TechEDge | California Community Colleges

Two New CCC Campuses Online In 2010

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 August 2010 Written by Jen Gednalske Monday, 01 March 2010

In January, the Accreditation Commission of the Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) approved college status for two campuses at Riverside Community College District (RCCD).

Norco and Moreno Valley campuses will become the 111th and 112th California Community Colleges.

The ACCJC accredits associate degree granting institutions in California, Hawaii, the Territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

“This is an amazing day for Riverside Community College District, our more than 55,000 students, and our communities,” said Chancellor Gregory W. Gray. “I have stated publicly that RCCD is on its way to becoming one of the top community college districts in the nation. The Commission’s simultaneous approval of initial accreditation for Moreno Valley and Norco as independent colleges is visible proof of our potential for greatness.”

RCCD will now comprise of three colleges. The first college, Riverside City College, opened in 1916. Among the first community colleges in the state of California, Riverside City College serves more than 19,000 students annually. The Norco and Moreno Valley satellite campuses were both established in 1991. Since then, enrollment at those campuses increased from 3,000 to 9,000 students.

Norco Campus Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society, Fall 2009.

RCCD is located in Southern California’s Inland Empire, the third most populous area in California.

“Achieving accreditation is the result of years of hard work by our faculty, staff, students and administrators. Without the support and commitment of our entire community and Norco team this accomplishment would not have been possible." Norco Campus President Brenda Davis said.

The accrediting commission commended Norco Campus for “nurturing a culture of collegial open dialogue throughout the institution” and a “strong sense of community with a positive focus on student success.”

Accreditation is a complex eight-year process. The approval from the board, however, will bring more money to the campuses. Once the Board of Governors of California Community Colleges votes to accept the ACCJC approval, expected this March, the campuses could receive approximately $2.8 million in state funding.

Moreno Valley Campus

The campuses now also have the ability to independently apply for state and federal grants including funding for Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) to serve disadvantaged populations.

Moreno Valley Campus President Monte Perez noted, “Gaining initial accreditation for Moreno Valley College is a magnificent achievement by the faculty, staff, students, administrators and community.” The Moreno Valley Campus, known for its health and public services programs, has the only community college-based Physician Assistant program in the western United States.

Board of Trustees President and RCCD alumna Virginia Blumenthal stated, “As a member of the community, today is momentous. Now we are truly a community of colleges.” <>
 
The photo of the Norco campus Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society can be found at the A.G.S. Norco Facebook fan site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Norco-CA/AGS-Norco/189223814209.

The photo of Moreno Valley campus can be found a slideshow entitled Moreno Valley Campus in Pictures at the Moreno Valley campus Web site: http://www.rcc.edu/morenovalley/slideshows.cfm.

Parts of this story derive from the following sources:

http://www.rcc.edu/events/newsInfo.cfm?n=147

http://www.higheredjobs.com/InstitutionProfile.cfm?ProfileID=15702

Jen Gednalske is a CCC Technology Center and California Virtual Campus Project Manager
and a TechEDge Editor.