On February 11, 2009, CMI received word from the ACCJC affirming that its hard work has received the recognition it is due. The College received the following message in a letter from Barbara Beno, President of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, regarding our October 15th Follow-up Report:
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, at its meeting on January 7-9, 2009, reviewed the Follow-Up Report submitted by the college. The Commission took action to accept the report, remove the college from Warning, and reaffirm accreditation [emphasis in the original]. The Commission expects that the accomplishments made by the College of the Marshall Islands during the past several report cycles will be sustained as all member institutions are to meet the Commission’s standards for accreditation at all times.
This means that CMI has been removed from all sanctions by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) based upon the follow-up report filed in October by the College. The decision affirms the tremendous progress made by CMI since October 2005 in its mission of service to the people of the RMI.
CMI was first placed on probation following a comprehensive visit during 2002 in a report which cited over 30 shortcomings. Failure to adequately address the deficiencies led to the College falling to "show cause" status in 2005 and nearly losing its accreditation.
Since then, led by a reconstituted and revitalized board and with strong support from the government, the College has focused on implementing best practices designed to improve institutional effectiveness. The College engaged an experienced college president and assembled a team of qualified faculty and capable administrators who have guided the institution in the improvement of the teaching and learning.
In the Fall 2008 semester just reviewed by the ACCJC, CMI had 64% of its first year students return from the previous Fall-- fully 10% higher than the U.S. community college average of 54%. In a U.S. national survey of student engagement, CMI scored higher than any other community college accredited by the ACCJC. This means 200 more students are attending CMI than just two years ago and they are succeeding in unprecedented numbers!
On March 2nd a nine member ACCJC evaluation team headed by Mike Rota, Chancellor of Honolulu Community College, will arrive in Majuro for a regularly scheduled comprehensive review. The team is currently reviewing a 374 page self-study report prepared by the College. It will look at all aspects of the College 's operation and measure them against published standards. If successful, this review will affirm CMI's accreditation status for the next six years.
President Hess was in Hawaii to meet with team chair Rota when the news was released.
CMI has also recently announced the release of its 2008 Financial Statements. This is CMI's 5th consecutive "unqualified" audit opinion.
If confirmed for a six year renewal of accreditation without sanction, CMI will be able to plan and implement additional programs for RMI students, consider hosting "distance learning" course from U.S. mainland colleges, and possibly returning course offerings to Ebeye. President Hess cautions, however, "first we need to affirm our continued progress via the comprehensive visit. Then careful planning and funding analysis is required before any new options begin."
This announcement comes at a time when Northern Marianas College has been continued on "show cause," American Samoa Community college has been placed on probation, and COM/FSM has had a major report rejected by the Commission.
Says Hess, "This is not a time to relax, but rather time to continue our efforts to bring quality higher educational opportunities to the people of the RMI."
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