Overview

Latest News 

  • On November 10, 2026, WP's MSCHE VP Liaison, Michael Sachs, will visit the campus to discuss the Self-Study process. Please attend one of the open forums to learn more about the self-study process.
    • Student Open Forum :: 12:15pm - 12:45pm, location TBD
    • Faculty/Staff Open Forum :: 1:00pm - 1:30pm, location TBD 

  • WP submitted its self-study proposal (called the Design Document) to MSCHE for review and approval.  The document is available on the Resources page (login required)

About Accreditation

What is accreditation?

  • Process that provides external quality assurance and promotes continuous improvement.
  • Examines the institution as a whole – mission, student learning, student outcomes, planning, resources, governance, and assessment.

What is MSCHE?

  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is one of several institutional accreditors that is authorized to review institutions and make determinations regarding accreditation.
  • Requires that institutions submit a compliance document (self-study) every eight years to maintain accreditation.

What are the benefits of accreditation?

  • Required for institutions to access and disperse federal financial aid.
  • Provides public assurance of the quality and integrity of the institution.
  • Creates a structured opportunity to examine what is working well and where we can improve.

What are the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation (14th Edition)?

  • Access link
  • MSCHE has seven standards, each with a holistic statement and specific criteria.
  • Institutions must demonstrate compliance with all standards to achieve and maintain accreditation.
  • The standards are:
    • I: Mission and Goals
    • II: Ethics and Integrity
    • III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
    • IV: Support of the Student Experience
    • V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
    • VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
    • VII: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
  • Note: The 15th edition of the Standards was recently released, but WP is still governed by the 14th Edition.

What are the Evidence Expectations?

  • Access link
  • A companion document that identifies the evidence institutions are expected to provide to demonstrate compliance.
  • The document is organized by Standard and criterion.
  • It is not a checklist per se, but peer evaluators expect to see most of the artifacts contained in the document.