College
of Micronesia-FSM Seeks Reaffirmation of Accreditation!
Eight Member Visiting Evaluation
Team to Arrive at End of February
Each institution
affiliated with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior
Colleges accepts the obligation to undergo periodic evaluation through
self study and professional peer review. The heart of this obligation
is the conducting of a rigorous self study during which an institution
appraises itself in terms of the commission standards in accord with
its stated purposes. A comprehensive self study is required every
six years following initial accreditation.
Self study is part of a three-part process of accrediting an institution.
This process includes a self appraisal, an on-site visit by a team
of peers, and a review and a decision on the accredited status of
the college by the commission.
Teams conduct a review following completion of a self study in order
to determine the extent to which an institution meets the standards.
Team members, selected for their expertise from member institutions,
make recommendations for improvement to an institution, commend exemplary
practices, and provide both the college and the commission with a
report of their findings.
This spring the College
of Micronesia-FSM is entering part two of the process, with a visit
by a team of peers during the first week of March 2004. The college
is pleased to welcome the following team members to our campus:
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Chair Dr. Marie Smith. President American
River College, Sacramento California. Will also be visiting Yap
state campus and the Fisheries Maritime Institute. American River
College serves 28,000 full-time and part-time students, 38% of
whom are minorities. Approximately 74% of ARC students are part-time
students. The college, founded forty-five years ago, sits on a
153 acre site that was once known as Cameron Ranch. American River
College is among the ten largest community colleges in the state
and is looked upon as a leader in innovative programs and services.
It transfers more students to UC Davis and CSU Sacramento than
any other community college. Recent improvements include major
remodeling of laboratories and the student services building,
new faculty and administrative office buildings, and facilities
for disabled student programs & services, and instructional
technology.
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Assistant
Chair Mr. Robert Allegre. Vice President Administrative Services, American River College.
Will also be visiting Chuuk state campus.
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Dr. Eva Conrad. President Moorpark College, Moorpark,
California. Primary visiting team assignment: Leadership and Governance.
Will also be visiting Kosrae state campus. Moorpark College is
located on 134 acres in the foothills between the cities of Simi
Valley and Moorpark. Noted for its high level of academic excellence
and active participation in community affairs, Moorpark College
has been serving the community college educational needs of eastern
Ventura County since its opening in September, 1967. Moorpark
has a current enrollment of approximately 15,000 students. Moorpark
College offers more than 1,200 courses in 107 majors and programs
during the Fall and Spring semesters, and more than 250 classes
in about 35 majors during the Summer semester. The college has
been nationally recognized for its innovative work. It offers
an intellectual and cultural experience designed to maximize the
academic and creative activities of its student body. The college
has committed itself to taking its programs into the local communities
with courses now being offered in Conejo Valley, Simi Valley,
and Moorpark. The college is truly a model of what a community
college should be - an institution meeting the educational and
cultural needs of the community it serves.
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Dr.
Erlinda Martinez. Vice President Student Services/Assistant
Superintendent, Cerritos College, Norwalk California. Will also
be visiting Kosrae state campus. Primary visiting team assignment:
student learning programs and services. Founded in 1955, Cerritos
College has served as a public comprehensive community college
for southeastern Los Angeles County communities including Artesia,
Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Lakewood
and Norwalk. The college offers degrees and certificates in more
than 90 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than
1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies,
and enrollment currently surpasses 25,000 students. The Cerritos
College student body is a majority of minorities: Hispanics, Asians,
African-Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans together
account for more than 60% of the students.
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Mr.
Ron Manzoni.
Vice President Instruction, San Diego City College, California.
Primary visiting team assignment: student learning programs and
services. Established in 1914 as the first community college in
San Diego, City College continues to excel in academic excellence
and quality workforce preparation. As the only college in downtown
San Diego, City offers superior support services and facilities
to meet the needs of students, employers and the community alike.
Recognized for our exemplary teaching staff and cutting-edge curriculum,
students receive the personal attention needed to graduate with
an Associate's degree, transfer to a 4-year university or advance
their career. More than 90% of our faculty hold doctorates or
master's degrees. City College now ranks as one of the fastest
growing community colleges in the nation.
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Dr. Louise Pagotto. Interim Asst Dean
of Arts & Sciences & Curriculum Management, Kapi'olani
Community College, Honolulu Hawaii. Primary visiting team assignment:
institutional mission and effectiveness. Kapi'olani Community
College, part of the University of Hawaii System, is a state-sponsored,
two-year degree-granting academic institution. KCC attracts students
from across the U.S. and internationally and serves a diverse
student population with widely varying needs. The fully accessible
campus includes 20 modern buildings integrated within beautiful
and natural surroundings. In addition to offering college credit
classes, KCC offers continuing education, training and general
interest classes.
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Ms. Ann Kinningham. Director of Administrative Services
Kapi'olani Community College, Honolulu Hawaii. Primary visiting
team assignment: resources. Kapi'olani has approximately 6,700
students enrolled in business, health, hospitality, legal and
liberal arts degree and certificate programs; nearly 8,000 students
in continuing education programs. The student body includes recent
high school graduates, transfer students, adults returning to
college, single parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities,
international students, veterans, etc. More than 350 instructors
make up the diverse and innovative faculty who have earned recognition
for their research and teaching excellence. A majority of faculty
members hold their Masters and many hold the Ph.D. or terminal
degree in their field.
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Dr.
Darla Cooper.
Director, Institutional Research Oxnard College, Oxnard California.
Primary visiting team assignment: institutional mission and effectiveness.
Historically, the need for a community college serving the Oxnard
Plain has been recognized by the Oxnard, Camarillo, and Port Hueneme
communities and the governing board and administration of the
Ventura County Community College District, since the district
was formed in 1962. Founded on the understanding established in
those early years, the 118 acre college site was purchased in
1968. Oxnard College is dedicated to the philosophy of providing
educational programs that develop individual abilities, strengthen
human relationships, enhance community life, and heighten global
consciousness. We recognize that the process of education is a
process of exploration that depends on mutual responsibility.
A majority of the students are minority students. The largest
minority group is Hispanic at 57% of the student body.
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The team will be circulating
on the national campus during the first week of March 2004. During this
time team members will be meeting with college leadership, faculty,
and staff. Team members will be visiting classrooms, facilities, and
the dormitories. The team will set up open sessions for those who want
to talk to the team. The College of Micronesia-FSM is one of six institutions
piloting the new ACCJC standards. As a result, this team is a hand chosen
selection of the best administrators in the region. This visit is not
only a review of our institution, but it is also a rare opportunity
to learn best practices from the top people in the western region. The
college is honored at the caliber of the people selected, and excited
at the learning opportunities for us as an organization. Please welcome
the team members as a members of our extended college family!
Dana Lee Ling
Accreditation Liaison Officer
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