Accreditation

What is Accreditation?

Sierra College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), 428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814.

The ACCJC is one of seven regional accrediting commissions, and is authorized to operate by the U.S. Department of Education through the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. ACCJC accredits associate degree-granting institutions in the Western region of the U.S. Accreditation is a voluntary system of self-regulation developed to evaluate overall educational quality and institutional effectiveness (The Commission’s complete Purpose Statement is available in Article I, section 2 of its Bylaws).

In addition, Sierra College has received specialized accreditation from the following accreditors: 

The ACCJC accreditation process provides assurance to the public that the accredited member colleges meet the Standards; the education earned at the institutions is of value to the student who earned it; and employers, trade or profession-related licensing agencies, and other colleges and universities can accept a student’s credential as legitimate.

Accreditation isn’t a one-day process, it’s an everyday effort where we work together to meet standards and serve our community.

Willy Duncan, Sierra College President/Superintendent

Accreditation of Sierra College

Every seven years Sierra College undergoes review and reaffirmation of our accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). Accreditation is a quality assurance process that gives the college the opportunity to engage in institution-wide dialogue and self-evaluation activities in order to gain a comprehensive perspective of the state of the institution. The scope of accreditation is to promote quality student learning and continuous quality improvement to ensure high quality student learning. Accreditation status is a critical component that certifies and safeguards high quality student learning programs and services.

Accreditation allows us to provide federal financial aid to our students, receive federal funding, grant students recognized degrees, and articulate our courses with other colleges and universities.

For evidence, please contact the Office of Planning, Research and Resource Development at research@sierracollege.edu.

Previous Results and Reports