ECC PREPARES FOR MIDDLE STATES SITE VISIT

     
The upcoming visit of members of the team evaluating ECC to determine the college’s new accreditation status is of vital importance to all students. The eight member team, representing the Middle State Commission on Higher Education, will visit both the Newark and West Essex campuses April 3-6. The theme for the upcoming visit is Essex County College: Putting Students First.
     
In fact, college Steering Committee Tri-Chair Dr. Charles Reid, Associate Professor of Psychology in the Division of Social Sciences, emphasized the importance to students of the entire Middle States accrediting process and the ultimate goal of accreditation. “This process is important to students because accreditation guarantees the transfer of credits earned as you look to transfer to a four-year college or university to continue your education,” he said. “We, of course, want to ensure that the time students spend here at Essex is time spent building toward both a better future and meeting academic and career goals.”   
      
The college’s Steering Committee that prepared the self-study in advance of the site visit is composed of 18 ECC faculty and administrators. Essex was last reaccredited for 10 years in 2001.  
    
Visiting site team members will tour all areas of the college and conduct interviews with administrators, faculty, staff and students before issuing its report.
    
In addition to ensuring transfer of student credits earned, schools must be accredited by an accrediting membership association so that institution will be eligible to receive federal student aid and state appropriations.
    
Accreditation is based on seven major criteria including:

• Has an appropriate mission to higher education
• Is guided by well-defined and appropriate goals
• Has established conditions and procedures to realize all college goals
• Uses assessment outcomes for academic improvement
• Is accomplishing all its goals
• Is organized and staffed appropriately to meet all goals
• Meets all requirements and standards of the Middle States Commission.

   
Essex County College, an open access community college dedicated to academic excellence, serves the dynamic needs of diverse constituencies through comprehensive educational programs and services.