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Institutional Accreditation

About Accreditation

Accreditation is a comprehensive process for evaluating and assuring that the quality of education meets or exceeds standards of good practice. Leeward Community College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

It assures the public that Leeward meets or exceeds specific standards of quality; makes us eligible to participate in Title IV student financial aid programs; provides us with self and peer review, and encourages us to improve. In addition, institutions rely on accreditation in their decisions to recognize transfer credit.

Leeward Community College follows a seven-year cycle during which institutional review is continuous, culminating in a comprehensive institutional self-evaluation report and an on-site visit by a team of peer evaluators. 

Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC), 428 J Street, Suite 400, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234. ACCJC is a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education. To file a complaint with ACCJC, refer to the “Complaint Process.“

In This Section

Program Accreditation

Culinary Arts
The programs in Culinary Arts are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF), 6816 Southpoint Pkwy Ste. 400, Jacksonville, FL 32216, (904) 824-4468. To file a complaint with the ACFEF, visit www.acfchefs.org
Automotive Technology
The programs in Automotive Technology are accredited by the Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation (ASEEF) 1503 Edwards Ferry Road., NE Leesburg, VA 20176, (773) 669-6650, (773) 669-6677. To file a complaint with the ASEEF, email info@ASEeducationFoundation.org
Health Information Technology
The programs in Health Information Technology are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM), 233 N. Michigan Ave. 21st Floor. Chicago, IL 60601-5800, (312)233-1166. To file a complaint with the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management visit www.cahiim.org/programs/complaint-process.
Teacher Education
The Teacher Education Alternative Certification for Career and Technical Education and the Advanced Professional Certificate in Special Education programs are accredited as by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), P.O. Box 7511, Fairfax Station, VA 20039, (301) 276-5106. To file a complaint with AAQEP, email aaqep@aaqep.org or visit https://aaqep.org/complaint-policy

ACCJC – Institutional Accreditation

Reaffirmation Of Accreditation

Leeward Community College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, 428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at: www.accjc.org

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, at its meeting on January 9-11, 2019, reviewed the Institutional Self Evaluation Report and evidentiary materials submitted by Leeward Community College. The Commission also considered the External Evaluation Team Report prepared by the peer review team that conducted its onsite visit to the College on October 15-18, 2018.

The purpose of this review was to determine whether the College continues to meet ACCJC’s Eligibility Requirements, Commission Policies, and Accreditation Standards (hereinafter, the Standards). Upon consideration of the written and oral information noted above, the Commission acted to Reaffirm Accreditation On January 28, 2019, for seven years and require a Follow-Up Report, due no later than March 2, 2020.

The Accrediting Commission for the Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) reaffirmed the accreditation of Leeward Community College with a requirement that the College submit a Follow-Up Report by March 2, 2020, to address the single compliance recommendation. The recommendation, “In order to meet the standard, the College should establish a clear cycle to regularly evaluate and update its policies and procedures,” is addressed in our Follow-up Report.

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges accepted the response in our Follow-Up Report and reaffirmed our accreditation until the next comprehensive review in 2025. During their last visit (Fall 2018), ACCJC determined that we were deficient in meeting Standard I.B.7. and that we needed to establish a clear cycle to regularly evaluate and update our policies and procedures. The Follow-Up Report, submitted in March 2020, addressed the issue. The Commission’s Reaffirmation of Accreditation letter is dated June 29, 2020.

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, at its meeting January 11-12, 2023, reviewed the Midterm Report and related evidentiary materials submitted by Leeward Community College. The purpose of the review was to determine the degree to which the institution has made progress in implementing its plans and improving outcomes related to student achievement. After consideration of the Report, the Commission has determined that the institution’s progress is appropriate and has accepted the Report.

ACCJC Re-accreditation

Leeward Community College (CC) is currently undergoing its institutional self evaluation and comprehensive review process in preparation for our Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) re-accreditation site visit in Fall 2025. Notice of the Peer Evaluation Team site visit and a campus community open forum will be posted here once the dates and times are confirmed.

Third Party Comments

As part of the re-accreditation process, ACCJC is requesting Third Party Comments. Comments can be submitted by the Leeward CC campus community and general public. ACCJC will review all third-party comments to assess their applicability to Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, or Policies. Applicable third-party comments will become part of ACCJC’s review of Leeward CC and will be shared with the College. You are invited to submit third-party comments by June 30, 2025: