Middle States Accreditation Self-Study
Messiah University Middle States Accreditation Self-Study
This website summarizes the self-study process that Messiah University undertook for its 2022-2023 accreditation review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (Middle States), the regional accrediting body for the U.S. Department of Education.
The self-study, which is a critical and required part of the accreditation process, provided an opportunity for the university to reflect on what we do and ensures that we regularly assess and document the effectiveness of our work. Each working group was responsible for gathering the evidence that showed how we met the criteria for the assigned accreditation standard(s), identifying any gaps in evidence and writing a summative report.
Transparency and the inclusion of the campus community's input into the self-study were important to Messiah's accreditation process. The University used this website to publicly document its self-study process and to invite campus feedback.
Current accreditation status
Middle States reaffirmed Messiah University’s accreditation in June 2023. Messiah’s next self-study process and evaluation visit is scheduled for 2030-2031. To view more information about Messiah’s current profile with Middle States visit https://www.msche.org/institution/0533/.
Dear Messiah University community,
The Middle States Evaluation Team completed their site visit on March 15, 2023, by sharing an exit summary of their findings. The summary was the very best outcome an institution can receive, stating that “Messiah University appears to meet the seven Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation.” The team had no recommendations or requirements for follow-up reporting or action and several team members commented on the quality of our self-study. One team member noted how rare it is for an evaluation team to not make any recommendations; this positive outcome is a testament to the mission-focused, excellent work of our campus community.
The summary report was submitted to the Middle States Commissioners for review, along with our Self-Study Report and Evidence Inventory. A final determination from the Commission on reaffirmation of our accreditation was received by the end of June 2023.
I am grateful for all of our community members – trustees, faculty, staff, administrators and students who participated in the interviews with the team and provided gracious hospitality to our guests. I also want to express deep gratitude to those individuals who have been central to the campus review process and site visit, especially to self-study co-chairs Alison Noble and Laura Miller.
President Kim S. Phipps
March 16, 2023
The Steering Committee will oversee and coordinate the self-study process.
Members:
- Alison Noble, Associate Provost (co-chair)
- Laura Miller, Director of Institutional Research (co-chair)
- Randy Basinger, Provost
- Dan Custer, Research Analyst
- Henry Danso, Professor of Psychology
- Susan Donat, Director of Curriculum and Assistant Director of Assessment (Accreditation Liaison Officer)
- Carla Gross, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications/Special Assistant to the President
- Kris Hansen-Kieffer, Vice Provost for Student Success and Engagement
- Jeff Moshier, Special Assistant to the President and Provost for Program Development
- Kate Oswald Wilkins, Asssistant Dean of General Education and Common Learning
- Linda Poston, Director of the Murray Library
- Pete Powers, Dean of the School of Arts, Culture and Society
- Roseann Sachs, Professor of Chemistry