Part-Time Faculty Jobs to Remain Secure During Accreditation Appeal at California Community College

On November 21, 2005, administration, students, and faculty at Compton Community College in Compton, California learned that the June, 2005 decision of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) to pull CCC’s accreditation had been upheld by the organization’s Accrediting Commission. Compton officials filed a second appeal this past December.

The future of Compton’s 89 part-time faculty hangs in the balance. Should these part-timers start stockpiling rice and potatoes and scrambling for new jobs while waiting for the axe to fall at CCC?

No, says a college spokesperson, who preferred not to be named, but whose remarks were confirmed by the college’s Special Trustee, Dr. Charles Ratliff. Because the accreditation dispute is a “respectful disagreement” about issues that are unrelated to fiscal concerns, CCC has no plans to lay off part-time faculty. Rather, CCC will be “counting on them” to continue teaching throughout the appeal process. There is a possibility, in fact, that even more adjunct professors will be hired. As noted on CCC’s website, the college will retain its accreditation during the appeal process.

Ratliff further confirmed that, as part of its appeal, CCC has submitted evidence that was previously submitted to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), as well as evidence of the college’s fiscal stability. CCC’s appeal is also based on an allegation of procedural error and bias. The timeline for this second appeal is uncertain. As explained in an FAQ published on the college’s website at http://www.compton.edu/, once WASC receives CCC’s appeal papers, it will conduct a hearing to review any evidence submitted by the college. A decision on accreditation will then be made, but WASC’s Constitution does not set forth a specific deadline for the decision.

As for the long term, if the second appeal fails, CCC is considering taking the matter to court. Given the notorious slowness of the American judicial system, that could mean months, or even years, of limbo for the college—and, it appears, continued employment for the school’s part-time faculty.