Reason for hope

S.J. Delta College, too essential to fail, is unlikely to lose its accreditation
By The Record
November 20, 2008 6:00 AM

Good news for San Joaquin Delta College, an important asset in this area that has endured its share of bad news in recent months.

Likely the college will not lose its accreditation.

Although not official yet, it is "very unlikely" accreditation will be pulled, according to Brian King, president of Cabrillo College in Aptos, who was at Delta this week representing the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

A complete report is expected from the association by February, and it should spell out what the college has done that pleases WASC representatives. But King, speaking at a public forum after meeting with college officials, said, "A lot of things have changed since the (last) time we were here."

There probably was no actual danger that the college would lose its accreditation. Losing accreditation would make degrees from Delta afterward worthless in the eyes of many, including schools where students might transfer. Accreditation is so important that school officials would be expected to do anything possible to keep it. And apparently they did.

When the accreditation team first visited, it voiced concern about a number of issues, including the lack of a trustee ethics code, the lack of stability among the district's leadership ranks, the lack of planning and the perception of bias on campus.

Delta officials put together a 250-page response, which took issue with some of the accreditation team's findings but also said the college was moving aggressively to make improvements.

That kind of quick, positive response is refreshing and noteworthy. A highly critical grand jury report and an equally critical state audit chastised college officials for the way a $250 million bond was handled. Grand jurors also questioned the district leadership, especially the Board of Trustees for its bickering and lack of unity.

The college's responses to the grand jury report and the audit showed more interest in defending district practices than in improving them.

And in response, voters on Nov. 4 ousted two incumbent trustees and found replacements for two others who did not seek re-election.

But the series of critical reports has prompted change, according to English instructor Sam Hatch.

"A lot of institutional denial has broken down, and people are willing to go to work to make things better," Hatch said at the public forum.

Let's hope. Delta College is too incredibly important to this area to be allowed to fail.

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