Process

What is Middle States?

Middle States is a nationally recognized accreditation process dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation of public and private universities and colleges. Middle States accreditation instills public confidence in institutional mission, goals, performance, and resources through its rigorous accreditation standards and their enforcement. Middles States accreditation is managed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that is dedicated to quality assurance and improvement through accreditation via peer evaluation.

About the Accreditation and Self-Study

Accreditation demonstrates an institution’s commitment to continuous self-assessment, and is intended to strengthen and sustain higher education. Based upon the results of an institutional review by peers and colleagues assigned by the Commission, accreditation attests to the judgment of the Commission on Higher Education that an institution:

  • Has a mission appropriate to higher education;
  • Is guided by well-defined and appropriate goals, including goals for student learning;
  • Has established conditions and procedures under which its mission and goals can be realized;
  • Assesses both institutional effectiveness and student learning outcomes, and uses the results for improvement;
  • Is accomplishing its mission and goals substantially;
  • Is organized, staffed, and supported so that it can be expected to continue to accomplish its mission and goals; and
  • Meets the requirements of affiliation and accreditation standards of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.