CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- Southwestern College has been put on probation and could lose its accreditation if problems plaguing its Chula Vista campus for years aren't fixed, it was reported Wednesday.

In a letter released Tuesday by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Southwestern was told its has until October 2011 to resolve its issues but has to show some improvement by this fall, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Without elaboration, Southwestern President Raj Chopra told the newspaper the college has already started to address problem issues and is eager to resolve the commission's concerns.

Among the issues cited by the commission were problems with governance and allegations that Southwestern fosters a stagnant work and learning environment.

Since 2008, a college administrator resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, the Faculty Senate passed a no confidence resolution against Chopra, and four instructors were suspended without pay after they participated in a rally against the elimination of more than 400 course selections.

The commission decided to put Southwestern on probation after interviewing more than 90 instructors, administrators, staff members, students and trustees, the Union-Tribune reported.

If Southwestern lost its accreditation, students would not receive credit for undergraduate courses taken there on transferring to a four-year institution.