Middle States Reaffirms Downstate's Accreditation through 2033
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Jul 7, 2025
I am pleased to share that on June 26, 2025, the Middle States Commission on Higher
Education reaffirmed Downstate’s accreditation for the full eight-year term, extending
through the 2032–2033 academic year.
The Commission confirmed that Downstate meets all seven standards and forty-six criteria required for accreditation. This reaffirmation recognizes the academic strength of our institution. It also preserves access to Title IV federal student aid and federal research funding.
Our reaccreditation work formally began in 2022 with the launch of the Self-Study process. A team of faculty and staff from Downstate took part in the Middle States Self-Study Institute before drafting and submitting our Self-Study Design in 2023. That document received approval following a campus visit by our Middle States liaison.
From the beginning, we built this effort around broad engagement. Students, faculty, staff, alums, Downstate Council members, University Hospital representatives, clinical affiliates, and community partners played active roles. We formed a 23-member Steering Committee with representation across all areas of the campus and established seven Working Groups—one for each standard. The Outcomes Assessment Coordinating Council members also contributed to the Steering Committee and the Working Groups.
Throughout 2024, the Working Groups—including 90 individuals—developed a comprehensive Self-Study Report and assembled an evidence library of several thousand pages. Together, these materials told an authentic story about our institution, rooted in data and reflection.
In early 2025, Middle States appointed an external evaluation team of faculty and staff from peer institutions. That team visited Downstate from April 6–9, held interviews and open forums with members of our community, and delivered its findings at a public meeting. The team concluded that Downstate met all seven standards, with no citations, comments, or further action required.
Their report recognized Downstate’s accomplishments in five areas, highlighting our collaborative approach to strategic planning, commitment to shared governance, the innovation of our Bridges to Medicine program, progress in outcomes assessment, and a campus culture marked by pride, collegiality, and long-term investment in our mission.
The U.S. Department of Education authorizes six institutional accrediting agencies to oversee colleges and universities; Middle States is one of them. Downstate’s previous reaffirmation took place in 2016.
This reaffirmation is a significant achievement for our institution. It reflects the strength of our academic programs, the integrity of our operations, and the deep commitment of our faculty, staff, and students. I want to thank everyone who contributed their time, thought, and energy over the past two years to make this result possible.
Pascal James Imperato, M.D., MPH&TM, MACP, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, led 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, chaired the Steering Committee, with Lori A. Bruno, MPH, Assistant Vice President, Office of Policy and Planning, as co-chair. 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, served in a critical supporting role for the self-study.