Ensuring Quality and Excellence in Higher Education
Institutional Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), serves as an independent authority in the realm of higher education.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Niagara County Community College is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Niagara County Community College’s accreditation status is accredited. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 23, 2016 was to reaffirm accreditation.
MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.
Self-Study Preparation and Completion Timeline Details
(As indicated in the Self-Study Design)
| Timeframe | Activity |
|---|---|
| June/November 2025 | – MSCHE Commission Action |
| February – May 2025 | – Confirm Peer Review Evaluation Team Visit (Before 4/15 for November Action) – Visit Highlights – Peer Review Team Completes Review and Report – Peer Review Team Chair and President review findings – Campus Oral Summary P (no Q&A) – Create Institutional Response, if needed |
| February – March 2025 | – Final Self-Study Report/ Verification of Compliance/Evidence Inventory uploaded to MSCHE portal (due six weeks before team visit) |
| December 2024/January 2025 | – Self-Study Report finalized based on Team Chair feedback – Self-Study Report shared with campus |
| November 2024 | – Self-Study Report draft sent to Peer Review Team Chair (two weeks before preliminary visit) – Peer Review Team Chair’s Preliminary Visit |
| Spring/Fall 2024 | – Self-Study campus review and revisions – Self-Study Steering Committee and Evidence and Data Working Group meet as needed |
| Winter 2023/Spring 2024 | – Full draft of report sent to campus community – Peer Review Team Chair chosen – Review visit dates chosen – Final/Accepted Self-Study document sent to Chair – Self-Study Steering Committee and Evidence and Data Working Group meet as needed |
| Spring/Fall 2023 | – Working Groups gather and analyze data and submit progress reports to Steering Committee – Continue regular Self-Study Steering Committee and Evidence and Data Working Group meetings – Chapter drafts begin to be shared with campus community |
| Summer 2023 | – Continue regular Self-Study Steering Committee and Evidence and Data Working Group meetings |
| Spring/Summer 2023 | – Plan for acceptance/revisions of Self-Study Design – Begin Evidence and Data Working Group meetings – Continue regular Self-Study Steering Committee meetings |
| March 2023 | – Host on campus Commission Staff Liaison Self-Study prep visit – Distribute Self-Study Design to campus – Update Steering Committee Working Group memberships with additional volunteers – Continue regular Self-Study Steering Committee meetings |
| February 2023 | Assemble Working Groups (draw from volunteer forms) – Develop initial Self-Study Draft – Submit Self-Study Design draft (mid-February, 2 weeks prior to Self-Study prep visit) – Update Trustees on Middle States effort – Continue regular Self-Study Steering Committee meetings |
| January 2023 | – Participate in a (remote) meeting with Commission staff liaison – Develop (draft) sections of the Self-Study Design – Present Middle States Self-Study effort at All College meeting – Present Middle States Self-Study effort at Trustee meeting – Continue regular Self-Study Steering Committee meetings |
| December 2022 | – Complete Self-Study Institute – Assemble and finalize Steering Committee membership – Draft outline of Self-Study Design – Begin regular Self-Study Steering Committee meetings |
| October 2022 | – Attend Self-Study Institute – Steering Committee Leadership Group begins regular, monthly meetings |
| July 2022 | – Begin Middle States preparation (document review, post resources, etc.) – Begin development of an evidence ‘staging’ area |
| May 2022 | Set up the Middle States Accreditation Teams portal |
Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs for Institutional Effectiveness | MSCHE Accreditation Liaison Officer
Instruction and Assessment Librarian
Steering Committee Co-chair
MSCHE Resources
Standards, Guidelines and Framework
Standard I: Mission and Goals VideoStandard II: Ethics and IntegrityStandard III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning ExperienceStandard IV: Support of the Student ExperienceStandard V: Educational Effectiveness AssessmentStandard VI: Planning, Resources, and institutional ImprovementStandard VII: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
SUNY Niagara Middle States Self-Study
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It serves as a mechanism for quality assurance and accountability in higher education. MSCHE is the association that provides federal-level accreditation for Niagara County Community College.
The Middle States Self-Study is an essential component of MSCHE Accreditation. It provides the College an opportunity to demonstrate how we meet standards that have been established as “Characteristics of Excellence”. These Standards were established by MSCHE with substantial input from stake holders. It is important to note that while the MSCHE Standards do require that specific criteria are met, how these criteria are met is not prescriptive in nature. It is our job to demonstrate that we meet these criteria in a way that is effective for NCCC. The self-study cycle occurs every eight years.
To optimize the impact of our self-study we must focus on the following concepts:
- Reflective Practice – Institutions are expected to conduct a thorough and honest self-examination of their own operations, educational programs, and adherence to accreditation standards.
- Innovation and Improvement – The self-study process is an opportunity for institutions to demonstrate their commitment to ongoing improvement and the enhancement of educational quality.
- Campus Engagement– Campus participation is encouraged and expected. This includes input from faculty, staff, administrators, and students to ensure that a broad cross-section of the institution contributes to the self-study process.
During the 2022/2023 academic year the College developed a Self-Study Design that was subsequently approved by our liaison to the MSCHE. Within this plan, we have established priorities, intended outcomes, and specific lines of inquiry. Please consult the Self-Study Design for details on each of these items and the means in which we will be addressing them.