UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — On April 1, Penn State submitted a monitoring report to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which resulted in reaffirmation of the University’s positive institutional accreditation status. According to the MSCHE, the report was accepted, with no further actions required, on June 26. The report, coordinated by the Office of Planning and Assessment, was the culmination of 18 months of work by faculty, staff and administrators to address the concerns raised by Middle States as a result of the University’s 2015 Self-Study Report.
MSCHE reaffirmed Penn State’s accreditation in 2015 but, as part of its standard processes, required a monitoring report addressing the effectiveness of institutional leadership, administration and governance; the enrollment management plan, particularly with respect to underrepresented students; evidence that general education outcome data are being used for curricular improvement; and evidence of articulated student knowledge, skills and competency levels within existing certificate programs.
"Approval of the Middle States Monitoring Report reveals Penn State's commitment to all facets of student learning and success," said Nick Jones, executive vice president and provost of the University. "I congratulate the Office of Planning and Assessment and others who helped to meet our accreditor's needs and requests.”
Accreditation is an ongoing process with periodic evaluation based upon an eight-year cycle of review, which includes annual institutional updates, a midpoint review in the fourth year, and a full self-study report in the eighth year.
For more information about Penn State’s Middle States reaccreditation and self-study, visit http://middlestates.psu.edu. The University’s next evaluation visit by MSCHE is scheduled for 2023-24.