Self Study 2024
Penn State has completed the self-study process and earned
reaccreditation from Middle States through 2031-2032.
Click here for more information.
Institutional Self-Study
Living the Land-Grant Mission: Purpose, Agility, and Opportunity
Middle States Self-Study Process
Penn State is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on April 27, 2023 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
MSCHE provides accreditation for all programs offered by the University. To maintain accreditation, the University must meet MSCHE’s rigorous Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation.
MSCHE accreditation assures students, their families, and the public of the educational quality of a Penn State education. Institutional accreditation is also a requirement for the University to participate in the Department of Education’s Title IV federal financial aid program.
News and Updates
Penn State maintains its accreditation
“UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s accreditation status has been reaffirmed, having met the standards necessary to continue to receive Title IV federal aid. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) found that the University meets all standards and requirements for MSCHE affiliation and offered no ‘recommendations’ or ‘requirements.'”
Penn Staters invited to review University self-study report
University community invited to review self-study report draft before final submission to Middle States Commission on Higher Education UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Every eight years, Penn State’s national accreditor, the Middle States Commission on...
Update: Self-study first chapter drafts submitted
This week, the seven self-study working groups, each assigned to one of Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s (MSCHE) standards of accreditation, are submitting their first chapter drafts of the self-study report before breaking for the winter holiday.
ACCREDITATION CYCLE
Annual Institutional Updates (AIU)
Each spring, Middle States reviews data regarding Penn State’s institutional characteristics (key institutional contacts, locations, Carnegie classification); enrollment; financial; and information regarding student success (graduation, loan repayment, and default rates).
Midpoint Peer Review (MPPR)
Every four years (beginning in January 2020), cumulative data and information provided in previous AIUs are reviewed to look for trends in data, provide feedback, make recommendations, and request further information if necessary.
Self Study
This in-depth institutional self-study occurs every eight years. Peer reviewers conduct an on-site evaluation to assess Penn State’s compliance with Middle States standards and requirements of affiliation, verify compliance with accreditation-relevant federal regulations, and identify areas needing improvement. Penn State’s last self-study occurred in 2015, and the next is currently underway.
“Middle States reaffirmation of accreditation is essential to our success as a University and speaks directly to the quality and value of a world-class Penn State education. I encourage all Penn Staters to have their voices heard and engage in this fantastic opportunity of institutional self-reflection as we celebrate our strengths and work together toward continuous improvement and innovation.” – Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi
Goals and Outcomes
- In-depth, comprehensive, and reflective assessment process that engages the entire University community
- Honest reflection of strengths and opportunities for improvement and innovation
- Self-study report that demonstrates compliance with MSCHE accreditation standards
- Reaffirmation of accreditation
Timeline
2022
January
- Steering Committee Charged
- Draft self-study design
February - March
- Establish working groups
- University-wide kickoff
April
- Submit self-study design
- MSCHE VP liaison prep
June
- Self-study design approved by MSCHE
December
- Working groups first chapter drafts to steering committee for feedback
2023
March
- Working groups submit second chapter drafts to steering committee for feedback
April - September
- Steering committee drafts self-study report, presents to University leadership and designated readers for feedback
October
- Draft self-study report submitted to evaluation team chair
November - December
- Steering committee presents draft self-study report to University community for feedback
- Evaluation team chair onsite visit
- Revisions to self-study draft as needed from team chair feedback
2024
January- February
- Final self-study report shared with University community
- Submit final self-study report
March - May
- Evaluation team onsite visit
- Receive team report
- Prepare institutional response
June
- Notice of MSCHE action
Self-Study Committees
Steering Committee
This committee oversees the development of a comprehensive report documenting the self-assessment process and provides evidence of compliance with accreditation standards and requirements.
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I: Mission and Goals
- Margo DelliCarpini, Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor
- Lee Kump, Dean, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and Professor of Geosciences
- Rebecca Waltz, Associate Dean, University Libraries (Academic Administrator)
OPAIR Liaison
- Kirsten Hochstedt, Assistant Director of Assessment, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research
II: Ethics and Integrity
- Debra Thurley, Associate Vice President for Research Director, Office of Research Protections
- Matthew Swinarski, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
OPAIR Liaison
- Karen Henninger, Director of Data Governance, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research
III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
- Danielle M. Conway, Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law
- Kimberly Lawless, Dean, College of Education
- Leslie Parent, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences Research, Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Penn State College of Medicine; Professor of Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine
OPAIR Liaison
- Alex Serpi, Assessment and Research Analyst, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research
IV: Support of the Student Experience
- Barry Bram, Senior Director of Student Affairs
- Troy Ott, Associate Director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences
- Tina Richardson, Chancellor, Penn State Lehigh Valley
OPAIR Liaison
- Marie Sullivan, Director of Accreditation, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research
V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
- Sez Atamturktur, Department Head of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering
- William Clark, Associate Dean, Office of the Dean of the Graduate School
- Karen Pollack, Associate Vice Provost for Online Programs, Penn State Online
OPAIR Liaisons
- Christopher Barnes, Assistant Director of Assessment, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research
- Jessica Myers, Assistant Director of Assessment, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research
VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
- B. Stephen Carpenter II, Dean, College of Arts and Architecture
- Lisette Garcia, Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Human Resources
- Dan Heist, Director of Internal Audit
OPAIR Liaison
- Michael Rosenberg, Director of Planning, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research
VII: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
- Marie Hardin, Dean of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Shannon Harvey, Assistant Vice President; Secretary, Office of the Board of Trustees
- Laura Pauley, Executive Director of University Faculty Senate, Professor of mechanical engineering
OPAIR Liaison
- Melissa Meyer, Business Operations Lead, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research
Working Groups
Seven working groups will each analyze compliance with one of MSCHE’s seven standards of accreditation.
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I: Mission and Goals
- Amy Allen, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Advancement, College of the Liberal Arts
- Katherine Bode-Lang, Director of Research Education, Quality, and Integrity Program, Office for Research Protections
- Guido Cervone, Acting Director of the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Matt Hansen, Graduate Student and Research and Development Engineer
- Yvonne Harhigh, Marketing and Communications Manager, Penn State Harrisburg
- Dennis Shea, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Outreach, College of Health and Human Development
- Michele Stine, Associate Teaching Professor of Biobehavioral Health, College of Health and Human Development
- Bill Tyson, Director of Strategic Communications, Penn State Brandywine
- UPUA/CCSG, Representative
- Johnathan White, Assistant Teaching Professor, Penn State Greater Allegheny
OPAIR Liaison
- Kirsten Hochstedt, Assistant Director of Assessment
II: Ethics and Integrity
- Suzanne Adair, Associate Vice President, Office of Affirmative Action
- Denise Bortree, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Carter Gangl, UPUA Chair of the Committee on Justice and Equity, University Park
- Natalie Grosse, Associate, General Counsel
- Mihoko Hosoi, Associate Dean for Collections Research and Scholarly Communications, University Libraries
- Amanda Jones, Interim Associate Vice President for Human Resources
- Tabitha Oman, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Office of Ethics and Compliance
- Stacey Peeler, Managing Director, Penn State Online MBA, Smeal College of Business
- Danny Shaha, Assistant Vice President for Student Rights, Office of Student Conduct
- Sonya Wilmoth, Director of the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Office of Student Affairs
- Krista Wojciechowicz, Student Aid Coordinator, Office of Student Aid
- Lori Yacisin, Director, Talent Acquisition
OPAIR Liaison
- Karen Henninger, Director of Data Governance
III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
- Jeff Adams, Associate Vice President and Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
- Rick Brazier, Interim Dean, University College
- Cody Buck, World Campus Student Government
- Penny Carlson, Assistant Vice President/Executive Director for Academic Services and Assessment, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
- Dawn Coder, Director for Academic Advising & Student Disability Services, Penn State World Campus
- Abby Diehl, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
- Jeffrey Dodge, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services, Penn State Dickinson Law
- Erica Friedman, Vice Dean (Academic Advisor), Penn State Health
- Owen Haddad, Chair of the Committee on Academic Affairs, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA)
- Neill Johnson, Director of Penn State Learning, Undergraduate Education
- Michael Verderame, Senior Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School
- Misty Patcyk, Director of LionPATH Development, and Maintenance Organization, Penn State IT
- Mae Quinn, Associate Dean of Experiential Learning, Penn State Dickinson Law
- Maggie Slattery, Assistant Dean for General Education and Director, Office for General Education
- Mel White, Senior Director of Planning and Partnerships, Penn State Global
- Mary Beth Williams, Senior Associate Dean of Instruction and Curricula, Eberly College of Science
OPAIR Liaison
- Alex Serpi, Assessment and Research Analyst
IV: Support of the Student Experience
- Sarah Ades, Associate Dean for Graduate Student Affairs, The Graduate School
- Brian Brubaker, Assistant Vice Provost for Global Learning, Penn State Global
- Andrea Dowhower, Associate Vice President and Interim Senior Director, University Health Services
- Sydney Gibbard, Student Body Vice President, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), Self-Study Steering Committee Member
- Lynn Holleran, Deputy Director of Athletics, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics
- Melissa Johnson, Associate Vice President and Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
- Bob Kubat, Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Education and University Registrar
- Melissa Kunes, Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Education and Executive Director for Student Aid, Undergraduate Education
- Peter Moran, Associate Dean of Policy and Planning, Penn State Altoona
- Bob Orndorf, Senior Director of Career Services, Student Affairs
- Stephanie Danette Preston, Associate Dean for Graduate Educational Equity, The Graduate School
- Crystal Ramsay, Interim Director of Teaching with Technology Innovation
- Michele Rice, Director of Prior Learning Assessment, Undergraduate Education
- Erick Vetovich, Campus Chair, Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, University Park
- Leah Zimmerman, Executive Director of Student Disability Resources, Office of Educational Equity
OPAIR Liaison
- Marie Sullivan, Director of Accreditation
V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
- Jonathan Adrien, MLD student in the Leadership Development (LEAD) program, Graduate Student, Penn State Great Valley
- Mallika Bose, Associate Dean of Research, Creative Activity and Graduate Studies, Arts and Architecture
- Adam Christensen, Director of Student Affairs Research and Assessment, Student Affairs
- Ivan Esparragoza, Assistant Dean for Curricular Innovation and Program Assessment, College of Engineering
- Lisa Lenze, Director of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, College of Information Science and Technology
- Angela Linse, Executive Director and Associate Dean, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
- Carey McDougall, Chief Academic Officer, Penn State Beaver
- Hilary Miller, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer, College of Medicine
- Richard Page, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
- Yvette Richardson, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, College of Earth and Mineral Science
- Kara Wright, Vice President, Penn State Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, Undergraduate Student, Penn State University Park
OPAIR Liaisons
- Christopher Barnes, Assistant Director of Assessment
- Jessica Myers, Assistant Director of Assessment
VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
- Lindsey Droz, Director of Operations, University Budget Office
- Kimberly Fisher, Assistant Controller and Director of Financial Officers, Office of Corporate Controller
- John Hoh, Senior Director for Information Technology, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
- John Papazoglou, Associate Vice President of Auxiliary and Business Services
- Steve Watson, Director of Planning, Design, and Properties, Office of Physical Plant
- Avery McLean, Professional Student Association
- Lisa Marranzini, Interim Vice President for Administration, Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
- Danielle Ray, Penn State University World Campus, Smeal College of Business
- Jeff Smith, Associate Vice President of Operations, Penn State World Campus
OPAIR Liaison
- Michael Rosenberg, Director of Planning
VII: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
- Olayemi Timothy Adekeye, Doctoral student, Graduate Research Assistant
- Rachele Brida, Operational Excellence, Human Resources
- Gina D’Amato-Kaufman, Director of Student Affairs, Penn State Abington
- Renata Engel, Vice Provost for Online Education
- Jennifer Frank, Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education
- Dhairya Ghai, President, Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, University Park
- Rob Jackson, Assistant Vice President of Principal Gifts, Development and Alumni Relations
- Becki Leonard, Assistant Director for Transition Programs
- Carey McDougall, Director of Academic Affairs, Penn State Beaver
- Tracey Missien, Adjunct Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Health Policy and Administration
- Nora O’Toole, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA)
- Bill Oldsey, Trustee Emeritus
- Julie Anna Potts, Trustee, Board of Trustees
- Jeanne Marie Rose, Associate Professor of English, Penn State Berks
- Beth Seymour, Immediate Past Chair Faculty Senate, Professor Anthropology, Communications, History, Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, Penn State Altoona
- Chad Simpson, HR Strategic Partner, Human Resources
- Beatrice Sirakaya, Director, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Bio-Tech Cluster
- Tammy Spevak, Student Success Center Coordinator, Penn State Hazleton
- JW Tabacchi, Director of Student Affairs, Penn State New Kensington
- Virginia Teachey, Associate Vice President for Finance, Office of Finance and Business
- Amanda Wintersteen, Assistant Vice President for Federal Relations, Government and Community Relations
- Elizabeth Wright, Chancellor, Penn State Hazleton
OPAIR Liaison
- Melissa Meyer, Executive Assistant and Office Manager
Secondary Readers
These content experts will carefully review subject matter in the self-study report drafts and provide applicable feedback throughout the process.
Resources
Standards for Accreditation
Requirements of Affiliation
Penn State Strategic Plan
Internal Users Login
Penn State Self-Study Design
Contact Us
The Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research (OPAIR) is providing support for the entire self-study process, and we are available to answer any questions you may have about this important University initiative. This is going to take all of us across Penn State working together to make this self-study possible.
Marie Sullivan - Director of Accreditation
- Phone: 814-863-8721
- Email: Selfstudy@psu.edu