June 13, 2014
Dear Chancellor Tyler,
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2121 has serious reservations about the proposed Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) termination policy which would allow an institution facing termination of its accreditation to seek accreditation restoration status. The ACCJC continues to be an unreliable accreditor. In action after action they have distorted information and in a recent letter to Leader Pelosi wholly made up facts all to the detriment our beloved college. The litany of their misdeeds is too lengthy to recite in this letter. There has been a lot of hard work done at the college these last couple of years. Today, we believe City College of San Francisco (CCSF) is, as you and others have stated, in substantial compliance with accreditation standards. The ACCJC, even at this late date, could send a team to verify this. You have stated that if the current ACCJC appeals process fails that the college is prepared to go to Federal Court. We applaud you in making that statement to ensure that all options to defend the college remain available.
Although successful pursuit of accreditation restoration status would afford the college more time to attempt to attain full accreditation, it appears that the college may also be giving up certain key rights to appeal and review of ACCJC’s decisions in the process. We fear that acceptance of this process may lead to the ultimate misdeed of the ACCJC: the disaccreditation of the college leaving it without any course of action.
AFT 2121 respectfully requests that CCSF seeks and obtains documented guarantees from the ACCJC that participation in any accreditation review and/or restoration process in no way waives the college’s appeal of any adverse decision.
We look forward to further communication with you on this crucial issue.
Thank you for your consideration.
Timothy Killikelly
President
AFT Local 2121
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