IUP Reaccredited by Middle States Commission
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has awarded reaccreditation to Indiana University of Pennsylvania for the next ten years, along with noteworthy accolades for the university’s “exemplary” comprehensive Self-Study and for the university’s outstanding faculty, student services, and information technology.
The Commission on Higher Education, based in Philadelphia, is the unit of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States region.
IUP began preparing for reaccreditation in summer 2003. Throughout the process, more than 200 members of the IUP community were involved in the development of the Self-Study, which examined the university in the context of the fourteen Middle States Standards for Accreditation: University Mission, Goals and Objectives; Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal; Institutional Resources; Leadership and Governance; Administration; Integrity; Institutional Assessment; Student Admissions; Student Support Offerings; Faculty; Educational Offerings; General Education; Related Educational Activities; and Assessment of Student Learning.
IUP met all of the fourteen standards, and was recognized for outstanding programs and procedures within the categories.
“This highly positive outcome confirms the excellence and high quality of IUP’s academic programs, services, and operations,” said IUP President Tony Atwater.
“I am delighted that the Middle States Accrediting body, after a thorough review process, has granted us reaccreditation for an additional ten-year period. The input and feedback from the Middle States Self-Study process and the site visitation will inform significantly the university’s strategic planning process during the forthcoming academic year.”
The visiting team, composed of university administrators from throughout the region, spent three days at IUP in March completing interviews with university faculty, staff, students, and Steering Committee members. In its exit interview, the team praised the IUP Self-Study, noting that it “will help the university create a strategic framework and action plans that can carry it forward throughout the next decade.”
The reaccreditation report praised IUP for its “strong, dedicated, hard-working, and talented faculty who are poised and anxious to begin work in earnest in order to achieve the university’s new shared vision and mission.” The report noted that “IUP’s faculty are credited by students and other stakeholders with creating a teaching-learning environment that has ‘excellent teaching’ as its heart.... Other terms used to describe the IUP faculty and experiences are ‘like family,’ ‘responsive,’ ‘open,’ ‘accessible,’ and ‘passionate about learning.’” Team members reported that “it was evident to members of the Team that IUP values excellence in teaching and related support activities such as scholarly endeavors and service.”
The accreditation report also praised IUP’s regional campuses for being “well run, successful in attracting students, and supported well” with well-defined curriculum and excellent physical facilities. The report also praised IUP’s distance learning program, and especially support for faculty involved in technology enhanced distance learning. Overall, the team praised IUP’s information technology and commitment to the development of wireless connectivity.
Student services were also applauded in the reaccreditation report, noting that “IUP offers a broad array of academic support services based on institutional and well articulated divisional and unit missions. There are extensive services, programs, and activities available to extend the academic experience. These efforts appear to be purposeful and meaningful and are subject to assessment tools which are valued.
The report also recognized the opportunities offered by the residential revival initiative.
The federal government recognizes the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as the official accrediting body for IUP. Its certification is necessary to receive any form of federal funding.
The Visiting Team Report to the IUP Community
Self-Study Final Report
