blackvoicenews.com

By BVN Staff –

The Riverside Community College District announced Monday that its youngest campuses Norco and Moreno Valley passed the litmus test to become colleges.

The Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges voted to approve college status for the 18-year-old institutions.

The accreditation culminates a rigorous eight-year process including a series of complex visits in October. Students, faculty and staff celebrated the Commission’s decision as a life changing moment for the campuses which opened in 1991. Both campuses have seen their enrollments grow from 3,000 to more than 9,000 students, mirroring the population boom in surrounding communities.

“I am especially proud that the accrediting commission, in approving our application, commended Norco Campus for 'nurturing a culture of collegial open dialogue throughout the institution' and for our 'strong sense of community, positive focus on student success, and healthy trust in the participatory governance process',” said Norco Campus President Brenda Davis.

“Achieving accredi tation 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’s sister campus in Moreno Valley has kept pace, fielding its own strong planning and preparation effort on the road to accreditation.

“Gaining initial accreditation for Moreno Valley College is a magnificent achievement by the faculty, staff, students, administrators, and community,” Moreno Valley Campus President Monte Perez said. “My heartfelt thanks go to the faculty, staff, and students for never forgetting the dream of becoming an independent college within Riverside Community College District.”

College status brings many benefits of additional funding from the state, once the Board of Governors of California Community Colleges votes to accept the ACCJC approval and grants college status to the Moreno Valley and Norco campuses. Based upon past practice, this new funding is expected to approach $2.8 million. As accredited colleges, the campuses also will be able to independently apply for and receive additional state and federal grants, including money to fund Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) to serve disadvantaged populations.

“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.”