ACCJC reaffirms PCC accreditation

Palau Community College recently received a letter from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges president Dr. Barbara A. Beno regarding its accreditation status.

As of July 8, 2016 the accreditation status of the community college has been reaffirmed for 18 months. The college is required to submit a Follow-Up Report by Oct. 15, 2017 demonstrating that it has resolved the following deficiencies in order to meet accreditation standards: 1) PCC must complete its planned schedule of assessment for the institution-set standards and publish the results (I.B.3, ER11); 2) PCC should provide an opportunity for third-party comments prior to site visits in accordance with the Commission’s policy on Rights and Responsibility of Commission and Member Institutions (I.C.12); and 3) the PCC Governing Board should implement a mechanism to make public the results of its performance evaluation (IV.C.10).

As an accredited institution, Palau Community College is required to submit an Institutional Self-Evaluation Report to the ACCJC-WASC at the end of an accreditation cycle. The report is a self-assessment conducted by the institution regarding its student learning, student success, and institutional effectiveness. Members of the accreditation Commission review the report in order to determine whether the college is meeting the Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, and Commission Policies set for institutional accreditation. On December 24, 2015 the community college submitted its Institutional Self-Evaluation Report along with supporting evidence materials to the Commission.

From Feb. 29, 2016 to March 3, 2016 an External Evaluation Team visited the college. The team of 11 members was chaired by Dr. Melinda Nish, the superintendent/president of the Southwestern College in California. During their visit, the External Evaluation Team met with PCC administrators, faculty, staff, and students to validate the Institutional Self-Evaluation Report that was submitted by the college. After their visit, the External Evaluation Team compiled its report that was received by Palau Community College on March 26, 2016. The college submitted a response to the External Evaluation Report on March 31, 2016. A Supplemental Report was submitted to ACCJC-WASC on May 05, 2016

PCC president Dr. Patrick U. Tellei appeared with the commission on June 8, 2016 on behalf of the college. After reviewing all the material, the Commission acted to reaffirm accreditation for eighteen months requiring Palau Community College to submit a Follow-Up Report by October 15, 2016. The reaffirmation indicates that the Commission has determined Palau Community College is in substantial compliance with the accreditation standards.

The college would like to recognize its Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, and students who assisted with the accreditation process. The dedication and hard work of those involved have helped Palau Community College maintain its accreditation status. Thank you all for ensuring that Palau’s only institution of higher learning continues to support student learning, achievement, and institutional effectiveness.