Accreditation

A team of consultant-evaluators completed their on-site accreditation visit March 9, 2005. The college received a recommendation for ten years of continued accreditation with no focus visits or monitoring reports. The exit report of the team's visit was extremely complementary to the college, its faculty, staff, students, and the community.

The self-study involved identifying college-wide strengths and challenges in accordance with accreditation criteria and in relation to our mission and values. The self-study report was submitted in early January 2005 and the visit occurred March 7-9, 2005.

What is it?

Accreditation is a voluntary peer review process that provides colleges and universities with the impetus to critically evaluate their purposes and whether those purposes are being achieved. Accreditation:

• ensures the quality and integrity of MCC's programs and services.
• allows students to transfer credits to other accredited colleges and universities.
• enables students to obtain financial aid and veteran's services.
• allows the college to participate in projects funded by federal grants.
• ensures that the college can recruit and retain quality faculty and staff.

How does it happen?

Following an initial accreditation, colleges and universities are evaluated every ten years and/or periodically as necessary. Institutions conduct a self study, submit the self-study report to the HLC, and prepare for an onsite visit from peer reviewers representing the accrediting agency. According to the HLC, these consultant-evaluators have two primary responsibilities: to offer advice to institutions to help them improve the quality of the education they provide and to evaluate and confirm the quality of an educational institution.

Who is responsible?

Six regional agencies provide institutional accreditation on a geographical basis - Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western.

Mesa Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and a member of the North Central Association (NCA).
HLC Address: 30 N. LaSalle St, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602 
Website: www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org
Email: info@hlcommission.org
Telelphone: (800) 621-7440

MCC Self-Study Reports

Executive Summary (PDF)
2005 Self-Study Report (PDF)