MSCHE Vice President Visits Campus
In spring 2019, New Paltz hosted a campus visit of Sean McKitrick, vice president at the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Dr. McKitrick’s visit on April 11 focused on New Paltz’s upcoming reaccreditation in spring 2021. Accreditation assures the public that colleges and universities have a high level of excellence. It also affects an institution’s ability to obtain federal and state aid. MSCHE has a membership of approximately 530 institutions and covers the Middle Atlantic region as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 19 international intuitions.
Dr. McKitrick met with President Donald P. Christian, Provost Lorin Basden Arnold, the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee, Standards Working Groups, the Strategic Planning and Assessment Council, and College Council representatives. Members of the faculty, staff, and student body attended Dr. McKitrick’s presentation titled “Understanding Commission Expectations: The Standards, Self-Study, and Continuous Quality Improvement.” Associate Provost of Strategic Planning and Assessment Laurel M. Garrick Duhaney introduced Dr. McKitrick during the open presentation, in which he discussed MSCHE and the accreditation process. In general, the process begins with a school’s self-evaluation, a peer review site visit, a peer review report, and MSCHE’s decision regarding the institution’s accreditation status. McKitrick spoke about the Middle States seven standards at length. The standards are:
- 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
- Governance, Leadership, and Administration
Dr. McKitrick’s helpful presentations and meetings with SUNY New Paltz faculty, staff, and administration will help guide the institution as it prepares for reaccreditation over the next year.