Colleges' Accreditation Re-Affirmed

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges re-affirmed Moreno Valley College's and Riverside City College's accreditation at its January board meeting after the colleges completed a follow-up peer review report as required by the ACCJC. Norco College's accreditation was re-affirmed without the need for further evaluation.

During Moreno Valley College's initial visit, the accreditation team identified a compliance issue having to do with policy on Distance Education and correspondence education. The Commission requires professional development opportunities for faculty to ensure Distance Education courses include regular and substantive instructor-student interaction.     

After receiving the deficiency notification College staff developed policies, guidance and processes to ensure Distance Education courses include regular and effective instructor-student interaction. In addition to creating administrative procedures, which were adopted Districtwide, the College created multiple Distance Education professional development opportunities to implement the policies and guidance since the comprehensive visit to ensure Distance Education courses include regular and substantive instructor-student interaction. Additionally, three professional development models were created to increase the level of online instruction. In all, a report from the College to the Commission showed faculty activity increased to nearly 10,000 hours.

Robin Steinback, Ph.D., president of Moreno Valley College, said the commission was impressed by the “spectacular and creative approach for distance education," and asked that the College consider sharing it widely with colleagues in higher education.

Riverside City College, meanwhile, had to address compliance issues surrounding the College's evaluation processes. Beginning in July of 2020, the College reviewed the status of evaluations for classes of employees and assessed the employee evaluation process. Based on this assessment, the College identified gaps and opportunities to improve the established process and ensure compliance.

The site visit team wrote in Riverside City College's report, “…we appreciate the diligent work and thoughtful reflection that Riverside City College undertook to respond to these requirements. These efforts confirm that peer review can serve well the multiple constituencies of higher education by both ensuring and encouraging institutional quality and effectiveness." 

​The next comprehensive review cycle for the three colleges begins in 2026.​