Orleans Named 2018 School of Distinction

By Bill Lynch, Campus President

In September 2018, I had the privilege and the honor to travel to Long Beach, CA and accept a School of Distinction Award from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). I would like to share a little bit about how we earned this recognition and why it should matter to you.

Orleans Technical College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). ACCSC, in its role as an accreditor, establishes best practices in educational quality, generally referred to as “standards.” As an accredited institution, the faculty and staff at Orleans Technical College agree to consistently demonstrate how we are meeting (or exceeding) those standards.

In 2017, we at Orleans Technical College underwent a renewal of accreditation process that evaluated the quality of our day-to-day operations as well as of the educational training programs we offer. Applying for renewal of accreditation is essentially a year-long process that culminates with an onsite visit.

We emerged from that process with a full 5-year cycle of accreditation! This alone is a reason to celebrate. We subsequently learned that our site visit and evaluation concluded without a single finding! That’s amazing! Orleans Technical College is one of only 19 ACCSC-accredited institutions to be named a 2018 School of Distinction.

Here are two reasons why this award should matter to you – whether you are a current or prospective student, an employer, or community partner: the overall quality of education at Orleans Technical College and the exceptional, committed faculty and staff.

I mentioned that we had a site visit as part of our renewal of accreditation efforts. During that visit, we were visited by a representative of ACCSC, a peer-administrator from another ACCSC-accredited school, a veteran educator with an advanced degree in education, and employers from each one of the trades we offer. This review team ultimately assessed and determined that Orleans meets expectations for:

• The qualifications of administrators and faculty delivering the education;
• The relevance and adequacy of the curriculum, equipment and learning materials; and
• The achievements of students in graduating from a program and subsequently obtaining employment in the field.

In other words, it’s not just me (or a stellar marketing team) saying that Orleans Technical College is a great school. We have external validation of this.

This award belongs to the outstanding faculty and staff at Orleans Technical College. A school of distinction is not bestowed upon an entity called “Orleans Technical College” or upon our beautiful campus. This award has everything to do with the people who make Orleans a living and dynamic institute of higher education. It is a reflection of the people who share their experience, knowledge, and commitment to helping others.

Being named an ACCSC School of Distinction has inspired the team to keep educating, training, and striving for continuous improvement. We’re ready to empower our future graduates with a plan for success and the skills needed and in a new career.