The Higher Learning Commission has extended the accredited status of Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) for another decade.
The accreditation followed a comprehensive evaluation by peer reviewers from the commission last spring. Those reviews are among six regional institutional accreditors in the United States with authority to rate post-secondary educational institutions in 19 states. The peer reviewers particularly lauded the fiscal responsibility and commitment to local communities during the pandemic demonstrated by WCCCD.
“We are complimented and proud to again receive this affirmation of the world-class quality of our college district from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC),” said WCCCD Chancellor Dr. Curtis L. Ivery. “Our mission has always been to provide pathways to better lives through higher education. The HLC's rigorous evaluation of our district validated that our programs, faculty, facilities, and methods are pursuing that mission with excellence.”
The HLC peer review process is intended to provide colleges and universities with a critical evaluation of their purposes, and how effective they have been in serving those purposes, according to a prepared statement. The commission also seeks to ensure that quality benchmarks are being met and that the college is engaged in continuous improvement processes, including professional development.
WCCCD received a reaffirmation of accreditation and met all required criteria with no negative findings. WCCCD is the largest urban community college in Michigan and operates six campus locations and specialty campuses, and serves nearly 70,000 students in 36 cities and townships, officials said. The college is committed to the continued development of new programs, workforce transformation, hosting community-based training sessions, and improving student facilities and services, officials said.
