Cochise Newsroom

For community colleges like Cochise College, accreditation is more than just a box to check. It’s the foundation that ensures our students can transfer their credits, receive federal financial aid, and present employers with academic credentials that hold real value. Without it, the credibility of affordable higher education, something we all believe in, would come into question.  

 

Back in 2016, Cochise College received reaffirmation of accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), earning the maximum 10-year approvals. As part of the open process, the college submitted its required 4-year assurance filing in 2019, providing institutional updates and demonstrating continued compliance with HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation and progress in quality improvement. In alignment with the pathway’s expectations, the college also proposed a Quality Initiative to launch two bachelor’s degree programs. The final report on this initiative was approved by HLC in June 2025. Now, we’re preparing for our next site visit in February 2026, an important milestone we don’t take lightly.  

 

Accreditation is about much more than compliance. It’s a formal acknowledgment that we’re doing right by our students and our communities. It lets everyone, from future students to university partners and employers, know that Cochise College is committed to quality and continuous improvement. It’s also an opportunity to share the great work the college is doing with peer reviewers from other institutions.   

 

This work ties directly to our mission: to provide inclusive and accessible educational opportunities that support social responsibility, community engagement, meaningful careers, and lifelong learning. Accreditation helps ensure we’re living up to that mission every day, through the programs and courses we offer, the support we provide, and the partnerships we build across Cochise County and beyond.  

 

As part of this process, we’ll undergo a comprehensive review by an HLC peer review team. They’ll evaluate everything from our academic programs and governance to student support services and how we manage our resources.  

 

Following our last comprehensive review, HLC encouraged us to strengthen our workforce development efforts and broaden our community outreach. And we’ve done just that.  

 

We created dedicated leadership positions, a Dean for Workforce Development and an Executive Dean for Community Engagement, to drive this work forward. Since then, we’ve expanded our career and technical education and workforce programs, adding offerings like our Commercial Driver’s License program, the First Responders Academy, and certifications such as OSHA 10, 30, CompTIA Security+ training, and a Project Management Professional Bootcamp. These programs were built in response to real workforce needs in our region.  

 

On the community side, engagement has become part of who we are. Through Cochise Cares, we connect local organizations with college volunteers, encouraging service across the county. The Center for Lifelong Learning continues to strengthen connections with our Brown Bag lecture series and other community-focused programs.  

 

Preparing for accreditation is a collegewide effort. Every department and every employee play a role. It’s one of the ways we demonstrate that we’re accountable, not just to the Higher Learning Commission, but to our students, faculty, staff, partners, and the taxpayers who support us.  

 

And it’s paying off. Most recently, Cochise College was named an Opportunity College by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education, further proof that we’re delivering on our mission and making a positive impact.  

 

That’s why accreditation matters. It’s not just a requirement; it’s a shared responsibility and a point of pride for all of us who are part of the Cochise College story.  

 

Dr. James Perey is the President of Cochise College.