DVC accreditation reaffirmed

Taylor Pagan, Online editor

Diablo Valley College’s accreditation status has been reaffirmed; however, there are still deficient standards that need to be resolved.

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of  School and Colleges is requiring DVC to fulfill the following recommendations:

1.  The college must provide student services to the San Ramon campus, comparable to those of the Pleasant Hill campus.

2. The library must establish student resource outcomes and then implement assessment procedures to help ensure that those outcomes are achieved. 

3. The college needs to identify its long-term facilities needs by incorporating facilities management into the government process. DVC accreditation liaison officer Ted Wieden said a total cost of ownership model for the voter-approved Measure E funding will be done in conjunction with the Contra Costa Community College District facilities planning group. 

Additionally, the college and district must integrate student learning outcomes into the hiring evaluation process, including non-instructional faculty and staff. In the United Faculty Contract Appendix X, it is merely suggested, not required, that faculty reflect on at least two SLO’s. This must change.

College President Peter Garcia in his letter to the DVC community said, “Every employee and student, now and for the next six years (and longer!) will benefit from the work of DVC’s accreditation leaders.”

Faculty Senate President and accreditation advisory co-chair Laurie Lema said the collective work DVC has done since 2008 has lead the college to this point. She said the reaffirmed accreditation is great news.

“I am very proud to be a part of this educational community and what we have accomplished working together,” she said.

A follow-up report must be submitted by Oct. 15, 2015 followed by a visit of Commission representatives to resolve the deficiencies.