in managing all of the logistics and ensuring that team had appropriate accommodations.
I want to add my thanks to all of the third floor staff in the President’s Suite for their tireless work to support the team, the administration, faculty and staff and the process. Thanks to Rick McMahon, Hector and all of the Pacific Dining staff for the exceptional job you did in serving our guest. Three community members, Michele Enriquez-Da Silva, Jessica Evans and Carolyn Livengood took the time to meet with the team and really made a clear impression of commitment to and support for the college. “I love this college” is the way Carolyn Livengood closed her statement. The Food Service staff, Public safety, Information Technology staff, the faculty and Jim Petromilli and the staff of the Center for Teaching and Learning, Facilities and grounds crew helped us show our best face.
The visiting team made complementary statements about the website during the entire visit. Thanks to Cherie Colin, Liz Gaudet and the Marketing, Communications, Public Relations department for the great work to give us a great website and for helping us put forth a coherent and professional image for Skyline College (and yes, Keisha Ford provided an impressive tour for the team). The Planning, Research and Institutional Effectiveness faculty and staff, Dr. David Ulate, Katie Galvin, Karen Wong and Anjelica Gacutan were outstanding in ensuring all of the plans, data, manuals/handbooks were at the ready. Thanks to Dr. Joi Blake and the Student Services Leadership Team, you really helped us shine. Team members commented on the great work being done in student services. Vice President Eloisa Briones and the administrative services staff impressed the team members with the comprehensive and transparent budget processes.
Finally, the faculty, staff and student leadership did a superb job of showing just how collegially we work together to serve our students and community. The team chair indicated that we have a true jewel of the community college system……yes, that confirms it….like most jewels, Skyline College really does shine!
Article by Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud.
