Barstow college given accreditation warning

BARSTOW • Barstow Community College has received a warning after the accrediting commission noted 13 deficiencies, including the college’s planning processes.

In a July 2 letter from the accrediting commission for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, President Barbara Beno writes, “The Commission notes that in several areas, Barstow Community College’s work toward meeting requirements for ongoing assessment, planning, resource allocation, and improvement is not fully completed.”

A warning is the lightest of several actions the commission can take against a college up to denying accreditation entirely. Colleges’ accreditation is renewed every six years, though additional assessments are performed in between those times as well.

The letter outlined 13 recommendations for improvement needed to meet accrediting requirements, most of which were concerned with the college’s planning and assessments.

The recommendations were those from a site team of college professionals that reviewed the college’s ins and outs during a visit in May.

Armstrong said at the time the college was implementing its 20-year Educational Master Plan, which was completed last year so they were in the process of drafting plans for things like staffing and facilities to match up.

“A lot of (the recommendations) continue to go the direction we’ve been going,” Armstrong said.

Though he was disappointed to receive the warning, Armstrong said wasn’t really surprised because most colleges get dinged the first time around.

“You always hope that you get reaffirmed without the extra work, but I can see how it may have gone that way,” he said.

The college is required to complete a follow-up report by March 15, 2013, demonstrating resolution to the deficiencies before commission representatives visit the campus.

BCC was among dozens of California colleges the commission took action against, including Victor Valley College. The commission continued probation on VVC after a year of time to make improvements.

BCC student Reginald H. Garland Jr. was writing about both colleges’ accreditation for his sociology class during a quiet Monday at the campus’ library. He said most students don’t understand accreditation or how important it is.

“Education is the key,” Garland said. “Whatever the accreditation, when the standards are set, if they don’t meet those standards, it’d be messed up for the students ... We have to do better for them.”

The last time BCC received action from the commission was a warning in 2000 after their six-year accreditation review. They were reaffirmed the next year.

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