SCC accreditation visit a success, says President Lambert

Shoreline Community College Board of Trustees member Roger Olstad (right)
speaks with Karin Hilgersom, Vice President for Instruction
at Central Oregon Community College,
during the welcome event for the Oct. 3-5, 2012
accreditation evaluators visit at Shoreline Community College.
Photo courtesy SCC

By Jim Hills

Shoreline Community College does a terrific job in many areas and has opportunities for improvement in others, according to an initial verbal report from a team of accreditation evaluators.

“Today Shoreline Community College concluded a full-scale accreditation visit from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and I am very pleased that the visit was a success,” Shoreline President Lee Lambert said on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. “Although the final verdict from today's visit will not be official until the early part of the new year, I am confident the college demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning and a willingness to continue improving its efforts toward mission fulfillment.”

The evaluators were impressed at how well the college stayed focused on students despite severe reductions in state funding over recent years. The strong spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship by the workforce programs, generally referred to as professional-technical programs, was also called out as a strength that led to significant community engagement and economic development. The evaluators lauded the physical campus, its upkeep and the environment it presents for learning.

The overall financial health and stewardship of the college was also commended. Shoreline recently adopted a set of reserve policies designed help sustain the college despite uncertain economic conditions. The Board of Trustees’ focus on planning for the future was notable, the evaluators said. And, Shoreline was commended for the actual report submitted the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and reviewed by the evaluators.

“The evaluators also saw areas where we can improve,” Lambert said. “That’s OK; we are always working hard to get better and we welcome their perspective.”