The Compton Community College District (CCCD) received confirmation this week, that its application for “Change in Local Control” was accepted and approved by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) on August 24.
District CEO and Compton College President Keith Curry noted the significance of this step in the historic partnership between the El Camino Community College District and the Compton Community College District, as it means Compton College will soon offer its own courses and fully operate under the authority of the Compton District.
“This is truly a historic moment for the Compton Community College District as the next and final step in the accreditation process has been approved by the ACCJC,” said Curry. “All along, the original goal since 2006 was to provide quality educational programs and services for student success while working to once again have an independent and accredited college serving the Compton District community. This change will create a renewed sense of ownership and pride for local residents, with a fully accredited college within the Compton Community College District boundaries.”
The Substantive Change Application was submitted on June 20, 2018 and two open forums were held at Compton College and El Camino College this past spring for community input.
“The Board of Trustees celebrates this important milestone, and we are extremely excited about the progress that Compton College and the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees have made over the years,” said Nicole J. Jones, president of the CCCD Board of Trustees. “We look forward to working with the El Camino Community College District to complete this transition and look forward to offering courses under the governing authority of the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees after June 7, 2019.”
A committee comprised of members from both Compton College and El Camino College has been working together to implement items outlined in a comprehensive transition plan since 2017. Many important tasks have already been completed and quite a few more are underway as Compton College transitions into the 114th fully independent college of the California Community Colleges system. Compton College is expected to offer a full schedule of classes operating under its own independent district, starting with the summer 2019 term.
“We are proud of the collaborative partnership established between the El Camino Community College and Compton Community College districts in 2006,” said El Camino College Superintendent/President Dena P. Maloney. “The approval of the Substantive Change Application is an important milestone and a tribute to the faculty and staff of both colleges who have worked together every day to provide educational opportunities and support services to residents of the Compton Community College District.”
Accreditation consists of several steps. The ACCJC granted initial accreditation status to Compton College during its June 7, 2017 meeting, and now that the Substantive Change Application has been approved the Compton Community College District will request that the chancellor of the California Community Colleges issue an executive order declaring that Compton College will operate as an independent college under the authority of CCCD effective June 7, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. At that same time, the partnership between the Compton Community College District and the El Camino Community College District will come to an end.
“The academic communities at each campus have been dedicated to the delivery of a quality education, career training leading to good-paying jobs, and vital student support services for students, veterans, and working adults served by the Compton Community College District,” said El Camino Community College District Board President John Vargas.
The Compton Community College District encompasses an area of about 29 square miles, making educational services available to nearly 300,000 residents of Compton, Lynwood, Paramount and Willowbrook, as well as portions of Athens, Bellflower, Carson, Downey, Dominguez, Lakewood, Long Beach and South Gate.
In August 2006, the El Camino Community College District Board of Trustees agreed to provide educational and related support services to Compton Community College District residents through El Camino College Compton Center. Throughout the entire partnership, which was the first of its kind, the primary objective was to provide quality educational programs and services for student success, while working to once again have an independent college serving the Compton Community College District community.
For more information, the Compton College: Three-Year Report to the Community summarizes the progress made throughout the partnership between the Compton and El Camino community college districts and can be viewed in full at online at http://www.compton.edu/
