Council on Occupational Education Leaves WHTC a “Happy Campus”

Washington-Holmes Technical Center faculty and staff, along with the Superintendent and several school board members, listened eagerly to the exit report from the Council on Occupational Education (COE) team after an extensive four-day review of the institution and its programs.  The news was good.  After extending sincere appreciation for the warm southern hospitality show to the team by WHTC, Carol Snoddy, COE Team Leader introduced the team members and provided a brief background on COE accreditation and the “re-affirmation of accreditation” process. 

Snoddy explained that accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution and its programs that have been found to meet or exceed stated criteria of educational quality.  Accreditation has two fundamental purposes: (1) to assure the quality of the institution and its programs, and (2) to assist in the improvement of the institution or its program. Institutional accrediting agencies, such as COE give attention not only to the educational offerings of the institutions it accredits, but also to other institutional characteristics such as student personnel services, financial status, administrative structure, facilities, and equipment.

The self-study and program information materials took over a year of preparation by the WHTC faculty and staff.  Other than a few recommendations that will be addressed in the COE Final Report, the team members commended the institution’s exceptional faculty and staff and also praised the students’ enthusiasm about their programs and instructors.