Compton College Accreditation

Compton College Accreditation

Compton College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 428 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. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found on ACCJC's website (accjc.org) under the Resources dropdown menu Complaint Process.

Accreditation serves the public interest by certifying that the institution meets or exceeds specific standards of quality. This certification is also used by the federal government and other entities to determine whether an institution and its students are eligible for participation in federal financial aid programs or other forms of financial assistance to institutions. The peer-based nature of accreditation helps to maintain the values of higher education, particularly the values associated with academic freedom.

To maintain accreditation, colleges complete a peer review process designed to ensure that eligibility requirements and standards are met. The review process occurs on a six-year cycle and involves a comprehensive Institutional Self-Evaluation Report prepared by a college team of faculty, staff, and students. A campus visit from peer reviewers follows.

On June 7, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., Compton College became the 114th California Community College and began to operate as an independent college under the authority of the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees, per Executive Order 2018-01 issued by California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Oakley Ortiz.

2023 Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) Review Cycle

Compton College is now preparing for the next accreditation cycle, including a timeline for the new Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) and training for this process in fall 2021.

You may also provide a third-party comment directly to the ACCJC. A third-party comment assists the Commission as it considers applications for candidacy, accreditation, or reaffirmation of accreditation. When an institution is undergoing a review, the Commission requires the institution’s chief executive officer to notify the campus community and public of the opportunity for submission of third-party comments and the process for doing so. Any member of the college community or public may submit a third-party comment by completing the Commission’s online third-party comment form, available via the institution’s website or ACCJC’s website. In order to ensure evaluation of applicable third-party comments by the peer review team, third-party comments should be received by the Commission staff no later than five weeks before the peer review team visit. Institutions will be provided an opportunity to review applicable third-party comments. 

ACCJC Third-Party Comment Form

 

Accreditation Community Engagement Activities

Compton College hosted a campuswide Accreditation Workshop on Thursday, June 3, 2021 from 2-3:30. The purpose of this event was to share knowledge with the campus community about the ACCJC standards and upcoming accreditation efforts including the next Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) that will launch in fall 2021.

Compton College Historical Accreditation Documentation

The following information provides the public with a comprehensive overview of Compton College's Process to Accreditation and the conclusion of the partnership with El Camino College.

Compton College Accreditation Update - August 29, 2018

On August 27, 2018, Compton College received notification from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) that its Substantive Change Application: Change in Local Control, which was submitted on June 20, 2018, has been approved by the Committee on Substantive Change of ACCJC. The action letter from the ACCJC's Committee on Substantive Change is available here.

The CCCD then submitted a request to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office for the issuance of an executive order declaring that Compton College will operate as an independent college under the authority of the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees. On August 29, 2018, California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Oakley issued Executive Order 2018-01 declaring Compton College will operate as an independent college under the authority of the CCCD Board of Trustees effective June 7, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. The California Community Colleges Chancellor Executive Order 2018-01 is available here. At that same time, the partnership between Compton Community College District and the El Camino Community College District will come to an end.

Initial Accreditation Status Granted June 7, 2017

At its June 7, 2017 meeting, the ACCJC granted initial accreditation status to Compton College; the action established Compton College as an accredited college. This action came after the ACCJC, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, reviewed the Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) submitted by Compton Center and the report prepared by the evaluation team that visited the Center March 6-9, 2017. The purpose of the Commission's review was to determine whether the Center meets Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, and Commission policies.

After considering all of the written and oral material provided, the Commission acted to Grant Initial Accreditation to Compton College. Granting Initial Accreditation indicates that the Commission has determined that the institution is in substantial compliance with its Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, and Commission policies.

To view the ACCJC Action Letters, Substantive Change Application, or the Process to Accreditation documents, click below.

Executive Order 2018-01 (Letter from Chancellor Eloy Oakley) - August 20, 2018 
ACCJC Action Letter: Approval of Substantive Change Application - August 27, 2018
ACCJC Action Letter - June 7, 2017
External Evaluation Report
Compton College Receives Accreditation 
Compton College Quality Focused Essay Special Report 
Compton College Substantive Change Proposal - Change in Control of Institution Timeline
Compton College Substantive Change Application 

About ACCJC

ACCJC Logo

Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

ACCJC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as a reliable authority regarding the quality of education offered by the institutions it accredits in keeping with the Higher Education Act of 1965. ACCJC is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which has established criteria that define a quality review system for accrediting agencies.

ACCJC accredits institutions in the United States, its territories and affiliates, with a primary mission of granting associate degrees; institutions accredited by the ACCJC may also award certificates and other credentials, including bachelor's degrees, if those credentials are within the institution's mission an  authorized by their governmental authorities. ACCJC may also accredit non-domestic institutions with a primary mission of granting associate degrees.

Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
428 J Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814
P: (415) 506-0234 / E: accjc@accjc.com


ACCJC Eligibility Requirements & Standards

Annual Reports

Fiscal

Outcomes

Financial Crises Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) Reports

Communications from ACCJC

ACCJC ACTION LETTERS

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE

COLLEGE REPORTS TO ACCJC

Legislation Related to Compton College

Navigation

Image of decor layer 3 Image of decor layer 2 Image of decor layer 1

We're Here to Help! Create Your Success Story at Compton College.

START HERE
Image of a young man in sunglasses in his graduation cap and gown