Middle States Accreditation

Shippensburg University is periodically reviewed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an accreditation body which “mandates that its member institutions meet rigorous and comprehensive standards.” Because the bar is set so high, once the process is completed successfully, Shippensburg can assuredly claim our students are well-served.

The accreditation process involves many stakeholders within the university, including administration, faculty and students, engaging in conscious self-reflection. A committee made up of representatives from each of these areas examines the Middle States Standards for Accreditation, their Requirements of Affiliation, and relevant federal regulations. The group collects documentation and writes a self-study report demonstrating that Shippensburg is in full compliance with regulations and meets all relevant standards and requirements. Some of the issues the report will cover include:

• The quality of the education the university provides
• How well we are achieving our previously established mission and goals (covered in the University Strategic Plan)
• Whether and how well all levels of the university are assessed on a regular basis

The completed report is then evaluated by a team of reviewers from MSCHE to ensure that we are in fact meeting all of our goals in the way the self-study report claims we are. A successful evaluation results in renewed accreditation.

Visit the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s website for more information.