Accreditation

About

Accreditation is the process for evaluating and assuring the quality of education used by the American higher education community. It is a uniquely American quality assurance process through which institutions collectively set standards for good practice, conduct peer-based evaluations of institutions, on a regular basis, confer accredited status on institutions, and make the results of accreditation review of institutions known to the public. Through accreditation, the higher education community shoulders the responsibility for monitoring the quality of the programs and services or member institutions. Agencies that develop and apply standards are called accrediting commissions. Accrediting commissions were created by a collective group that wished to engage in the quality review and assurance process, and those institutions were and are referred to as the member institutions of a commission.

Institutional Accreditation is public certification that institutions meet defined standards of quality and responsibility.

Accredited Status

Hartnell College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814 - Telephone number: 415-506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at: https://accjc.org/

• June 15, 2023 Action Letter from ACCJC
• Dr. Lewallen's July 1, 2019 Letter to Community
• June 28, 2019 Action Letter from ACCJC
• ACCJC's Report of the External Evaluation Team

Certificate of Accreditation

Hartnell College Current Accreditation Certificate

Public Notification of an Evaluation Visit and Third Party Comment

Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) invites Third-Party Comment about Hartnell College

Hartnell College is seeking comments from the public about the College in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. The College will host a visit March 4-7, 2019, with a team representing the ACCJC. Hartnell College has been accredited by ACCJC since 1952. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet ACCJC’s accreditation standards, eligibility requirements, and Commission policies.

Seven Year Review Cycle

The College maintains its accreditation by fulfilling criteria that are determined by ACCJC.

Throughout its continuous seven-year review cycle Hartnell College publishes and conducts several review instruments, including:

• an annual report
• annual fiscal report
• midterm report
• comprehensive institutional self-study
• and an evaluation review by a team of peers