Accreditation Reaffirmed
by Jan Bernstein Chargin on Feb 10, 2021This month Gavilan College was notified that the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, took action at their January meeting to reaffirm Gavilan College's accreditation for the remainder of the cycle. The next comprehensive review cycle begins in 2026.
The Commission reviewed the Follow-up Report and related materials submitted by Gavilan College as well as a Peer Review Team follow-up report in making their determination. A letter sent by the Commission to the college reads in part "we wish to express appreciation for the diligent work and thoughtful reflection that Gavilan College undertook to respond to respond to these requirements."
At the start of the current accreditation cycle, Gavilan College conducted a self-evaluation followed by a peer review team visit in 2019. The Commission reaffirmed accreditation for 18 months and required a Follow-Up Report, which was submitted in October 2020, and a peer review site visit in November 2020. The next report due from the College will be a Midterm Report in March 2023.
The Follow-Up Report and second Peer Review visit were required in order to verify that the college had addressed two issues identified in the 2019 visit: ensuring that distance education courses consistently adhere to the policies established by the College concerning regular and substantive instructor and initiated contact with students, and ensuring that all student receive a course syllabus that includes student learning outcomes for the institution's officially approved course outline. Both of these requirements were found to be satisfied by the college.