What is accreditation?
Accreditation is an evaluation that colleges and universities choose to under go. This voluntary evaluation compares their college to established standards and is conducted by a reviewing agency. Colleges are evaluated on many criteria, including degree programs, governance and administration, financial stability, admissions and student services, institutional resources, student learning, institutional effectiveness, and relationships with internal and external constituencies. The college's accreditation is then periodically reevaluated to make sure it continues to hold up to the established standards. An accredited college can lose its accreditation if the reviewing agency believes it no longer maintains the established standards.
Why is it important?
Accreditation is an important qualification for students who are applying for federal loans and grants. Many employers look for an education from an accredited college because that says you have received a level of education that meets or exceeds the established standards for education. The courses you take and degree you earn from an accredited college is generally more acceptable for transfer to other schools should you decide to pursue your education. |
Metropolitan Community College is accredited
by the Higher Learning Commission and is a
member of the North Central Association.
- Higher Learning Commission
30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602-2504
(800) 621-7440; (312) 263-0456
Fax: (312) 263-7462
Metro's Self Study
The self study of Metropolitan Community College was published in 2002 as part of the requirements for continuous re-accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission. It provides a summary of accomplishments for 1992-2002.
Program accreditation
In addition to institutional accreditation, the accrediting bodies of various professional associations approve many Metro educational programs.
- The Associate Degree Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 305 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
- The Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs are approved by the Nebraska Board of Nursing, P.O. Box 95044, Lincoln, NE 68509
- The Automotive Technology and Auto Body Technology programs are accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), 101 Blue Seal Drive, Suite 101, Leesberg, VA 20175.
- All Metro Business programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), 7007 College Boulevard, Suite 420, Overland Park, KS 66211.
- The Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (ADA), 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
- The Culinary Arts program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission (ACFEIAC), 10 San Bartola Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32086 and by the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE), 3205 Skipwith Road, Richmond, VA 23294.
- The Financial Planning Certificate of Achievement in personal financial planning is a registered program with Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards, Inc., 1670 Broadway, Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202
- The Human Services program is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE), 1900 Galen Drive, Ste. 412, Houston, TX 77030.
- The Legal Assistant program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), 740 15th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20005.
- Real Estate courses are approved by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, 1200 N Street, Suite 402 P.O. Box 94667, Lincoln, NE 68509.
- The Respiratory Care Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Educational Programs, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970, Chicago, IL 60601.
Accreditation History
- During Metro’s accreditation history, evaluation teams have visited the college seven times, and MCC has submitted three special reports since it applied for candidacy in 1974.
- MCC had its first evaluation visit in December 1974, which resulted in candidacy status approval in April 1975.
- In November 1976, the college hosted a biennial visit and was approved for continuing candidacy status and for moving toward accreditation.
- After the initial accreditation visit in November 1978, MCC was granted accreditation for five years in April 1979. However, a mandated focused visit was scheduled in 1980-81 to fulfill the requirements of initial accreditation.
- Based on the April 1981 mandatory focused visit, the visiting team thought the college had not yet resolved issues raised earlier: developing a long-range master plan and reducing the Board of Governors’ involvement in administrative matters.
- A follow-up focused visit was schedule for the following year.
- In March 1982, the visiting team conducted a focused visit and concluded that the college had addressed the master planning concern but had not fully addressed the concern about board involvement in administrative matters. Because of this, the next comprehensive visit was moved forward one academic year to Spring 1983.
- In March 1983, the first evaluation visit for continued accreditation occurred. The commission stipulated that the college submit a five-year status report in 1987-88.
- In October 1992, a second evaluation visit for continued accreditation occurred.
- The visiting team recommended a 10-year continuing accreditation status with the next scheduled visit occurring in 2002-03. However, the college was required to provide a detailed description of its institutional program for the assessment of student academic achievement during 1995-96.
- In May 1996, the college submitted the requested report, which was subsequently approved. Information about previous visits and reports is available in the Resource Room.
- In October 2002, the evaluation team from the Higher Learning Commission returned and “enthusiastically and unanimously” recommended another 10 years of accreditation. The college was asked to prepare a progress report due in 2005 on assessing student achievement and integrating the assessment into curricula development, relevant planning and budgeting processes.
|
