We imagine there was a collective sigh of relief at the College of the Redwoods this week when word was received from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior College’s that CR’s probation had been lifted.

CR has successfully addressed three of the four deficiencies cited by the accreditation body a year ago when it placed CR on probation. Interim President Tom Harris, the board of trustees, the faculty and staff all faced the problems squarely and, in a spirit of cooperation and transparency, solved them. In its ruling on lifting probation, the ACCJC said CR had made “significant and meaningful progress” by the college over the last year.

Now it is up to CR’s new president, Jeff Marsee — only a few days into his new job — to lead the college to clear the final hurdle: developing long-range educational, facilities master and information technology master plans In her letter to the college lifting the probation, the ACCJC’s president wrote that CR had, “...the institutional foundation and momentum for continued progress and quick resolution of these remaining deficiencies.

The road ahead is clear and the sky looks blue for CR. We congratulate them.