“Accreditation is a process of peer review that the educational community has adopted for its self-regulation since early in the 20th century. It is a voluntary process intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education, making it worthy of public confidence. Institutions choose to apply for accredited status, and once accredited, they agree to abide by the standards of their accrediting organization and to regulate themselves by taking responsibility for their own improvement.” (2010, Middle States Commission of Higher Education)

Accreditation means that standards of quality and excellence have been met. The core principles for universities accredited by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE) include the diversity of institutions, focus on the student learning experience, emphasis on institutional assessment and assessment of student learning, and continuous institutional improvement and innovation.

Accreditation is required for campuses to be eligible to participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs.

The Self-Study can also provide important recommendations for improvement and innovation, both self-identified by the institution, and recommended by the visiting peer-review Team.

With the success of students being our highest priority, Genesee Community College is committed to continually work to improve its educational programs, resources, facilities, and services. Reaccreditation includes an extensive evaluation of how well the college’s programs, resources, facilities and services fulfill its mission to foster student success.

The reaccreditation process takes place every 8 years, and involves two stages of evaluation: a campus-wide Self Study, and an on-site evaluation by a team of experts from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The reaccreditation process is an opportunity to assess the extent to which we are accomplishing the shared vision of our institution and serves as a point of departure for charting the future direction of GCC and building towards a better campus community.

GCC’s Strategic Plan outlines the institutions mission, vision, values, promise and goals.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education(MSCHE) is a voluntary membership association that “defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources.” As a participating institution, GCC engages in a self-study process every 8 years.

Representatives from MSCHE will hold a series of informational meetings with faculty, staff and students to get their feedback about GCC’s performance in a variety of areas. GCC’s five campus centers will also participate.

The MCHE Team evaluates the analysis in the Self-Study Report and draws on insights gained from their visit interviews. Since the Self-Study Report and On-Site Evaluation Visit result from careful analysis that has incorporated feedback from multiple stakeholders, the Report has the potential to influence institutional decision making for several years.

According to MSCHE, “The Commission’s accreditation process ensures institutional accountability, self-appraisal, improvement, and innovation through peer review and the rigorous application of standards within the context of institutional mission.”

The Self-Study should be an honest appraisal of the institution, that is evidence-driven, and consistently demonstrates the use of assessment (throughout each standard or chapter). It provides an opportunity to engage multiple stakeholders in an extensive analysis of the college’s strengths and areas for improvement and innovation.

The Evidence Inventory, a cataloged and referenced inventory of documents, processes, and procedures, provides opportunity for the institution to develop sustainable resources that the college should continuously update to document ongoing compliance.