In Fall 2022, Alvernia University began its Middle States Self Study. Conducted every 10 years, the multi-year process of self-review and evaluation is laborious and complex, but also incredibly important to the institution.
This page will act as a public clearinghouse for the self study, which concludes with a campus visit by the evaluation team in Spring 2025.
FAQs
- What is Middle States?
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- The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is an institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) that serves as an independent voice in higher education. MSCHE establishes equitable standards for accreditation with member institutions that advance the impact of accreditation in the ever-changing landscape of higher education and promotes educational excellence through innovation across diverse institutions.
- Why is it important?
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- Without MSCHE accreditation, we cannot be eligible for federal financial aid, cannot transfer our credits in or out to another institution, or requirements for professional licensures will not be valid.
- What is the self study?
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- Self-study demonstrates an institution’s commitment to continuous improvement and is used to strengthen and sustain the institution. This is the process in which processes and goals are assessed, evidence is collected and analyzed, and culminating in an Evaluation Team Site Visit that will take place over a three-day period.
- MSCHE selects a team of trained, knowledgeable and appropriate peer evaluators to visit the institution and conduct an on-site evaluation, based upon the institution's Self-Study Report. The team will evaluate the analysis in the report and draw upon the insights they gain from on-site interviews.
- The 2025 Middle States Self-Study process will be led by the Steering Committee.
- How does MSCHE accreditation work?
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- The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a voluntary, peer-based, nonprofit membership organization that performs peer evaluation and accreditation of public and private universities and colleges in the United States and foreign higher education institutions.
