Results for Certified Evaluation and Accreditation for Junior CollegeOhtsuki City College

Basic Information of the Institution
Ownership: PublicLocation: Yamanashi, Japan

Accreditation Status
Year of the Review: 2015
Accreditation Status: accredited（Accreditation Period: April.01.2016– March.31.2023）

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Certified Evaluation and Accreditation Resultsfor Ohtsuki City College
Overview
Ohtsuki City College (hereafter, the College) is a junior college consisting of a single
department, The Department of Economics. It was founded in 1955, a year after theinauguration of Ohtsuki.
The College was accredited by the National Institution for Academic Degrees
and University Education in 2008, and has worked to rectify the problems pointed out inthe accreditation. In particular, the Future Planning Committee of the College has worked
towards the measures necessary for the clarification of the admission policy andimprovement of activities limitations resulting from sharing of the school building andschool site with the College’s affiliated high school. With regards to Japanese language
education, which was considered as a unique feature of the College at the time of the lastaccreditation, the College continues to improve in teaching and makes consistent efforts
to improve students’ Japanese language competencies and the basic abilities of students.
In this accreditation review by Japan University Accreditation Association(hereafter, JUAA), several features of the College are highly regarded: the enhancement
and enrichment of Japanese language education, the implementation of education thatvisualizes the basic direction of each subject in line with educational objectives, andefforts toward social cooperation in which local residents and students work together tolearn about the local community.
However, the College needs to improve the definition and publication of thepolicy on degree award and the curriculum design policy, as well as the implementationof measures to give substance to the credit system.
The College has been earnestly involved in making contributions to the local
community and providing educational services for people who are not regular students of
the College. Some of the College’s efforts include: conducting a consultation service forcitizens; establishment of a research office for local community members who areinvolved in conducting research; sponsoring a lecture series concerning Yamanashi
Prefecture (where Ohtsuki City is located); and, as a part of the university consortium,implementing an open lecture series, “Community College for Residents of Yamanashi
Prefecture.” The College overcame stagnation in activities in recent years, and now has
gained momentum for revitalization and has attempted new endeavors involving theentire College. Positive results are expected in the future.
Notable Strengths
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome

The College created the Outline of Educational Purpose and Content of Each Field,
in which the basic direction of each subject is visualized in line with its educational
objectives. The Outline is used as the foundation of a well-balanced education, while
the Outline itself is reexamined appropriately. The syllabus is created based on thisOutline. It is commendable that every faculty member, including adjunct faculty, isalways conscious of the positioning of the subject within the Outline and consistently
makes efforts to provide educational content according to the standard content foreach subject.

In order to cultivate the Japanese language competencies of students, Japanese
language is taught in detail in special subjects “Project Research A and B” by all
full-time faculty members using a tutorial teaching method. Each faculty membermakes constant efforts to improve Japanese language learning and instruction skills

3by participating in the Instruction Method Research Group. It is commendable that
the College achieves its educational objectives by not only by improving students’reading skills and abilities to think using Japanese, but also by encouraging theirinitiative while assuring the quality of Japanese language education.
Social Cooperation and Contribution
The College has set up the Research Office for the Local Community where faculty
members engage in activities that make good use of their specialties. It also actively
accepts citizens as special auditing students who can audit classes at no cost. Thus,
the College creates a stimulating environment where adult students with rich social
experiences learn together with regular students, and they mutually inspire each otherin this common place of everyday learning. In particular, through the courses
established for local revitalization, such as the study of Ohtsuki City and local
practical training, the College gives back to the local community by harvesting andselling local agricultural products or developing products. In addition, through these
activities, it creates opportunities for students to deal directly with the local
community and learn from citizens. It is commendable that the College has put into
practice its stated direction as a junior college that learns from and with thecommunity.

Suggestions for Improvement
Educational Content, Methods, and Outcome

Since the policy on degree award has not been clearly defined, it should be stipulated
and made known to the public.

Since the curriculum design policy has not been clearly defined, it should bestipulated and made known to the public.

The College has not implemented the measures to give substance to the credit system.
This should be improved according to the purpose of the credit system.