Accreditation is a voluntary system of self-regulation and peer review for colleges based on standards of good practice. It is designed to assure students and the surrounding community that the college meets or exceeds these standards which reflect minimum conditions of quality and service for accredited institutions of higher learning. These standards of good practice are developed to reflect both federal requirements and widely accepted practices in higher education nationally.
Grossmont College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) which is associated with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The ACCJC accredits public and private two-year colleges in California, Hawaii and the Pacific region. There are five other accrediting agencies across the county. The Commission is composed of 19 commissioners elected for three year terms that represent a variety of stakeholders in the region. More information is available at the ACCJC web site.
Yes, the are themselves accredited by the Council for Higher Education Association (CHEA). The CHEA web site has a broad range of information and resources about accreditation.
We must be accredited in order to be eligible to distribute Federal financial aid. We also must be accredited for our courses, certificates and degrees to be accepted for transfer and as professional credentials.