Wayne County Community College District Earns Highest Reaccreditation Recommendation From the Higher Learning Commission

DETROIT, June 3  Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) has earned the highest possible form of national academic approval with the recommendation for a ten-year reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

The announcement was made by WCCCD Chancellor Curtis L. Ivery.

"Earning another full ten-year reaccreditation is a major accomplishment for any college, and doing so in the current environment of our great challenges just reaffirms to our community that WCCCD is fulfilling its promise to be a nationally leading, quality educational institution committed to serving the students and communities of Southeastern Michigan," Ivery said.

The recommendation for a full ten-year reaccreditation was made with the unusual finding of zero improvements needed in the view of the HLC. The HLC is an independent group of top educators from around the nation. They conducted an exhaustive on-site examination of WCCCD before making the reaccreditation recommendation.

The Higher Learning Commission of NCA accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central Region. It is an independent body and one of two commission members of the NCA; which is one of the six regional educational accreditors in the United States.

"Building upon more than four decades of service to students as a comprehensive community college, WCCCD is reinventing itself to be a critical partner in the economic revival of southeast Michigan," the HLC Evaluation Team concluded.

"One of the greatest strengths of the organization is its strength and sustainability of leadership," HLC Peer Review Chair Dr. Phyllis Abt said when she delivered the findings to the WCCCD faculty, staff and Board of Trustees. She praised the exemplary efforts by WCCCD in the College's self-study report and preparations for the on-site examination.

"We were impressed by the efforts of the District and its Chancellor and recommend that the next comprehensive visit by HLC occur in 2019-20," Abt said. "In spite of an unemployment rate of more than 20 percent, diminishing tax revenues and a declining population base, the College continues to deliver high quality instruction to meet the needs of is growing student population."

"Wayne County Community College District is embarking into uncharted waters," the HLC Evaluation Report mentioned. "Based upon its past performance, its resilience in challenging times, its talented staff and visionary leadership, its passionate faculty and its immense community support, the team believes that the College will continue to meet the five criteria for accreditation."

The HLC extended visit was the culmination of an extensive self-study review focusing on the five criteria for accreditation: mission and integrity; preparing for the future; student learning and effective teaching; acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge; and engagement of service. The team toured WCCCD's campuses, meeting with faculty, staff, students and community members.

HLC team members for peer evaluation of WCCCD included: Dr. Phyllis Abt, Front Range Community College; Dr. George Banziger, Lewis and Clark Community College; Dr. Helen Doss, City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College; Dr. Diana Doyle, Community College of Denver; Dr. Rosalie Hine, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana; Dr. Rose Kuceyeski, Owens Community College; Dr. Suzanne Laura Miles, Pima County Community College, District; Dr. Janet Perry, Oklahoma City Community College; Mr. Jim Simpson, Maricopa Community Colleges-Scottsdale; Dr. Jerry-Sue Thornton, Cuyahoga Community College.

About WCCCD: WCCCD is a multi-campus district with five campus locations, University Square and the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education (MIPSE), serving 32 cities and townships, spanning more than 500 square miles. WCCCD is committed to the continued development of new programs, hosting community-based training sessions, improving student facilities and services, upgrading technologies, making capital investments in massive building expansion projects and training staff members to enhance their skills to maximize efficiency.

For more information about WCCCD, call (313) 496-2704 or visit www.wcccd.edu.

SOURCE Wayne County Community College District