The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has reaccredited the University of Rochester. As one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States, MSCHE every 10 years reviews member institutions to ensure compliance with its standards of accreditation and characteristics of excellence in higher education.
MSCHE’s conclusion to reaccredit the University was drawn from a review of an extensive institutional self-study, as well as interviews with Board of Trustees members, University leadership, faculty, staff, and students.
A steering committee co-chaired by Richard Feldman, dean of The College, and Donna Brink Fox, senior associate dean of academic and student affairs at the Eastman School of Music, guided the University’s reaccreditation effort. The steering committee also drafted and finalized the self-study over a period of two years, based on contributions from more than 60 faculty and staff organized into six working groups as well as the President’s Office, Provost’s Office and the Board of Trustees.
“I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone in our University community who was involved in the reaccreditation effort over a period of several years,” said President Joel Seligman. “Let me especially recognize the steering committee members and co-chairs for their outstanding work in ensuring that the University so effectively demonstrated its compliance with the Middle States standards. Middle States accreditation is a strong indicator of the University’s standing as a world-class academic institution and affirmation our trajectory for the future.”
“Reaccreditation is important for the University and reflects well on the efforts of many people,” said Provost Peter Lennie. “In particular, the steering committee co-chairs and the self-study working groups prepared an exceptional self-study. Everyone involved in the crafting of this report should feel proud.”
The University’s self-study for MSCHE, The Meliora Imperative: A Self-Study, can be read at http://internal.rochester.edu/provost/middlestates/SelfStudy.pdf.
The evaluation team was headed by then University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and included leaders from a number of other institutions within the Middle States region. The team’s site visit to Rochester took place April 30-May 3, 2014. In May, the MSCHE evaluation team presented a very favorable oral report of its findings to the University community, and on Nov. 20 the MSCHE Commission officially confirmed the University’s reaccreditation. In its final report, MSCHE commended the University for the high quality of its self-study. The University is now required to submit a periodic review report to the MSCHE in five years.
To read MSCHE’s action approving the University’s reaccreditation, visit http://www.rochester.edu/provost/middlestates/index.html.
