Accreditation Process
Dear Colleagues,
I wanted to take this opportunity to give you an update on our Middle States accreditation as well as make you aware of some key upcoming dates relating to this process.
Like in every academic community, we make frequent mention of the term accreditation, whether in the context of institutional or programmatic reaccreditation. However, because we talk about it so regularly, at times we may be tempted to assume that everyone understands what accreditation is and what the process entails. As such, this seems like a good time to pause and provide some context for understanding both its nature and its purpose.
Accreditation is a peer-reviewed process by which we evaluate ourselves – and we, in turn, are evaluated – against Middle States’ standards: mission, ethics, student learning, support, assessment, resources, and governance. The ultimate purpose behind the accreditation process is to demonstrate our commitment to critical self-reflection and continuous improvement.
Moreover, accreditation is an affirmation of our operational quality, integrity, accountability, and consistency – essentially, offering proof that we are doing what we say we do, and that we are doing so responsibly. Accreditation is also fundamental to our institutional planning. The centerpiece of accreditation is the Self-Study Report where we reflect on our institutional strengths and areas in need of strengthening. As I have shared with you previously, much of the investigative work conducted in the course of developing our Self-Study has informed the development of our institutional Strategic Plan. That is the true value of the accreditation process – using what we learn about ourselves to plan for the University’s future.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is one of seven regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Our accreditation with Middle States operates on an eight-year cycle and involves the following stages: completion of the Self-Study Report, peer review and site visit by an evaluation team, review and evaluation team report, and ongoing monitoring. As you may know, our cyclic review is scheduled for the 2026-27 academic year.
The evaluation team comprised of representatives of peer institutions will visit our campus in early November. The chair of our evaluation team, Dr. Walter Iwanenko, president of Gannon University, will make his initial visit to campus next month to get to know us a little better and see where we stand in preparation for the full team visit. When we are notified of Middle States’ decision to reaffirm our accreditation, this decision will likely be accompanied by suggestions, recommendations, or requirements.
I would like to acknowledge the great work and leadership of co-chairs Associate Professor of Theater Rachel Wolfe and Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Ann Damiano, as well as steering committee members Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Sharon Wise, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and Assistant Provost Jason Denman, Distinguished Professor of Biology Terri Provost, Dean of Student Success Bethany Samuels, Professor of Practice in Accounting Donna Dolansky, and Professor of Education Laurence Zoeckler. Kathleen Novak’s work in institutional research and data reporting has been invaluable to the process as well.
I also want to recognize the efforts of the working groups for each standard and the standing committees that play an enormous role in the accreditation process, such as the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, the Academic Assessment Committee (AAC), the Co-Curricular Assessment Committee, and the Faculty Senate committees with responsibility for curriculum and academic standards. Lastly, I want to thank those of you who have attended one or more of the Self-Study feedback sessions. Accreditation is a shared responsibility at this institution, and the more everyone both understands and participates in this process, the better the outcome.
I am confident that we will receive a positive report from the Middle States team, thanks to the tireless effort of all those involved in this process. If you have any questions about the Self-Study or the accreditation process in general, please reach out to one of the steering committee members.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Nesbitt
President