Menu

Preparing for Reaffirmation: Middle States Accreditation Review in 2025

By Office of the President | Oct 16, 2024

logo

The U.S. Department of Education requires all higher education institutions to be accredited to qualify for Federal Title IV student financial aid and research grant funding. Six approved institutional accrediting agencies manage accreditation, including the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Downstate’s last reaffirmation of accreditation by Middle States took place in 2016 and is valid for eight years.

As part of the reaffirmation process, a Middle States site visit team will be on campus from April 6-9, 2025. This team, comprised of experienced faculty and staff, will thoroughly review our compliance with the Commission’s Standards. Before their visit, they’ll review an extensive Self-Study Report and supporting evidence outlining our efforts to meet these standards. This report was drafted by seven working groups composed of about 90 Downstate faculty, staff, and students and is overseen by a Steering Committee of 23 members from across our campus. Additionally, an Executive Bridge Committee comprising campus leadership is helping guide this entire process.

The Self-Study process began in September 2022, and we’re now in the final stages of preparing the report and getting ready for the April 2025 site visit. On October 29, 2024, the Chair of the Evaluation Site Visit Team will visit campus to meet with senior leadership and finalize the logistics of the April visit.

Middle States values the input of everyone on campus during this process, ensuring that all stakeholders have a voice in determining whether an institution meets accreditation standards. They invite individuals to submit third-party comments during this process. If you would like to share your thoughts, the deadline for submitting comments is December 1, 2024. More information can be found on the MSCHE Evaluation Schedule.

A working draft of Downstate’s Self-Study Report is now available for the campus community to review and provide feedback. You can view and comment on the draft by Friday, November 22, 2024, at MSCHE 2025 Self-Study Report Campus Review. Signing in with your Downstate credentials is required. This is a transparent and inclusive process, and we appreciate your continued support and engagement as we work toward reaffirming our accreditation.

Pascal James Imperato, M.D., MPH&TM, MACP, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, leads the self-study process. Jeffrey S. Putman, Ed.D., Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs, and D. Kane Gillespie, DMA, Director of Evaluation, Outcomes Assessment, and Accreditation Services, chair the Steering Committee, and Lori A. Bruno, MPH, Assistant Vice President, Office of Policy and Planning co-chairs the Steering Committee. Ann Marie Cullen, Administrator, Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, serves as the Accreditation Liaison Officer. Tina Adjei-Bosompem, MPH Assistant Director of Evaluation, Outcomes Assessment, and Accreditation Services, serves in a critical supporting role for the self-study.

The U.S. Department of Education mandates institutional accreditation to qualify for Federal Title IV student financial aid and federal research grant funding. For more information on the Self-Study process, please visit the self-study website.

Tags: Administration