Standard 3: Infrastructure and Resources

The institution supports its educational services and operational functions with effective infrastructure, qualified personnel, and stable finances. The institution organizes its staffing and allocates its physical, technological, and financial resources to improve its overall effectiveness and promote success for all students. The institution actively monitors and assesses resource capacity to inform improvements to infrastructure and ensure long-term health and stability. 

Standard 3.1

The institution employs qualified faculty, staff, administrators, and other personnel to support and sustain educational services and improve student success. The institution maintains appropriate policies and regularly assesses its employment practices to promote and improve mission fulfillment. (ER 8, ER 14) 

Standard 3.2

The institution supports its employees with professional learning opportunities aligned with the mission and institutional goals. These opportunities are regularly evaluated for overall effectiveness in promoting success for all students and in meeting institutional and employee needs. 

Standard 3.3

The institution evaluates its employees regularly, using clear criteria that align with professional responsibilities and reflect the institution’s mission and goals.  

Standard 3.4

The institution develops, maintains, and enhances its educational services and operational functions through the effective use of fiscal resources. Financial resources support and sustain the mission and promote achievement of success for all students.  (ER 18) 

Standard 3.5

The institution’s mission and goals are the foundation for financial planning. Financial information is disseminated to support effective planning and decision-making and provide opportunities for stakeholders to participate in the development of plans and budgets. 

Standard 3.6

The institution ensures the integrity and responsible use of its financial resources and regularly evaluates its fiscal outcomes and financial management practices to promote institutional mission fulfillment. 

Standard 3.7

The institution ensures financial solvency. When making short-range financial plans, the institution considers its long-range financial priorities and future obligations to ensure sustained fiscal stability. (ER 18) 

Standard 3.8

The institution constructs and maintains physical resources to support and sustain educational services and operational functions. The institution ensures safe and effective physical resources at all locations where it offers instruction, student services, and/or learning supports. 

Standard 3.9

The institution implements, enhances, and secures its technology resources to support and sustain educational services and operational functions. The institution clearly communicates requirements for the safe and appropriate use of technology to students and employees and employs effective protocols for network and data security. 

Standard 3.10

The institution has appropriate strategies for risk management and has policies and procedures in place to implement contingency plans in the event of financial, environmental, or technological emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances. 

Required Documentation - Infrastructure and Resources

Required Item Documentation
i. Written policies and procedures for human resources, including hiring procedures
ii. Employee handbooks or similar documents that communicate expectations to employees
iii. Annual financial audit reports - 3 prior years (include auxiliary organizations, if applicable) (ER 5)
iv. Practices for resource allocation and budget development (including budget allocation model for multi-college districts/systems)
v. Policies guiding fiscal management (e.g., related to reserves, budget development)
vi. Policies, procedures, or agreements (e.g., AUAs) related to appropriate use of technology systems
For Title IV Participants:  
vii. Documentation that the institution’s student loan default rates are within the acceptable range defined by ED, or – if rates fall outside the acceptable range - documentation of corrective efforts underway to address the issue
Required only if applicable:  
viii. Documentation of any agreements that fall under ACCJC’s Policy on Contractual Relationships with Non-accredited Organizations
ix. Written code of professional ethics for all personnel including consequences for violations