More than 140 members of the campus community have spent this academic year engaged in the rigorous process of seeking reaccreditation by the  (MSCHE). Guided by a steering committee co-chaired by , associate provost for academic programs, and , associate vice president for research, the vital undertaking ensures ������ meets and exceeds high standards of educational excellence.

Working Groups Produce Reports

The process began a year ago with the completion of a self-study design and a campus visit from an MSCHE representative. Starting last fall, members of seven working groups evaluated large amounts of evidence compiled by the  and other units. From that data, they developed reports that demonstrate the University’s adherence to MSCHE’s .

“The working group members have been the cornerstone of this process, spending an entire semester immersed in data, evidence and analysis,” Hasenwinkel says. “The draft reports they’ve produced reflect not just rigor, but also a genuine investment in understanding who we are as an institution and where we are headed. This self-study is only possible because of their dedication.”

The seven reports were completed in December and submitted to a writing team that includes Hasenwinkel and McDonald as well as Gabe Coleman, director of project management and operations in the Office of the Chancellor; Jerry Edmonds, chief of staff for academic affairs; Laura Harrington, director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness; and Wendy Loughlin, executive director of academic communications in the Division of Communications. That team is now working to review and compile the reports into a single self-study document.

Input on Draft Self-Study

A draft self-study report will be made available to the University community for review beginning Monday, Aug. 3, with the public comment period running through Monday, Sept. 14. Feedback from faculty, staff and students is crucial, McDonald says. “A self-study is only as strong as the perspectives that shape it,” she says. “The insights that come from across our University will strengthen the work of our self-study and ensure it reflects the full breadth of the Syracuse experience and key opportunities to further deliver on our mission.”

Input gathered during the open comment period will be taken into consideration as the self-study is finalized. The report will be submitted to MSCHE in December. In March 2027, a group of peer evaluators from other MSCHE-accredited institutions will visit campus, review evidence and meet with key campus leaders and constituencies. A final determination will be made by MSCHE in June 2027.

For more information about MSCHE reaccreditation, visit .

After successfully accomplishing a thorough assessment process, the Barnes Center at The Arch has achieved renewal accreditation by the (AAAHC). As a repeat recipient, this continued benchmark of success further distinguishes the health and wellness team through its adherence to rigorous standards of student-focused care and safety.

“This AAAHC reaccreditation marks a significant milestone in the continued growth and success of the Barnes Center at The Arch,”  says Cory Wallack, associate vice president of student health and wellness. “Guided by the leadership of Lisa GreenPope, director of operations, and Kathleen Coughlin, director of health care, this recognition reflects the high level of excellence the Barnes Center consistently demonstrates and its unwavering pursuit of continued improvement.”

Status as an organization that has earned accreditation means the Barnes Center at The Arch has met the highest level of nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care set by AAAHC. Highlights that supported the team’s reaccreditation include evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, ongoing performance improvement strategies and an effective organizational infrastructure aimed at providing safe and effective care.

For more information or questions, please  or call 315.443.8000.

������ has formally begun the process of seeking reaccreditation from the (MSCHE). The critical endeavor, which includes rigorous self-study and peer evaluation, ensures the University meets and exceeds high standards of educational excellence.

Some 140 faculty, staff and students from across campus are now working on the self-study portion of the process, which entails a comprehensive review of the University’s academic and co-curricular programs and functional operations through evidence compiled by the and other units.

Under the purview of a co-chaired by , associate provost for academic programs, and , associate vice president for research, seven are focused on the outlined by MSCHE: Mission and Goals; Ethics and Integrity; Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience; Support of the Student Experience; Educational Effectiveness Assessment; Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement; and Governance, Leadership and Administration. The standards are designed to be holistic.

“The self-study process provides an opportunity to step back and reflect on who we are as an institution,” Hasenwinkel says. “It’s not just about compliance; it’s about institutional improvement. The process gives us a structured framework to examine our strengths and identify areas where we can do even better.”

Timeline

The reaccreditation process began last semester, with the completion of a self-study design that has since been approved by MSCHE, and a visit to campus by Tiffany Lee, then MSCHE’s vice president for institutional field relations, who reviewed the design and provided general guidance.

The working groups were convened and began work last month and will produce draft reports by the end of the semester. Those reports will then be compiled and synthesized to create a draft self-study report.

That report will be made available to the entire University community in Fall 2026. At that time, an open comment period will include multiple opportunities for stakeholders to provide feedback before the self-study is finalized. This ensures that the report will be “a true reflection of the entire community,” McDonald says.

“Our success in this process will require engagement from everyone on campus,” she says.

A final self-study report will be submitted to MSCHE in December 2026. In March 2027, a group of peer evaluators from other MSCHE-accredited institutions will visit campus, review evidence and meet with key campus leaders and constituencies. A final determination will be made by MSCHE in June 2027.

The University was most recently .

Importance of Accreditation

MSCHE accreditation serves as a vital seal of quality assurance and demonstrates the University’s commitment to accountability and ongoing enhancement of the educational mission.

The designation is particularly crucial for students, because it ensures their degrees will be recognized and respected by employers, graduate schools and professional licensing boards. As the reaccreditation process provides a framework for identifying strengths and areas for improvement, it ultimately drives innovation and ensures that a ������ education remains relevant and effective in preparing students for the future.

Over the course of the next two years, ������ will undergo the rigorous process of reaccreditation by the  (MSCHE). That process, which relies on the support and engagement of all members of the University community, includes a review of academic and co-curricular programs and functional operations, known as a self-study, and a site visit by peer reviewers from other MSCHE-accredited colleges and universities, which is scheduled for March 2027.

On Tuesday, April 8, MSCHE’s vice president for institutional field relations, , will hold an open forum to provide information and answer questions about the reaccreditation process. All students, faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to attend. The event will be held from 11:15 a.m. to noon in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium, Newhouse 3. A virtual option will also be available; .

For more information about MSCHE accreditation, visit .