AN INCORRIGIBLE ACCREDITING AGENCY:
ATTEMPTED MURDER MUST BE PUNISHED
On 6/11/2014, ACCJC announced a Policy Change that would create a new Restoration Status. This new policy allows for a temporary suspension of implementation of Termination to allow an institution to go through an “intensive” “comprehensive evaluation for restoration status” to determine if the institution will be able to fully meet and comply with all Eligibility Requirements, and with all Accreditation Standards and Commission policies within a 2-year restoration status period.
SET UP FOR FAILURE: HOW HIGH IS THE BAR, AND WHO DECIDES?
The Restoration policy is set up for an institution (namely CCSF) to fail. The bar is set so that a perfect 100% score is required to pass; 99% would constitute failure: ALL Eligibility Requirements, ALL Accreditation Standards, ALL Commission policies. Would Kinsella’s Gavilan College and Gornick’s West Hills Lemoore and West Hills Coalinga be able to come up with a perfect score? (Oh, wait–they probably could: because they control the Commission!)
The decision on a Restoration case will be based on “the judgment of the Commission.”
“Judgment of the Commission” is the kiss-of-death! The Commission has repeatedly and unremittingly conflated Evaluation Team “recommendations” with “deficiencies” in violation of CFR 602.18 (e) and 602.25 (a, b, c). But even with US Department of Education’s clear identification of non-compliance, ACCJC, unbelievably, CAN’T STOP; WON’T STOP!
Here’s what today’s (6/11/2014) ACCJC statement says:
“…the decision [Termination of Accreditation] was made due to years of inaction by CCSF to address serious deficiencies identified through peer reviews and acknowledged by the college. These deficiencies, spanning across all areas of the Accreditation Standards, severely impacted academic quality and the operational sustainability of the college.”
This shows that to this day, ACCJC remains incorrigible: CAN’T STOP; WON’T STOP!
Leaving CCSF’s future to the “judgment of the Commission” is a losing proposition!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
ACCJC continues to portray CCSF as having created its own accreditation fiasco by not having met accreditation standards in the past.
Despite revelations that ACCJC has engaged in distortions, misrepresentations, and outright lies in trying to shut down CCSF, it has remained unrepentant. Even today it proclaims that “the Commission has been, and will continue to be, steadfast in its decision, which was clearly warranted [ warranted in their own minds and opinion, but not according to CFR 602.18 and 602.25 criteria!]”
Once again, this shows that to this day, ACCJC is incorrigible: CAN’T STOP; WON’T STOP!
Contrary to ACCJC’s willful misrepresentations to create a picture of an institution beset with “deficiencies, spanning across all areas of the Accreditation Standards, severely impacted academic quality and the operational sustainability of the college,”
CCSF’s academic quality is excellent. Their own Evaluation Team Reports confirm this fact. However ACCJC leadership refuses to accept this fact and instead– based on “the judgment of the Commission”– decides otherwise.
As for the “operational sustainablility of the college”: Whatever financial problems (which were resolvable) that CCSF had, those financial problems paled in comparison to the fiscal crisis CAUSED and INFLICTED by ACCJC’s sanctions.
GETTING AWAY WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER OF CCSF?
ACCJC attempted to murder CCSF with trumped up charges of “deficiencies” using the pretext of abiding by Federal regulations requiring adverse action and the 2- year time limit for compliance.
ACCJC tried to murder CCSF but was unable to follow through with the completion of the attempt because of all the witnesses on the scene.
If the Policy Change ends–for now–the attempted murder, should ACCJC be held accountable for the attempt, as opposed to just for a successful murder?
If it’s not held accountable for the attempt, what’s there to stop ACCJC from trying to murder another school, or even CCSF, again?
SUCCESSFUL MAIMING
In the process of trying to murder a good school, ACCJC has already succeeded in maiming it. The school was the victim of a Roadmap to Takeover and Downsizing and has been maimed for life.
ATTEMPTED MURDER MUST HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Temporary suspension of Termination will be no cause for jubilation. Why?
Because although the murder attempt failed, CCSF has already been severely maimed for life! The school’s mission got changed and the school has been successfully taken over and downsized.
And: Because further attempts of murder can happen again based on “the judgment of the Commission.”
FURTHER ATTEMPTS OF MURDER MUST BE STOPPED
There are several ways to prevent future “attempted murders”:
· Withdrawal of recognition by US Department of Education
· Removal of current leadership (Beno, Amador, Kinsella, Gornick) of ACCJC and reform of ACCJC Bylaws to end:
o Concentration of power in President/CEO and Executive Committee (consisting of Chair, Vice Chair, and CFO/Chair of Budget & Personnel Committee)
o Unaccountability to the public with associated secrecy and opaqueness
o Requirement for obedience and “confidentiality” from institutions (as represented by single individual of Chancellor/CEO), Boards of Trustees, Evaluation Teams, and even students.
o Phony nature of ACCJC being a peer-membership body where all institutions have a vote. (Hardly anybody knows that candidates for Commissioners are selected by a Nominating Committee appointed by the Executive Committee and that institutions (Chancellors/CEO’s) can only vote YES/NO for the preselected candidates.
(This major overhaul of the Commission will be practically impossible.)
· Removal of ACCJC as sole accreditor by CCC BOG in CCR 51016 and specifying alternative accreditor (I think that this is the simplest and most practical solution)
FIGHT DOES NOT END WITH RESTORATION STATUS
It would only be natural for supporters of CCSF to breathe a sigh of relief because of a respite provided by the newly announced Restoration Status. But the announcement of ACCJC’s graciousness and generosity of giving CCSF more time to meet 100% of accreditation standards is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The Commission only did it to save itself from total isolation and discredit.
It would be foolish to trust an incorrigible accrediting agency, as led by the Power Elite of Beno, Amador, Kinsella, and Gornick, to save CCSF.
The fight is not over. The successful maiming (Takeover and Downsizing) and attempted murder (Termination sanction) must be punished!
–aj 6/11/2014