Self-study submission
Net ID required
Middle States Commission (MSCHE) Accreditation Study
Self-study submission and report
We’re sharing an updated Middle States self-study (Net ID required) with the University community. This report has been submitted to the MSCHE. Thank you for your help and feedback during this process!
Why the MSCHE study is important
Accreditation has a direct impact on the University. As an MSCHE accredited institution, Rochester secures its designation as a qualified institution of higher learning, and signals our priorities of continual improvement into the future.
Tactically, a MSCHE accreditation grants us access to federal funding through resources such as Title IV, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In 2021, Rochester celebrated 100 years of continuous accreditation—and Rochester was one of the first institutions ever to receive an MSCHE accreditation.
While multiple schools and programs across the University have specialized accreditation, the entire University is accredited by MSCHE. For more information about the Rochester’s accreditations, visit our Accreditation page.
Standards-based self-study approach
The University’s self-study will be organized by the standards for MSCHE accreditation, outlined below. Each standard has a dedicated working group focused on report delivery and meaningful impact, and overlaps with areas of the University’s strategic planning efforts.
1. Mission and goals
The institution’s mission defines its purpose within the context of higher education, the students it serves, and what it intends to accomplish. Goals are linked to how the institution fulfills its mission.
2. Ethics and integrity
Ethics and integrity are central, indispensable, and defining hallmarks of effective higher education institutions. An institution must be faithful to its mission, honor its contracts and commitments, adhere to its policies.
3. Design and delivery of the student experience
Learning experiences are characterized by rigor and coherence at all program, certificate, and degree levels, regardless of instructional modality. All learning is consistent with higher education expectations.
4. Support of the student experience
The institution recruits and admits students whose interests, abilities, experiences, and goals are congruent with its mission and educational offerings—and is committed to student retention, persistence, completion, and success.
5. Educational effectiveness assessment
Assessment demonstrates that students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their program of study, degree level, the institution’s mission, and appropriate expectations for higher education.
6. Planning, resources, and institutional improvement
Planning processes, resources, and structures are aligned and are sufficient to fulfill the institution’s mission and goals, to assess and improve programs and services, and to respond to opportunities and challenges.
7. Governance, leadership, and administration
The institution is governed and administered in a manner that allows it to realize its stated mission and goals, and in a way that effectively benefits the institution, its students, and the other constituencies it serves.
8. Compliance with accreditation-relevant federal regulations
MSCHE verifies institutional compliance with relevant federal regulations developed by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of self-study evaluation and at any other time required by the Commission.
where paths converge
Alignment with strategic planning
University leaders are actively working on a strategic plan, which will chart the course for the vision of the University. The MSCHE self-study and the strategic plan are very similarly aligned—the findings of one will inform the other, and vice versa. Of note, the University’s strategic priorities align with the self-study standards, and will impact how the University moves and operates into the future.
Areas of alignment with strategic plan
Understand how each self-study standard aligns with the five strategic plan priorities in the chart below.
| MSCHE Standard | University of Rochester Strategic Priorities |
|---|---|
| I. Mission and Goals | Aligns with all five strategic priorities: Research excellence, exceptional education, health care of the highest order, faculty and staff success, and finance model |
| II. Ethics and Integrity | Aligns with one of the strategic priorities: Faculty and staff success |
| III. Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience | Aligns with three of the strategic priorities: Research excellence, exceptional education, and faculty and staff success |
| IV. Support of the Student Experience | Aligns with two of the strategic priorities: Exceptional education, and faculty and staff success |
| V. Educational Effectiveness Assessment | Aligns with two of the strategic priorities: Research excellence, and exceptional education |
| VI. Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement | Aligns with one of the strategic priorities: Finance model |
| VII: Governance, Leadership, and Administration | Aligns with all five strategic priorities: Research excellence, exceptional education, health care of the highest order, faculty and staff success, and finance model |
Timeline
Explore a project timeline, which notes important historical deliverables and future key project milestones.
March 2022: Official launch of self-study
A self-study town hall was held to officially launch the self-study process, with an address by President Mangelsdorf.
May 2022: Plan approved
The University’s self-study design plan was approved by MSCHE, sanctioning us to move forward with the self-study process.
Summer 2022: Working groups finalized
Volunteers were solicited from across the University to serve on working committees tied into the self-study standards.
Fall and winter 2022: Working group research
Each of the working group committees was engaged in research related to their specific disciplines.
March 2023: First draft
The first draft of the self-study chapters are due from each of the working group committees.
Summer 2023: Report edits
Feedback from relevant stakeholders is gathered and edits are incorporated into the self-study draft.
September 2023: Community feedback on self-study draft
The University will share the self-study draft with members of the community, and the community will be able to share feedback. This feedback will be incorporated into subsequent versions of the draft.
November 2023: Draft submitted to Chair of External Review Team, and Chair visits the University campus
A draft self-study will be submitted to the Chair of the MSCHE’s External Review Team. Shortly thereafter, the Chair will come to the University campus for a visit and to meet with the University community.
Winter 2023: Self-study report finalized
An additional round of edits will be made, and changes will be recirculated with University leaders for review and finalization.
March 2024: Self-study submitted
The self-study report is finalized and submitted to the MSCHE portal for review.
April 2024: MSCHE team visits Rochester
As part of the accreditation process, MSCHE accreditors will visit the University to conduct further review.
stay tuned
Self-study updates
As reports and other materials associated with the self-study are completed, they will be announced in newsletters like @rochester, and posted on this website for review. Check back regularly for progress reports on the self-study and accreditation process.