California Indian Nations College Granted Candidacy for Accreditation

At the January 8-9 Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) meeting, the Commission granted candidacy/preaccreditation status to California Indian Nations College (CINC). According to the ACCJC Accreditation Handbook:

The Commission only grants candidacy status to eligible institutions that are likely to successfully obtain initial accreditation and sustain compliance with Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, and Commission policies. ACCJC’s rigorous application process involves a comprehensive self-evaluation, site visit, and preparation of a Teach-Out Plan… All credits and degrees earned and issued by an institution or program holding candidacy status are considered by the U.S. Department of Education to be from an accredited institution or program.

Candidacy for accreditation is an historic step in a state that is home to one-fifth of all federally recognized Tribes plus many more unrecognized Tribes. According to the latest census data, approximately 1.4 million Californians identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, either alone or in combination with another ethnic group. Yet California has not had an accredited tribal college or university in decades, despite the overwhelming need. CINC was granted Eligibility to Apply for Candidacy in May 2023 and submitted the self-evaluation as part of the Application for Candidacy in Summer 2024, followed by a site visit on October 7-8, 2024. During the visit, the peer review team evaluated CINC for compliance with ACCJC and the Department of Education standards and policies. More: California Indian Nations College Granted Candidacy for Accreditation - DCN News