PCC Deserves Renewal of Accreditation, Evaluators Recommend in Preliminary Findings
September 20, 2010
Tucson, AZ – A team of evaluators will recommend that the North Central Association (NCA) of Colleges and Schools renews the accreditation of Pima Community College. The recommendation comes after a once-a-decade, top-to-bottom review of College operations.
Higher education institutions are reviewed at least once every 10 years by independent, non-governmental agencies in order to ensure that they are performing at a high level. PCC and all the other public colleges and universities in Arizona belong to the NCA, a collection of peer institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a legitimate accrediting body. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) evaluates colleges and universities that belong to the NCA.
In announcing its preliminary findings Wednesday, the 11-member HLC evaluation team determined that the College met all five Criteria for Accreditation set by the HLC: Mission and Integrity; Preparing for the Future; Student Learning and Effective Teaching; Acquisition, Discovery, and Application of Knowledge; and Engagement and Service.
The Evaluation Team, which comprised faculty, staff and administrators of community colleges from across the nation, announced its findings after visiting PCC Monday and Tuesday. Evaluators investigated if the College was living up to assertions made in its Institutional Self Study, a 170-page document sent to evaluators in May that set out in detail how the College has met the Criteria for Accreditation.
During its visit, the Evaluation Team went to all six PCC campuses and met students, staff, faculty, administrators, Chancellor Dr. Roy Flores, the PCC Board of Governors and community members.
PCC must maintain accreditation to continue to receive federal financial aid for its students. Accreditation also is needed for PCC credits earned by students to be valid for transfer to other colleges and universities.
The evaluators found that PCC is “developing a culture of data-driven decision-making,” and has a clear, unified understanding of its mission. The College was commended for a “bold and comprehensive” approach in its redesign of Student Services, and for its grants program, which “serves the College well in seeking alternative sources of income.”
Evaluators also praised PCC for its broad array of career and technical programs, for “outstanding” facilities in several programs, and for promoting a “life of learning” in the community through internships, service learning, and its Adult Education program. PCC also was commended for its “comprehensive” efforts in Workforce Education.
Evaluation Team Chair Dr. Rebecca Ann Nickoli, Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, announced highlights of the team’s findings to more than 150 people at PCC’s District Office.
PCC, which last received reaccreditation in 2000, began preparations for its evaluation in 2007.
PCC will receive formal notification of its accreditation status in about six months.
For more information on the renewal of accreditation process, see the Pima Community College website.
CONTACT:
A. Rachelle Howell, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing,
(520) 206-4850