MISSION VIEJO, CA— The South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) is proud to announce that both Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College have received reaffirmation of accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) for the next seven years. This significant achievement reflects the colleges' commitment to providing high-quality education and fostering student success.
Saddleback College
Saddleback College's accreditation was reaffirmed following the ACCJC's review of the Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER) and a thorough site visit conducted on February 26-27, 2024. The Commission commended Saddleback College for its exemplary performance in the following areas:
Standard I.A.1: Saddleback College's dedication to a student-centered environment driven by a culture of collaboration and care that includes administrators, faculty, and staff in unified efforts to enhance student access, engagement, and success.
Standard I.B.5: The development and implementation of intuitive, meaningful, and responsive instructor-level equity dashboards that have led to innovations and improvements in equitable student outcomes.
Dr. Elliot Stern, President of Saddleback College, stated, “We are incredibly proud of this recognition. Our commitment to fostering a collaborative and student-centered environment has been validated, and we will continue to strive for excellence in serving our students and community.”
Irvine Valley College
Irvine Valley College also received reaffirmation of its accreditation following the ACCJC's review of the ISER and a site visit on February 27-28, 2024. The Commission commended Irvine Valley College for its outstanding practices in the following areas:
Standards II.A.1 and II.C.6: The college’s exemplary support for transfer students, resulting in some of the highest transfer rates and student outcomes in California and the nation. This achievement is supported by expertly trained counselors, collaboration between student services and instructional services, effective use of data and technology, and equity-minded leadership.
Dr. John C. Hernandez, President of Irvine Valley College, expressed, "This commendation highlights our dedication to fostering a transfer culture that provides greater educational opportunities for all students to accomplish their goals. Our commitment to equity and collaboration has been essential to our success, and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts.
Both colleges received no compliance requirements or recommendations for improving institutional effectiveness. The next report, the Midterm Report, is due on March 15, 2028. The next comprehensive review will begin with Team ISER Review in the fall term of 2030 and conclude with a Focused Site Visit in the spring term of 2031.
Chancellor Julianna Asperin Barnes commented, “The reaffirmation of accreditation for both Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, and administrators. Their unwavering commitment to student success and educational excellence is truly commendable. We are proud of the collaborative and innovative spirit that drives our district forward.”
President of the Board Timothy Jemal added, “This reaffirmation of accreditation with commendations for both colleges underscores the high standards of education and support services provided by our district. It reflects our continuous efforts to foster an environment where students can thrive academically and personally. I commend our faculty, staff and administrators for their exemplary work. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to serve our community with two premier colleges.”
The SOCCCD leadership team is incredibly thankful to the ACCJC for conducting a thoughtful and professional review of Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College. This opportunity to reflect on the work of the colleges to serve students at the highest levels helps provide meaningful perspective that our SOCCCD faculty, staff, and stakeholders can truly appreciate.
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About the South Orange County Community College District: SOCCCD serves nearly 50,000 students per year through our two colleges, Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College. The district serves nearly one million residents and employs more than 3,000 faculty and staff.