Francis Hall aerial view


In Fall 2022, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Íø began its Middle States Self Study. Conducted every 10 years, the multi-year process of self-review and evaluation is laborious and complex, but also incredibly important to the institution.


This page will act as a public clearinghouse for the self study, which concludes with a campus visit by the evaluation team in Spring 2025.


FAQs

What is Middle States?
  • The (MSCHE) is an institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) that serves as an independent voice in higher education. MSCHE establishes equitable standards for accreditation with member institutions that advance the impact of accreditation in the ever-changing landscape of higher education and promotes educational excellence through innovation across diverse institutions. 
Why is it important?
  • Without MSCHE accreditation, we cannot be eligible for federal financial aid, cannot transfer our credits in or out to another institution, or requirements for professional licensures will not be valid.
What is the self study?
  • Self-study demonstrates an institution’s commitment to continuous improvement and is used to strengthen and sustain the institution. This is the process in which processes and goals are assessed, evidence is collected and analyzed, and culminating in an Evaluation Team Site Visit that will take place over a three-day period.
  • MSCHE selects a team of trained, knowledgeable and appropriate peer evaluators to visit the institution and conduct an on-site evaluation, based upon  the institution's Self-Study Report. The team will evaluate the analysis in the report and draw upon the insights they gain from on-site interviews.
  • The 2025 Middle States Self-Study process will be led by the Steering Committee.
How does MSCHE accreditation work?
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a voluntary, peer-based, nonprofit membership organization that performs peer evaluation and accreditation of public and private universities and colleges in the United States and foreign higher education institutions.

 

Steering Committee

Committee Members

Co-Chairs

  • Scott Pavone: Associate Director of Institutional Research
  • Christina J. Steffy: Director of Institutional Assessment, Accreditation, and Compliance


Members

  • Leamor Kanahov: Provost & Senior Vice President
  • Mary Ellen Wells: Associate Provost; Accreditation Liaison Officer 
  • Patricia Reger: Dean, College of Health Sciences


Members and Chairs/Co-Chairs of Working Groups

  • Alyssa Slade: Senior Director of Holleran Center
  • Bret Krotee: Director of Undergraduate Admissions
  • Alicia Sprow: Assistant Professor of Leadership and Healthcare Science; Coordinator of M.A. Leadership Program
  • Kimberly Lemon: Director of Community Standards
  • William Stiles: Associate Vice President for Athletics
  • Di You: Professor of Psychology
  • Meggan Kerber: Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement
  • Kevin Burns: Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management
  • Kevin Godfrey: Associate Professor of Theology
  • Susan Kolb: Assistant Vice President for Graduate and Adult Education Enrollment
  • Kelly Burr: Director of Graduate Enrollment

 

Working Groups

Standard I

Chair

  • Alyssa Slade: Senior Director of Holleran Center


Members

  • Sr. Paula Nowak: Instructor of Mathematics
  • Soo Sun: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
  • Jessica Skelly: HRIS Specialist and Adjunct Services
  • Jon Fassnacht: Website Content Specialist
  • Heather Riegel: Advancement Operations Coordinator
  • Tasha Santiago - Senior Administrative Assistant for Mission and Ministry


Senior Leadership for Standard I

  • Elizabeth Matteo: Dean, College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences
  • Darryl Mace: Vice President, Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion
Standard II

Chair

  • Bret Krotee: Director of Undergraduate Admissions


Members

  • Catherine Emenheiser: Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
  • Jane Brooker: Assistant Professor of Business
  • Jennifer Biggerstaff: Director of Enrollment Operations
  • Hallie Guiseppe: Director of Advancement Operations
  • Hillary Saylor Schulze: Associate Director of Student Financial Services
  • Brienne Henninger: Graduate and Adult Admissions Advisor


Senior Leadership for Standard II

  • Elizabeth Matteo: Dean, College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences
  • Thomas Minick: Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Standard III

Chair

  • Alicia Sprow: Assistant Professor of Leadership and Healthcare Science; Coordinator of M.A. Leadership Program


Members

  • Nicholas Nicoletti: Associate Professor of Political Science
  • Cynthia Corbin: Instructor of Master of Social Work
  • Jonathan King: Instructional Technology Faculty Support Manager
  • Tyler Kearney-Good: Lead Navigator, Title III
  • Mary Ellen Wells: Associate Provost
  • Emilee Matz: Laboratory Coordinator


Senior Leadership for Standard III

  • Patricia Reger: Dean, College of Health Sciences
  • Mary Ellen Wells: Associate Provost

 

Standard IV

Co-Chairs

  • Kimberly Lemon: Director of Community Standards
  • William Stiles: Associate Vice President for Athletics


Members

  • Andrea Swift: Director, Office of Accessibility Services
  • Christine Ahrens: Adjunct Professor, Healthcare Science
  • Molly Brobst: Assistant Professor of Education
  • Danielle Marino: Assistant Director, Young Alumni and Student Engagement
  • Lee Ann Bieber: Activity Director, Title III
  • Karen Sponagle: Professional Specialist, Nursing


Senior Leadership for Standard IV

  • Gaetan Giannini: Vice President, Graduate and Adult Education
  • Darryl Mace: Vice President, Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Mary-Alice Ozechoski: Senior Vice President, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Standard V

Chair

  • Di You: Professor of Psychology


Members

  • Renee Langstaff: Physician Associate Program Director
  • Sibel Ahi: Director of International Recruitment
  • Arielle Phillips-Law: Assistant Director for Transfer Students
  • John Hepler: Director of Multilingual Success
  • Karen Thacker: Professor of Nursing
  • Abby Swatchick: Executive Director of Student Engagement
  • Victoria Noone: Administrative Assistant
  • Evelina Panayotova: Adjunct Professor, Leadership Studies


Senior Leadership for Standard V

  • Patricia Reger: Dean, College of Health Sciences
  • Mary Ellen Wells: Associate Provost

 

Standard VI

Co-Chairs

  • Meggan Kerber: Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement
  • Kevin Burns: Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management


Members

  • Adam Waszkiewicz: Associate Vice President, Business Affairs
  • Christine Saadi: Senior Director of Student Financial Services
  • Scott Ballantyne: Associate Professor, College of Business, Communication, and Leadership
  • Janae Sholtz: Associate Professor of Philosophy
  • Daniel Natal: Director of Facilities Operations
  • Mary (Missy) Orlando: Executive Director Business and Partnership Development
  • John Donton: Associate Professor of Biology
  • Laurel Radzieski: Director of Grants
  • Donald Schalk: Professional Specialist


Senior Leadership for Standard VI

  • Travis Berger: Dean, College of Business, Communication, and Leadership
  • John McCloskey: Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff
Standard VII

Chair

  • Kevin Godfrey: Associate Professor of Theology


Members

  • Derek Smith: Circulation Supervisor
  • Dan Hartzman: Director of External Engagement
  • David Shoup: Dean of STEAM
  • Spencer Stober: Professor of Biology
  • Carolyn Gibson: Coordinator for O’Pake Institute
  • Michelle Schilling: Human Resources Manager
  • Mary Ann Avtjoglou: Administrative Assistant


Senior Leadership for Standard VII

  • Travis Berger: Dean, College of Business, Communication, and Leadership
  • John McCloskey: Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff
Working Group for Verification of Compliance/Requirements of Affiliation

Co-Chairs

  • Susan Kolb: Assistant Vice President for Graduate and Adult Education Enrollment
  • Kelly Burr: Director of Graduate Enrollment


Members

  • Melissa Roberts: Registrar
  • Leah Eshbach: Assistant Director of Admissions
  • Joseph Berardi: Student Financial Services Counselor
  • Brittany Truckenmiller: Administrative Assistant
  • Rosemary McFee: Instructor of Criminal Justice
  • Mikaileigh Baker: Navigator


Senior Leadership for Verification of Compliance/Requirements of Affiliation

  • Rodney Ridley: Dean, College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics; Vice Preside and Chief Operating Officer O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship
  • Mary-Alice Ozechoski: Senior Vice President, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

 

Announcements and Resources

High Level Timetable/Major Milestones for Accreditation
  • Summer 2022: Steering Committee appointed, working groups formed
  • October/November 2022: Self-Study Institute
  • December 2022 – December 2023: Evidence collection and drafting of reports for final self-study report from the working groups. Reports due December 1, 2023
  • January 2023: Video conference with MSCHE VP Liaison
  • April 1, 2023: Self-study design draft due to MSCHE.
  • April 11, 2023: Self-study site preparation visit.
  • January 2024 – April 2024: Write final self-study report. Release a chapter at a time for internal review and comments.
  • May – July 2024: Submit draft report to the board for final approval.
  • September 11 and 12, 2024: Scrimmage Visit.
  • October 1, 2024: Final Draft of the Self-Study Report due to Team Chair
  • October 24, 2024: Evaluation team chair’s preliminary site visit.
  • November 2024: Incorporate any feedback from site visit into report revisions and get board approval of the final draft.
  • January 30, 2025: Final Report and Evidence Due to Middle States
  • March 30 through April 2: THREE-DAY FULL SITE VISIT
  • Summer 2025: Final team report submissions and institutional responses.
  • November 2025: Commission Action announced to University
Documents and Other Resources (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Íø Login May Be Needed)
Town Halls and Video Series (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Íø Login May Be Needed)

 



 

Self Study Report Review and Feedback

Self-Study Report Complete Draft

Chapter 1: Mission and Goals

Chapter 2: Ethics and Integrity

Chapter 3: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience 

Chapter 4: Support of the Student Experience

Chapter 5: Educational Effectiveness Assessment

Chapter 6: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement

Chapter 7: Governance, Leadership, and Administration

Contact Information

For questions regarding the process, contact Scott Pavone (610-790-2959 or scott.pavone@alvernia.edu) or Christina Steffy (610-568-1465 or christina.steffy@alvernia.edu).