Accreditation safe at San Joaquin Delta College

San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton had its accreditation reaffirmed this week after being warned last year about the need for a school-wide “strategic plan” and better student evaluations.

The accreditation warning came in June 2011, resulting from a review by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges that found what it described as “deficiencies” at Delta College, which serves part of Calaveras County, mainly in the Valley Springs area. 

Tuolumne County and southern Calaveras County are served by Columbia College.

The association’s Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges warned Delta College that it could lose accreditation if it failed to identify and test the skills students acquire from coursework.

The commission also recommended that Delta develop a strategic plan and system for evaluating its own effectiveness.

It reaffirmed the school’s accreditation on Monday following a satisfactory report in March and a follow-up visit in April. 

A statement from the college said that it had moved “aggressively” to follow the accrediting commission’s recommendations, developing the strategic plan and integrating curricular standards into classes. 

Accreditation is a formal stamp of approval ensuring the quality of a school, given by the U.S. Department of Education or a recognized third-party agency. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is the accrediting agency for California. 

An accreditation warning is the first of three steps to loss of accreditation. 

Columbia College, part of the Yosemite Community College District, received an accreditation warning in February of this year and must submit a follow-up report by October.