About the De Anza College Self-Study
January 2010

Accreditation Process

Colleges are granted accreditation when they meet or surpass stated standards of educational quality. De Anza College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Blvd., Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, 415.506.0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Accreditation is important because it certifies to the public, students and our employees that De Anza is fulfilling its mission and goals to maintain the best practices in higher education, recognized at local, state and national levels. It certifies that De Anza has:

• Appropriate purposes
• Resources to accomplish its purposes
• Evidence to support its stated accomplishments
• Given assurance that it will continue to accomplish its purposes

During the process of accreditation, De Anza conducts a Self-Study. The last Self-Study was completed in 2005, and the college is currently working on its 2011 Self-Study. Teams comprised of faculty, staff, administrators and students ask questions such as:

• Are students learning?
• How do we know students are learning?
• Are we doing what we say we are doing?
• How well are we doing it?
• What evidence supports our claims?

With honesty, energy and commitment from all the self-study teams, we collect information on the changes that have occurred on our campus, document how well we have met our goals, determine where we need to improve, and prepare ourselves for the future.

The self-study is just one of the elements for accreditation. De Anza also publishes an official report on this self-evaluation, hosts onsite visits from a commission evaluation team, and receives recommendations for action.
For comments, suggestions or contributions contact:

Accreditation Liaison Officer: Marisa Spatafore