Accreditation

Ventura College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

In October 2010, Ventura College was visited by an evaluation team from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The report prepared by this team was submitted to and reviewed by the Accrediting Commission at their January 2011 meeting. Based on this report, the Commission placed Ventura College on “Warning” status and directed the district to respond to seven recommendations that apply to all three colleges in the district. The Commission also directed Ventura College to respond to six out of eight college-specific recommendations. The college recommendations were primarily focused on improving internal communication, reorganizing to support critical new initiatives, tracking and evaluating student learning across the curriculum, and improving the procedures for planning. None of the recommendations made were related to the quality of the instruction offered (which the evaluation team categorized as “outstanding” in their verbal exit interview to the campus).

Ventura College submitted the required Follow-Up Report to the Accrediting Commission, October 2011 on October 15, 2011. This report documented the progress that had been made on the Commission’s district and college recommendations. The filing of the required report was followed by a visit of Commission representatives in late October 2011.

At their January 2012 meeting, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges accepted the work of the Ventura College faculty, staff, and administration as evidence that the college-based recommendations had been addressed. Nonetheless, the Commission voted to impose a status of “Probation” on all three colleges in the District “…due to deficiencies identified in a new Commission Concern about Board governance as well as District Recommendations 1 through 7…” The text of the new Commission Concern is as follows:

“The team report confirmed that board development activities had been provided and all board members were encouraged to attend. At the same time, the team expressed concern about the consistency and long-term sustainability of the Board’s demonstration of its primary leadership role and reiterates its recommendation for evidence of ongoing professional development for all Board members. Specifically, the Commission notes a particular board member’s disruptive and inappropriate behavior and the entire board’s responsibility to address and curtail it. (Eligibility Requirement 3; Standard IV.B.1.g, h, i)”

As mandated, a district-level Special Report, March 2012, addressing the new Commission Concern, prepared on behalf of Ventura College, Oxnard College and Moorpark College, will be filed with the Commission on March 15, 2012. The Special Report will be followed by a visit of Commission Representatives. A Follow-Up Report to the Accrediting Commission, October 2012 on District Recommendations 1 through 7 will be filed by October 15, 2012. This Follow-Up Report will also be followed by a visit of Commission Representatives.

No issues have been identified at the college level that would require a follow-up report or separate visit. As noted in the Commission’s letter, the accredited status of Ventura College continues during the probation period.
A copy of the February 2012 letter from the Commission and a copy of the Public Disclosure Notice on accreditation status are available through the links below.

2010 Self Study

Report of the Evaluation Team, October 2010

Letter from the Accrediting Commission, January 2011

Follow-Up Report to Accrediting Commission, October 2011

Report of the Evaluation Team, December 2011

Letter from the Accrediting Commission, February 1, 2012

Accrediting Commission Public Disclosure Notice 2012

The college and district are making significant progress in their efforts to address the recommendations and expect these efforts will be favorably received by the Commission representatives during their return visit in November 2011. The college and district have two full years to completely the address the recommendations and are making every effort to complete these efforts well before the two-year deadline.

The accreditation status of the college continues during this warning period. Courses taken at Ventura College continue to be respected by other colleges and to articulate throughout the state college and university system and to private universities.