The ACCJC has established a broad set of standards against which accredited colleges are periodically evaluated to ensure the quality of education provided by the institution. These standards are divided into four categories: institutional mission and effectiveness; student learning programs and services; resources (human, physical, technology, and financial); and leadership and governance. 

Every six years accredited institutions are required to undertake a comprehensive self-study as a means of assessing how well and to what degree they meet these accreditation standards. The self-evaluation, which Foothill submitted to ACCJC in August, typically takes a year to complete, involves the entire campus through a participatory governance process, and culminates in the writing and publication of a sizable report.  

 

Following completion of the self-study, ACCJC sends a visiting team composed of colleagues from other community colleges for a week-long visit to evaluate the quality of the college by "validating" the self-study and whether or not the college meets the accreditation standards. This step embodies the peer review concept of evaluation, assessment, and quality assurance. The team then produces its own report based upon the visit and their assessment of the self-study.

 

This report along with the team's confidential recommendations are then submitted to ACCJC for consideration and action. The ACCJC will take action on Foothill's accreditation at its January 2018 meeting.