Meeting the Middle States Accreditation Standards

The College is integrating preparation of the Self-Study with the work of the College 2020 Planning effort. Preparation of the Self Study calls for us to document how we meet the Middle States Commission's Accreditation Standards. These Standards address the College's institutional context and educational effectiveness and ask us to analyze a range of topics including our mission, academic programs, and administrative structures. This work will be conducted by the eight Planning Groups, the Middle States Steering Committee, and the 2020 Planning Steering Committee as part of their planning. The group with primary responsibility for addressing each standard is listed below it. However, a number of standards overlap groups, and will require input and collaboration between multiple groups.

Institutional Context

Standard 1: Mission and Goals

The institution's mission clearly defines its purpose within the context of higher education and indicates who the institution serves and what it intends to accomplish. The institution's stated goals, consistent with the aspirations and expectations of higher education, clearly specify how the institution will fulfill its mission. The mission and goals are developed and recognized by the institution with the participation of its members and its governing body and are used to develop and shape its programs and practices and to evaluate its effectiveness.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Steering Committee.

Standard 2: Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal

An institution conducts ongoing planning and resource allocation based on its mission and goals, develops objectives to achieve them, and utilizes the results of its assessment activities for institutional renewal. Implementation and subsequent evaluation of the success of the strategic plan and resource allocation support the development and change necessary to improve and to maintain institutional quality.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Resources."

Standard 3: Institutional Resources

The human, financial, technical, physical facilities and other resources necessary to achieve an institution's mission and goals are available and accessible. In the context of the institution's mission, the effective and efficient uses of the institution's resources are analyzed as part of ongoing outcomes assessment.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Resources."

Standard 4: Leadership and Governance

The institution's system of governance clearly defines the roles of institutional constituencies in policy development and decision-making. The governance structure includes an active governing body with sufficient autonomy to assure institutional integrity and to fulfill its responsibilities of policy and resource development, consistent with the mission of the institution.

This standard will be addressed by the Middle States Steering Committee.

Standard 5: Administration

The institution's administrative structure and services facilitate learning and research/scholarship, foster quality improvement, and support the institution's organization and governance.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Staff."

Standard 6: Integrity

In the conduct of its programs and activities involving the public and the constituencies it serves, the institution demonstrates adherence to ethical standards and its own stated policies, providing support for academic and intellectual freedom.

This standard will be addressed by the Middle States Steering Committee.

Standard 7: Institutional Assessment

The institution has developed and implemented an assessment process that evaluates its overall effectiveness in achieving its mission and goals and its compliance with accreditation standards.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Resources."

Educational Effectiveness

Standard 8: Student Admissions and Retention

The institution seeks to admit students whose interests, goals, and abilities are congruent with its mission and seeks to retain them through the pursuit of the students' educational goals.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Recruitment, Composition of Class, and Financial Aid."

Standard 9: Student Support Services

The institution provides student support services reasonably necessary to enable each student to achieve the institution's goals for students.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Broader Educational Experience."

Standard 10: Faculty

The institution's instructional, research, and service programs are devised, developed, monitored, and supported by qualified professionals.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Faculty and Instructional Staff."

Standard 11: Educational Offerings

The institution's educational offerings display academic content, rigor, and coherence appropriate to its higher education mission. The institution identifies student learning goals and objectives, including knowledge and skills, for its educational offerings.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Academic Program."

Standard 12: General Education

The institution's curricula are designed so that students acquire and demonstrate college-level proficiency in general education and essential skills, including at least oral and written communication, scientific and quantitative reasoning, critical analysis and reasoning, and technological competency.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Academic Program."

Standard 13: Related Educational Activities

The institution's programs or activities that are characterized by particular content, focus, location, mode of delivery, or sponsorship meet appropriate standards.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Academic Program."

Standard 14: Assessment of Student Learning

Assessment of student learning demonstrates that, at graduation, or other appropriate points, the institution's students have knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with institutional and appropriate higher education goals.

This standard will be addressed by the Planning Group "Academic Program."

SOURCE for descriptions of standards: "Characteristics of EXCELLENCE: Eligibility requirements and standards for accreditation," Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 2006.