11600 Columbia College Drive · Sonora, California 95370

Public Information Office: 209.588.5361 · Fax 209.588.5367

NEWS RELEASE

-- For Immediate Release --

Date: February 13, 2008

Contact: Doug Lau, Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Columbia College accreditation reaffirmed by ACCJC/WASC

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) recently notified Columbia College that the commission has reaffirmed accreditation of the college. This was based on the results of an evaluation team progress report visit to the campus last November. The ACCJC accredits associate degree-granting institutions in California, Hawaii, the Territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ACCJC is one of three commissions under the corporate entity known as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

According to the ACCJC website, “accreditation is the process of evaluating and assuring the quality of education used by the American higher education community. It is a uniquely American quality assurance through which institutions collectively set standards for good practice, conduct peer-based evaluations of institutions on a regular basis, confer accredited status on institutions, and make the results of accreditation review of institutions known to the public.”

In anticipation of the evaluation team’s visit last fall, college administrators, faculty and staff dedicated months of preparation in developing the planning processes for the educational master plan. This included countless departmental and committee meetings on planning, resource allocation, research and student learning outcomes.

“I want to acknowledge everyone at the college, who participated in any way – large or small – to our excellent progress report,” said Dr. Joan Smith, president of Columbia College. “This report simply reflects how we worked together tirelessly as a team to achieve this. I am proud of our college and our Columbia College team effort.”

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News Release No. 017-08

February 13, 2008

For Immediate Release