KENTFIELD, CA—On Monday, March 21, the California Community College Board of Governors approved plans to change the current accreditation structure. This move comes after college presidents and district chancellors voted for a dual approach to bring about this change. The goal is to improve operations and governance of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), while at the same time planning for transition to a new accreditor. The Chancellor’s Office press release provides additional details on the decision.
Any changes to how and by whom COM is accredited will likely take several years to implement. Accordingly, the College's work on reaffirming COM’s accreditation continues to move forward with ACCJC. The College is on track to complete its Institutional Self Evaluation Report by December 2016 for submission to ACCJC in January 2017. COM's site visit will occur in March 2017.
Erik Skinner Appointed as Acting Chancellor
Also on Monday, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors appointed Deputy Chancellor Erik Skinner as acting chancellor for the California Community Colleges beginning April 2. Skinner will step in to replace Chancellor Brice W. Harris who is retiring after 45 years in public service. Harris was awarded the honorary title of Chancellor Emeritus of the California Community Colleges in a separate action. According to California Community Colleges Board of Governors President Geoffrey L. Baum, the board is currently engaged in a national search to fill the position on a permanent basis, and plans to have the new chancellor in place by the beginning of the 2016-17 academic year.
About the College—90 Years of Transforming Lives Through Education and Training
College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is one of 113 public community colleges in California. Approximately 13,000 credit, noncredit, and community education students enroll annually.