South Middlesex Times

Rutgers University is progressing in its reaccreditation process with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a crucial step for maintaining educational quality and student eligibility for federal aid. The reaccreditation, initiated in 2023, involves a steering committee of 25 members from various university sectors, supported by seven working groups comprising over 100 faculty, staff, and students.

These groups have collaboratively prepared a "Self-Study Design" document submitted to MSCHE in February 2025. President Jonathan Holloway and Executive Vice President Prabhas Moghe appointed the steering committee in summer 2024 to oversee this multiyear effort.

On March 31, Rutgers will host MSCHE Vice President Liaison Tiffany Lee. She will meet with university boards and leadership to review Rutgers' self-study plan and present feedback. An in-person presentation at Winants Hall will be available from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., also accessible via Zoom for the entire Rutgers community.

"We encourage all of our community members to attend the session to learn why accreditation is vital for Rutgers, our students, faculty and all of our community members," said Michele Moser Deegan, associate vice president for academic assessment and accreditation liaison officer. "Through peer review, assessment and evaluation, the accreditation process verifies the quality of a Rutgers education and our ongoing efforts to continuously improve and innovate."

The previous comprehensive review was completed in 2018 when Rutgers was successfully reaccredited. The current process will culminate with an accreditation team site visit scheduled for early spring 2027.

MSCHE is one of six accrediting agencies recognized across four-year institutions in the U.S., focusing historically on the mid-Atlantic region including New Jersey.

In fall 2025, working groups will advance with drafting the Self-Study Report aimed at completion by spring 2026. Community members will then have opportunities to provide input before finalization.

By fall 2026, plans for the spring 2027 site visit by MSCHE’s evaluation team will be underway. This team consists of volunteer peer evaluators from accredited institutions who will assess various Rutgers locations.

The commission's decision on reaccreditation is expected by summer 2027 following their evaluation team's visit. The next consideration for reaccreditation would occur in 2035.

For further details or to provide feedback on this initiative, stakeholders are directed to visit the MSCHE Accreditation website or use designated forms provided by Rutgers University.

___