NMC has been sanctioned by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and was told to show cause why its accreditation should not be revoked.
The loss of accreditation means that NMC students would no longer be eligible for federal financial aid and that course credits they earn couldn’t be transferred to other institutions.
NMC was given up to the end of this year to comply with the WASC standards.
Two reports were submitted by NMC to the commission on March 15 and Oct. 15.
Early this month, an accreditation team visited NMC and required the submission of the supplemental report.
“Since submitting the Oct. 15, 2008 show cause report, our momentum toward accreditation reaffirmation has not slowed down,” said NMC President Carmen Fernandez said.
The faculty, staff, students, and board members have been hard at work doing their part in meeting accreditation requirements, she added.
According to Fernandez, the “supplemental report will use evidentiary data to illustrate the college’s efforts in meeting accreditation requirements.”
The supplemental report must be submitted before Dec. 31, 2008.
Fernandez said they are already preparing for the next program review.
“We’re securing financial commitments from the Legislature and other funding agencies, and we’re stepping up professional development training for staff,” she said.
NMC anticipates that the commission’s decision will be announced sometime at the end of January.
“I want to reassure current and prospective students who may be worried about whether their credits during the Spring 2009 semester will be accredited,” said Fernandez.
The college, she added, will remain accredited throughout the show cause period, and credits earned during this time will continue to be transferable to other accredited institutions.
