South O.C. Colleges Stay Accredited Following Panel’s Latest Inspection

Nearly six months after a national accreditation panel outlined serious concerns with Irvine Valley and Saddleback Colleges, the two schools have no change in accreditation status after their latest review and follow-up visits.

The Accrediting Commission for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges notified South Orange County Community College District Chancellor Cedric A. Sampson by fax Wednesday that the schools’ status was unchanged, commission executive director David Wolf said.

Wolf would not say if the schools remained under warning, as they have been in recent months, or if they will have to undergo further evaluation.

The schools were granted renewed accreditation in February despite a scathing critique by the commission. Both colleges were required to submit follow-up reports this spring to demonstrate how they were addressing problems, and inspectors visited both campuses in May to verify the colleges’ claims.

The accrediting commission would not give details about its review Wednesday and the district chancellor will not release any information about the association’s most recent findings until Monday, a spokeswoman for the district said.