MSCHE Accreditation Processes

SUNY Potsdam is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)*.  Materials from our most recent accreditation processes are below.

*Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Email: info@msche.org Spanish: españolinfo@msche.org
General Link: www.msche.org

Fall 2020

We are in the second year of our 3-year re-accreditation process. Over the summer, we developed our Self-study Design, which will be the roadmap for the remainder of our process.

The Self Study Design document below is available in Adobe PDF format for those with a Campus Computer Account (CCA).

View Self Study Design (PDF)

This semester, four Working Groups (WG) are conducting the evidence-based Self-study of our university. Each WG is focusing on one campus priority (Strategic Enrollment Management, Creativity, Inclusive Excellence, and Strategic Decision Making). This work requires active participation from all members of campus, and we look forward to working with you to identify areas for improvement and innovation. The members of each WG are listed below.

Strategic Enrollment Management Working Group
Laura Carbone, Kelly Crosbie, Terry Francis, James Fryer, Chad Graham (co-chair), Karen Miller & Heather teRiele (co-chair)

Creativity Working Group
Heather Beauchamp (co-chair), Tony Betrus, Ray Bowdish, Erin Brooks, Raseem Crawford (student), Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, Brandi Kelley, Katie Logan, Cara Navaretta (student) & Sherry Paradis (co-chair)

Inclusive Excellence Working Group
Linnette Bracero-Torres, Kelly Deshaies, Haven Gotham (student), Roberta Green, Clifton Harcum, Matt LaVine, Michael Popovic, Tammy Snell (co-chair), Jared White (student) & Lonel Woods (co-chair)

Strategic Decision-Making Working Group
Walter Conley, Carol Franck, Tanya Hewitt (co-chair), Sarah Lister, Sean Partridge (co-chair), Melissa Proulx, Jessica Rogers, Beth Todd, Michael Vitalino & Marta Whalen

Why is accreditation important?

“An accredited institution of higher education has an appropriate mission (I), lives it with integrity (II), delivers an effective student learning experience (III), supports the overall student experience both inside and outside the classroom (IV), assesses its own educational effectiveness (V), uses planning and resources to ensure institutional improvement (VI), and is characterized by effective governance, leadership, and administration (VII).”

(Note: each of the Roman numerals above refer to the MSCHE Standards for Accreditation.)

Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee

Carrie Bates, Academic Assessment
Heather Beauchamp, Psychology
Julie Dold (co-chair), Residence Life
Chad Graham, Elementary Education
Tanya Hewitt, Public Health & Human Performance
Ada Law, Provost's Office
Sherry Paradis, Advancement
Sean Partridge, Student Success Center
Gordon Plague (co-chair), Biology
Tammy Snell, CSTEP
Heather teRiele, Student Accounts
Lonel Woods, Music Performance