Figure 1
Figure 1 is a chart that shows the 2012 ACCJC accreditation standards in effect for the colleges that we reviewed. The chart identifies the four areas of accreditation standards: 1. Institutional Mission and Effectiveness. 2. Student Learning Program and Services. 3. Resources, and 4. Leadership and Governance. Our audit looks at standards under two of the four areas: Resources, and Leadership and Governance.
Under Resources, the standards require that the institution assures that any technology support it provides is designed to meet the needs of learning, teaching, college-wide communications, research, and operational systems. Bullet #1 of 2: The institution provides quality training in the effective application of its information technology to students and personnel. Bullet #2 of 2: The institution systematically plans, acquires, maintains, and upgrades or replaces technology infrastructure and equipment to meet institutional needs.
Under Leadership and Governance, the standard requires that the institution establishes and implements a written policy providing for faculty, staff, administrator, and student participation in decision-making processes. The policy specifies the manner in which individuals bring forward ideas from their constituencies and work together on appropriate policy planning, and special-purpose bodies. Bullet #1 of 1: Faculty and administrators have a substantive and clearly defined role in institutional governance and exercise a substantial voice in institutional policies, planning, and budget that relate to their areas of responsibility and expertise. Students and staff also have established mechanisms or organizations for providing input into institutional decisions.
Figure 2
Figure 2 is a flowchart that shows the annual review processes at American River, Cerritos, and De Anza. The figure also shows where the colleges identified faculty and staff as having opportunities to provide input during these processes.
At American River, the first step is a box labeled Instructors and identifies that instructors make requests for instructional technology to their department chairs. The second step is a box labeled Department Chair and identifies that the department chair meets with instructors to discuss the requests, and forwards approved requests to the dean. Also at this step, the process identifies that faculty and staff have an opportunity to provide input to the department chair. The third step is a box labeled Dean and identifies that the dean meets with their department chairs to discuss the requests, and forwards approved requests to their vice president. The fourth step is a box labeled Vice President and identifies that the vice president makes a decision based on conversations with the deans. The fifth step is a box labeled Budget Committee and identifies that he budget committee meets in open session to review budget proposals and allocations from the annual review process. Also, at this step, the process shows that faculty and staff have an opportunity to provide input to the budget committee. The six step is a box labeled President and identifies that the president reviews the budget allocation for instructional equipment with executive staff and approves distribution of funds.
At Cerritos, the first step is a box labeled Instructors and identifies that instructors make requests for instructional technology to their department chairs. The second step is a box labeled Department Chair and identifies that the department chair meets with instructors to discuss the requests, and forwards approved requests to the dean. At this step, the process also identifies that faculty and staff have an opportunity to provide input to the department chair. The third step is a box labeled Dean and identifies that the dean holds division meetings with their department chairs to discuss and prioritize the requests, and forwards approved requests to the vice president. The fourth step is a box labeled Vice President and identifies that the vice president meets with academic deans to review requests, and forwards approved requests to the Planning and Budget Committee. The fifth step is a box labeled Planning and Budget Committee and identifies that the Planning and Budget Committee meets to review the technology requests in open session and after review, the committee forwards its list of recommendations for consideration by the president and executive council At this step, the process also identifies that faculty and staff have an opportunity to provide input to the Planning and Budget Committee. The sixth step is a box labeled Executive Council and President and identifies that the executive council and president make a final decision on which requests are approved.
At De Anza, the first step is a box labeled Instructors and identifies that instructors make requests for instructional technology to the department chairs. This step also identifies that instructors may also discuss requests with the dean at the third step. The second step is a box labeled Department Chair and identifies that the department chair meets with instructors, and forwards the proposals to the dean. At this step, the process also identifies that faculty and staff have an opportunity to provide input to the department chair. The third step is a box labeled Dean and identifies that the dean prepares summaries of the departments’ proposals, and forwards them to the Instructional Planning and Budget Committee. The fourth step is a box labeled Instructional Planning and Budget Committee (committee) and identifies that the committee meets to review the technology requests in open session, and after review, the committee forwards recommendations to the college council and president. Also at this step, the process identifies that faculty and staff have an opportunity to provide input to the Planning and Budget Committee. The fifth step is a box labeled College Council and President and identifies that the college council and president make a final decision on which requests are approved. Also at this step, the process identifies that faculty and staff have an opportunity to provide input to the college council and president.