Subject: Foothill College Fusion October 2017
From: Andrea Hanstein <hansteinandrea@fhda.edu>
Date: 10/05/2017 8:40 AM


October 2017: Special Accreditation Issue
Foothill hosting visiting team next week in support of accreditation

Next week, October 9-12, Foothill College will welcome a visiting team from the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). 
 
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.

Accreditation Visiting Team members hail from 11 colleges

The visiting team is made up of members from 11 different colleges and is chaired by Dr. Linda Rose, president of Santa Ana College. 
 
Team members have dedicated a substantial amount of time and will spend a week away from home to participate in the peer review accreditation process which aims to document the quality work we do serving students. 
 
To view the complete team roster, with bios, visit the accreditation website

College community invited to attend opening forums and exit report

The college community is invited to attend three events during the team's visit. Members of the self-evaluation standard teams and governance groups have also been invited to an opening reception.  
 
Open Forums: Tuesday, October 10 at 6 p.m. or Wednesday, October 11 at 10 a.m. in the Hearthside Lounge 
Members of the college community may share their thoughts on the college's Institutional Self-Evaluation Report.  
 
Exit Report: Thursday, October 12 at 1:30 p.m. in Appreciation Hall  
The visiting team will share their preliminary findings from the visit and the college's Institutional Self-Evaluation Report. 
 
Tips to help you prepare for the accrediting team's visit

To prepare for next week's visit, please take the following steps:
Check out these other events taking place at the college this month 
 

Foothill is launching the Trees of Hope project on Wednesday, October 11 at noon in Cesar Chavez Plaza. Write your wishes, concerns and hopes for the future on paper and tie it to the tree. All are welcome to share your thoughts throughout the year.


On Wednesday, October 11, at 7 p.m., Dr. Jill Tarter of the SETI Institute will give a free, illustrated, non-technical talk called, "Will the 21st Century be the Time We Discover Life Beyond Earth?" in the Smithwick Theater. The talk is part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series at Foothill College, now in its 18th year. All are welcome to attend.

The Foothill-De Anza Police Department is holding "Run-Hide-Defend" trainings this month to prepare the campus in the event of an active assailant situation. Trainings will be held on Tuesday, October 17 and Wednesday, October 18 from 1-2 p.m. in room 5001.

How do we talk about and combat racism? Foothill students, faculty and staff will give short talks on techniques to actively promote anti-racism in the classroom and beyond. The anti-racism teach-in takes place in Hearthside Lounge on Wednesday, October 11 from 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
 
Contact:
The Foothill College Fusion staff newsletter is published the first Thursday of each month. Have something you would like to share with the Foothill College community? Email Andrea Hanstein, Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Sent by hansteinandrea@fhda.edu in collaboration with
Constant Contact
©