by Isis Piccillo/Editor-in-Chief, and Ryan Barba/Associate Editor

The state’s accreditation commission placed the four colleges of the Peralta Community College District on probation status this week for failing to provide sufficient evidence of improvement in the five-year integrated financial plan submitted in December.

Richard Winn, the president of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), sent individual letters to the four college presidents Jan. 27 stating that the colleges would remain accredited during the probationary period.

“In several areas of the special report, the College/District has responded with corrective intent, but no evidence was provided that corrective actions are being implemented to address the noted deficiencies,” Winn said.

Winn listed several “foundational issues” of concern to the commission, which include continued structural deficit, a lack of adherence to Board policies and administrative procedures, and unaddressed audit findings.

In response to the letter, the ACCJC has required the colleges/district to submit a special report by Nov. 1 addressing the deficiencies. A fiscal monitoring site visit will follow.