WASC requires the submission of two reports which were due last March 15 and Oct. 15.
Early this month, three members of the accreditation team were on island to validate the reports submitted by NMC. The visitors included Dr. Sherrill Amador, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges member and team chair; Dr. Karen Graham, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities; and Dr. Steve Maradian, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
NMC yesterday said “until [the accreditation] team report is made public, we are unable to comment specifically and publicly on any discussions we’ve had with the visiting team.”
The college said the team’s observations and findings will be submitted directly to the full commission board which is expected to render a decision on NMC accreditation early next year.
NMC said “a supplemental report from the college is due in December.”
“There is still much work to do for the December supplemental report and of course preparation for the Spring 2009 semester. NMC remains accredited throughout this time,” the college statement said.
NMC said its president, Carmen Fernandez, coined the phrase that describes the process: “Data-driven, evidence-based, decision-making for continuous improvement.”
As preparation for the team visit, NMC said its officials continued the work it had set in motion when the college was placed on show cause status in January this year.
The work included linking planning, program review, and resource allocation; institutionalizing a systematic, evidence-based process for evaluating program effectiveness; developing, measuring, and analyzing student learning outcomes; enhancing employee evaluation processes; securing funding to address short and long term facilities’ needs; and building administrative capacity through the recruitment of highly qualified staff and the provision of recurring professional development opportunities. In addition to touring the campus, the accrediting team also met with the almost everybody involved in the college, including the students.
