Happy New Year! | Council of Chief Librarians - California Community Colleges

It is the year of the horse. The spirit of the horse is recognized as making unremitting efforts to improve themselves. It is energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able. I think is a good omen for us. We have much work to do regarding the ACCJC Standards revisions and other issues facing our community. However, working together we will make our voices heard and foster innovation.

I would like to encourage each library to send someone to the upcoming CCL Deans and Directors Meeting on March 6-7, 2014. This is the one time each year we have the opportunity to meet, connect, and confer with one another. We are extremely fortunate to have funding support one night of lodging at the Sacramento Sheraton and no registration fees for a representative from each College. I look forward to seeing you in March.

Since the last message in late November, most of my time has been devoted to ACCJC Standard revisions. I had the opportunity to address the ACCJC Commission at their January meeting. Several commissioners spoke to me during the break to ask questions regarding the items stated. This is positive. Below is a brief timeline up to this point in time and some important next steps.

June 2012: Several Council of Chief Librarian Executive Board Members addressed the commission during public comments

September 2012: Council of Chief Librarian submitted the attached input regarding the Standard revisions.

November 2013: A resolution was passed by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. “Whereas, As of November 7, 2013, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has drafted new Standards to replace the 2002 Standards without incorporating proposals given to the Commission from the Council of Chief Librarians, a group that represents librarians in the California Community Colleges, to strengthen the coordination of student learning among librarians, learning support staff, and discipline faculty;…”

June 2013: Solicitation by ACCJC staff of preliminary draft was not extended to the library community (Council of Chief Librarians). This was a critical misstep leading to the situation in which a large segment of the field sees the ACCJC Commission as non-transparent and not wanting authentic feedback.

January 2014: CCL President attends ACCJC Commission to read statement regarding Standard Revisions

Three public hearings will be held prior to April 30, 2014 (no dates/locations posted on ACCJC website) for oral and written input. Furthermore, individual can provide written comments using the comment form on the ACCJC website. http://www.accjc.org/

The most powerful feedback will be input received by member institutions (Colleges). The comment form asks “College affiliation or name of other organization you are representing”. An official response will be submitted by CCL; however, it is critical that we work with our College Academic Senates, Accreditation Liaison Officer, and Vice-president’s to ensure our recommendations are included in the institutional response to ACCJC.

Information regarding CCL responses and recommendations to ACCJC can be view on our website http://www.cclccc.org/resources.html and full-text of the State Academic Senate Resolution is at http://www.asccc.org/fall2013/resolutions. More information will be shared at the upcoming Deans and Director’s meeting in March and via the listserv.

In October, I attended the Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee meeting (TTAC). The meeting was devoted to the forthcoming State RFP’s for Online Education, Common Assessment, and Educational Planning. These initiatives have since been awarded to Foothill-DeAnza CCD (Online Ed), Butte-Glenn CCD (Assessment and Ed Planning). More details can be found on the Chancellor’s Office website http://extranet.cccco.edu/Divisions/TechResearchInfoSys/Telecom.aspx

Lastly, in addition to addressing issues that are placed at our door, the CCL Executive Board is diligently making progress on the strategic plan. Much work has been done to accomplish this year’s action steps. Please read the CCL Executive Board meeting minutes for greater detail.

All the best,

Tim