By Nanette Asimov
San Francisco Chronicle

January 13, 2017 Updated: January 13, 2017 6:22pm

SACRAMENTO — City College of San Francisco will stay in business and its five-year fight to remain accredited is over, college officials learned Friday.
The private commission that threatened to revoke the school’s accreditation — stunning the college by declaring it so poorly run that it should be shut down — delighted administrators Friday with news that it had voted to extend the school’s all-important seal of approval for a full term of seven years.
“I feel great. City College’s accreditation nightmare is over,” said Rafael Mandelman, president of the college’s Board of Trustees.
City College Chancellor Susan Lamb announced the commission’s decision to students and employees in a triumphant email that capped an exhausting, years-long period of nail-biting in which the threat of closure cost the public millions of dollars in legal fees and state subsidies, led the city into court to defend its namesake college, and sent hundreds of faculty members and students to demonstrate in defense of their beloved school.
“This confirmation is a major accomplishment. It is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire City College community who came together to meet — and even exceed — the standards of our accreditors. Congratulations!” Lamb wrote.
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Bouchra Simmons, the student member of the college’s Board of Trustees, said: “I am beyond excited, happy, and relieved that City College is going to stay open. City College is here to serve everyone that needs it. It’s a school of possibilities in life.”
California Community College Chancellor Eloy Oakley called the announcement “a new beginning for City College of San Francisco and its students,” and said the college has been strengthened by “years of institutional improvement.”
The 19 members of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges made the decision behind closed doors during their semiannual, three-day meeting at a capital hotel this week, as they also considered accreditation questions for 33 other colleges from the region it covers: California, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.
Mandelman said he was highly encouraged about City College’s prospects after he and Lamb made their case to the commission on Thursday afternoon.
Relying on an extensive self-evaluation report, Lamb and Mandelman hoped to show that City College has satisfied all 14 accrediting standards and numerous substandards in full — concerning fiscal management, campus decision-making, technology, library services and more. Failure would mean the commission could revoke the school’s accreditation and prohibit any appeal.

In 2012, City College — considered one of the largest colleges in the country with a reported 90,000 students — received the most severe sanction, “show cause,” requiring it to show why it should remain accredited and not be shut down. Only one California community college has had its accreditation revoked: Compton College, near Los Angeles, which closed in 2005.
Over the years, the commission had argued that City College’s governance and fiscal management problems were so severe that it had no choice but to vote to revoke accreditation. Financial planning was in disarray and officials were unable to make accurate financial projections, independent audits found. Nor could the college reconcile its revenue and spending with the number of students enrolled and their academic needs, among other problems.
But the promised revocation of the college’s accreditation was repeatedly held at bay. A legal challenge from San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera bought the school more time in 2014. Then, a 2015 deal with the college gave it two more years — until now — to fully comply with all accrediting standards.
On Thursday, college officials persuaded the commission that City College is now able to accurately forecast and monitor its budgets, a basic yet critical task for running a college.
Today, their report promises, City College “annually updates its multi-year financial projections” as required, has rebuilt its financial reserves and has “placed a high priority” on funding long-term obligations like retiree health costs.
The famously secretive and by-the-books commission had indicated through a spokeswoman earlier this week that it would sit on its verdict for up to 30 days and disclose it only when it announced accrediting decisions for the other 33 schools. But the fact that it revealed the news right away indicates that the once hard-nosed commission also has been transformed by its battle with City College.
State college officials initially supported the commission’s crackdown on City College. But as the commission revealed that its intention was less about helping the college improve and more about shutting it down, state officials began to share the alarm shown all along by college faculty. Soon the commission was the subject of two lawsuits, a state audit and a reprimand from the U.S. Department of Education, which oversees it.
Today, only five of the original 19 commissioners who sought to revoke the college’s accreditation remain on the panel. Also gone is the influential president of the agency, Barbara Beno, who strongly supported revoking the school’s accreditation. She was placed on administrative leave in December for undisclosed reasons.
Faculty, who for five years battled Beno and the commission in court and on the streets, are ecstatic at the news.
“All of us at the college are so excited and relieved that the accreditation crisis is over,” said Tim Killikelly, president of the American Federation of Teachers Local 2121, which represents faculty.
In a reference to the enrollment decline of nearly 30,000 full- and part-time students since the crisis began — a crisis in itself that is costing the college millions of dollars in state funding — Killikelly said: “Sign up and take a class!”
Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov

Go to http://www.sfchronicle.com/ccsf/ for full coverage

ACCJC Statement issued June 11, 2014, 3:00 p.m. Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges

(ACCJC), 10 Commercial Blvd., Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949; 415-506-0234
accjc@accjc.org.

At its meeting last year, June 5-7, 2013, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) took action to terminate the accreditation of City College of San Francisco (CCSF)based on the institution’s failure to meet many of the Commission's accreditation standards. The decision to terminate CCSF’s accreditation was not in reaction to a single issue or to problems that occurred over a short period of time. Instead, the decision was made due to years of inaction by CCSF to address serious deficiencies identified through peer reviews and acknowledged by the college. These deficiencies, spanning across all areas of the Accreditation Standards, severely impacted academic quality and the operational sustainability of the college. Since the termination decision, CCSF leaders have taken the need to implement changes at the institution seriously and have begun the work to address deficiencies identified by ACCJC. The leaders of CCSF have acknowledged, however, that the institution is at least 18 months from being in compliance with ACCJC standards.
As the July 31,2014, effective date of termination quickly approaches, there havebeen increased calls for the Commission to rescind its decision. However, the Commission has been, and will continue to be, steadfast in its decision, which was clearly warranted. While ACCJC concern about CCSF noncompliance remains, the Commission also recognizes the need to balance the impact of such a decision on students with its commitment to holding CCSF and all postsecondary institutions accountable in meeting core standards. In response to this need, the Commission has worked to identify a path forward that maintains the termination decision and holds the college accountable for addressing the standards, but would enable the college reasonable but limited additionaltime to come into compliance with ACCJC standards.

Today, ACCJC is proposing a new accreditation policy. The policy generally would permit any postsecondary institution that hasbeen notified of termination for failure to meet ACCJC standards to apply, prior to the effective date of termination, for restoration of its accreditation. The proposed policy language, attached, has been posted to ACCJC’s website, allowing for a two-week public comment period, which will conclude on June 25, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. ACCJC will carefully review all public comments and issue a final policy soon after the two-week comment period has concluded. Final approval is also contingent upon written confirmation from the U.S. Department of Education that the proposed policy is not in conflict with federal regulation or law. Recent communications with U.S. Department of Education officials have been constructive and productive; the language of the policy and its application to CCSF have been vetted, and the ACCJC is optimistic that such a letter will be provided. Under the proposed policy, the institution seeking "accreditation restoration" status would first have to be determined eligible and then undergo an intensive review to demonstrate its ability to come into compliance with all standards within a two-year period. Then, if approved for restoration, the institution would have no more than two years to show full compliance with all standards. If after this period the institution has not met all accreditation standards –or if restoration status is not approved to begin with --the prior termination order would be activated without any opportunity for an appeal.

If this policy is adopted as expected, CCSF would have the opportunity to take steps to be designated as being inrestoration status. Its application for the status would need to be filed prior to the termination effective date of July 31, 2014, and, if the eligibility report demonstrates all eligibility requirements are met, the initial comprehensive evaluation would be conducted no later than four months following that application. On receipt of the college’s request for restoration status, the date of termination would be deferred during the review and (if granted) restoration status. In restoration status, CCSF would have two years to show full compliance with all standards. Other institutions in comparable circumstances would have a similar opportunity under the new policy. Additional Information can be found on the ACCJC website at www.accjc.org: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC) Policy on Commission Actions on Institutions (Approved for First Reading, June 2014; Excerpt- changed section)V.

Actions that Terminate Accreditation
If, in the judgment of the Commission, an institution has not satisfactorily explained or corrected matters of which it has been given notice, has not addressed deficiencies within the period specified by the Commission,or has taken an action that has placed it significantly out of compliance with the Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, and Commission policies, its accreditation may be terminated. The Commission will give the institution written reasons for its decision. Termination of accreditation is subject to a request for review and appeal under the applicable policies and procedures of the Commission. The accredited status of the institution continues pending completion of any review and appeal process the institution may request. Otherwise, the institution's accreditation ends on the date when the time period permitting such a request expires. Restoration Status. Prior to the termination effective date or completion of any requested review and appeal process, whichever is later, the institution may submit a request for granting of restoration status. If, however, an institution has been granted a good cause extension to come into compliance with any standard prior to the termination action, the institution may not apply for restoration status following termination. The request for granting of restoration status must be accompanied by a completed eligibility report, demonstrating compliance with the Eligibility Requirements. Upon receipt of the institution’s request, the Commission shall schedule a comprehensive evaluation of the institution no later than four months following the request. The institution must submit an institutional self evaluation report no later than six weeks prior to the scheduled visit. For the period leading to completion of the comprehensive evaluation for restoration status, the termination effective date will be rescinded and the termination implementation will be suspended. The institution’s accredited status will be “accredited, pending termination.”The comprehensive evaluation for restoration status will determine if the institution meets all of the Eligibility Requirements and has demonstrated either its compliance with all of the Accreditation Standards and Commission policies or the ability to meet them within the two-year