Mendocino College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), 1428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. The public is invited to submit comments about Mendocino College to our accrediting body by completing a third party comment form on the ACCJC website.
The ACCJC, at its meeting June 10-12, 2020, reviewed the Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) and evidentiary materials submitted by Mendocino College. The Commission also considered the Peer Review Team Report (Team Report) prepared by the peer review team that conducted its onsite visit to the College on February 24-27, 2020.
The purpose of this review was to determine whether the College continues to meet ACCJC’s Eligibility Requirements, Commission Policies, and Accreditation Standards (hereinafter, the Standards). Upon consideration of the written information noted above, the Commission acted to Reaffirm Accreditation for seven years.
To view the full action letter from the peer review team CLICK HERE.
To view the full team report CLICK HERE.
To view the press release CLICK HERE.
In March 2024, Mendocino College submitted the Midterm Report to ACCJC to highlight recent improvements or innovations, and provide an update on institutional performance since the last comprehensive peer review.
To view the full Midterm Report from March 2024 CLICK HERE
To view the ACCJC's June 2024 Action Letter in response to the Midterm Report CLICK HERE
- About Accreditation
- ACCJC Report Archives
- Accreditation Steering Committee
- 2019 Self-Evaluation (ISER)
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) provides information on its website about accreditation, its purpose, the peer review process and method by which the public can submit complaints about member institutions.
The following are information resources about accreditation made available by ACCJC through their website:
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
428 J Street, Ste 400, Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (415) 506-0234
Email: accjc@accjc.org
Website: accjc.org
Program Specific Accreditation
Nursing: The Mendocino College RN program was accredited in 2003 by the California State Board of Registered Nursing; 1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 150 Sacramento, CA 95834-1924; phone (916) 322-3350; email brn.licensing@dca.ca.gov. The most recent Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) continuing approval visit occurred in 2019.
To contact the Director of the Nursing Program, please call 707-468-3099 or email nursing@mendocino.edu. For program-specific information call 707-468-3099 or email ngarcia@mendocino.edu.
Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA): Effective October 29, 2019, the Mendocino College PTA Program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (707) 467-1062 or email sbogner@mendocino.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates that the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.
ACCJC Report Archives
Assume Responsibility for College of the Redwoods Mendocino Coast Education Center - January 2017
PROPOSAL: Substantive Change Proposal
AFFIRMATION: ACCJC Affirmation Letter
Offer 50% or More of a Degree or Certificate at Mendocino Coast Center - April 2014
PROPOSAL: Substantive Change Proposal
AFFIRMATION: ACCJC Affirmation Letter
North County Center - April 2014
PROPOSAL: Substantive Change Proposal
AFFIRMATION: ACCJC Affirmation Letter
Lake Center - October 2011
PROPOSAL: Substantive Change Proposal
AFFIRMATION: ACCJC Affirmation Letter
Online Education - May 2010
PROPOSAL: Substantive Change Proposal
At the core of the Mendocino College Accreditation Process is the Accreditation Steering Committee that is a standing committee charged with oversight of all accreditation processes and ensuring that the College aligns with and can provide evidence of alignment with the ACCJC Standards. The committee is chaired by the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO). At Mendocino College, the ALO role is assigned to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
In spring of 2018, work toward completion the Institutional Self-Evaluation Report and preparation for the Comprehensive Site Visit became more structured and focused. In May of 2018, a large team, consisting of accreditation steering committee leaders, attended the ACCJC ISER training.
Leading up to the Comprehensive Review, it was decided that the Academic Senate President should be a co-chair of the committee to ensure that faculty, as represented by academic senate, would have full participation in the process. Membership on the committee includes key faculty, administrators and classified staff.
The process for completing the Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) became more structured and focused on writing the report in Fall 2018 when subcommittees were formed around each of the four ACCJC standards. Drafting of the standards began as subcommittees met and evidence began being collected to support each standard.
ACCREDITATION STEERING COMMITTEE
| Name | Title | Role in ISER Completion |
|---|---|---|
| Debra Polak | Vice President of Academic Affairs; Accreditation Liaison Officer | Accreditation Steering Committee Chair, Standards I and IV Co-Chair |
| Catherine Indermill | Psychology Faculty; Academic Senate President | Accreditation Steering Committee Co-Chair |
| Ulises Velasco | Vice President of Student Services | Standard II Co-Chair |
| Eileen Cichocki | Interim Superintendent/President; Vice President of Administrative Services | Standard III Chair |
| Rebecca Montes | Dean of Instruction | Standard II Co-Chair |
| Dennis Aseltyne | Dean of Applied Academics | Standard I Subcommittee |
| Nicole Marin | Director of Human Resources | Standard III Subcommittee |
| Vivian Varela | Distance Education Coordinator; Sociology Faculty | Standard II Subcommittee |
| Nicholas Petti | Culinary Arts Faculty; Academic Senator | Standard IV Subcommittee |
| Minerva Flores | Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Research & Grants | Standards I and IV Co-Chair |
| Tony Novelli | Marketing and Community Relations Specialist | Standard IV Subcommittee |
| Chris Olson | Senior Programmer/Analyst; Classified Senate Part-President | Technology Support |
Accreditation is a system of voluntary, non-governmental, self-regulation and peer review unique to American educational institutions. It is a system by which an institution evaluates itself in accordance with standards of good practice regarding mission, goals, and objectives; the appropriateness, sufficiency, and utilization of resources; the usefulness, integrity, and effectiveness of its processes; and the extent to which it is achieving its intended student achievement and student learning outcomes, at levels generally acceptable for higher education. It is a process by which accreditors provide students, the public, and each other with assurances of institutional integrity and effectiveness and educational quality.
The Institutional Self-Evaluation Report is the mechanism by which an institution reports to its peers and is evaluated for accreditation.
CLICK HERE to view Mendocino College's 2019 Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) in Support of an Application for Reaffirmation of Accreditation.