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Middle States Accreditation

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a voluntary, non-governmental membership association that defines, maintains and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations and resources. MSCHE is an institutional accreditor that reviews institutions as a whole rather than specific programs within institutions. 

Learn more about MSCHE

Institutions who are accredited by MSCHE must be able to meet the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation and comply with all policies, procedures and guidelines.

Overview
Rooted and Rising logo

SUNY Adirondack has been accredited by the Middle States Commission for Higher Education (MSCHE) since 1972. Every eight years, the institution engages in a comprehensive self-study designed to prompt reflection and demonstrate our commitment to high-quality educational programs. Institutions of higher education must be accredited to be eligible to receive federal financial aid. Accreditation provides critical quality assurance to the general public. In the spirit of continuous improvement, the accreditation process invites SUNY Adirondack to tell its story and to provide evidence of our alignment with higher education best practices reflected in the standards for accreditation. The theme for our process is Rooted and Rising: Strength in Transition. Rooted in a strong history of excellence, new senior leadership along with enrollment and financial challenges demand creative responses that promise to deliver an exciting future.

Steering committee

The Middle States steering committee is co-chaired by Wendy Johnston, associate professor of political science and chair of the Social Science division, and Jeannie Brown Leonard, director of Assessment and Learning Resources. The co-chairs of each of the working groups assigned to the seven standards for accreditation comprise the steering committee.

Standards for Accreditation

The Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation (Fourteenth Edition) guide the self-study process. Each standard covers key criteria and evidence requirements. 

  • Standard 1: Mission and Goals
  • Standard 2: Ethics and Integrity
  • Standard 3: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
  • Standard 4: Support of the Student Experience
  • Standard 5: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
  • Standard 6: Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement
  • Standard 7: Governance, Leadership and Administration

 

Accreditation process and timeline

The self-study process begins with a self-study design that is shaped by the college’s mission, vision and institutional priorities. On July 1, 2025, SUNY Adirondack welcomed Anastasia Urtz as our eighth president. President Urtz appointed a strategic planning task force to lead the college in creating a new strategic plan that will guide the college through 2030. The college is simultaneously pursuing reaccreditation and developing a new strategic plan. The narrative and focus of the accreditation self-study will be edited to align with the new strategic plan when it is completed.

  • October 2025: Establish reaffirmation of accreditation organizational structure, including overall leadership, working groups, and faculty/staff co-chairs for each working group
  • October 2025-January 2026: Write self-study design document
  • Spring 2026: Working groups produce outlines and identify supporting evidence
  • April 2026: Host MSCHE Liaison for self-study preparation visit
  • Fall 2026-Spring 2027: Draft self-study narrative
  • Spring 2027: SUNY Council on Assessment (SCoA) conducts mock MSCHE visit
  • Fall 2027: Engage campus community in refining self-study report; seek approval for self-study report through college governance structures
  • January 2028: Submit final self-study
  • Spring 2028: Host MSCHE evaluation team for site visit
  • June 2028: Receive accreditation review report
     

Co-chairs

  • Jeannie Brown Leonard, director of Assessment and Learning Resources
  • Wendy L. Johnston, chair of Social Science and associate professor

Standard I: Mission and Goals

  • Mary Hand, co-chair, chief information officer
  • Kim Hedley, co-chair, professor of Nursing and chair of Health Sciences
  • Stephanie Hunt, assistant director of Business and Financial Affairs
  • Rhonda Triller, director of Marketing and Communications
  • Kelly Hammond, College Services associate for Business and Social Science

Standard II: Ethics and Integrity

  • Lottie Jameson, co-chair, director of Compliance and Risk Management
  • Lydia Treadway, co-chair, professor of Psychology and Substance Abuse
  • Wendell Vaisey, assistant director of Public Safety
  • Sarah LeRoux, assistant director of College Advancement
  • Rita Debnam, principal typist in IT
  • Laura Baker, messenger

Standard III: Design and Delivery of Student Learning Experience

  • Jill Lloyd, co-chair, associate professor of Mathematics
  • Beth Braxton, co-chair, professor of Counseling
  • Diane Wildey, associate vice president for Academic Affairs
  • Doris Ostrander, coordinator of Teaching and Learning Collaborative
  • Mike Prutsman, dean for Extended Programs
  • Meagan Tennant, senior account clerk/typist in Business Office
  • Sheila Morton, assistant director of Student Success
  • Melissa Blackmer, associate professor of Nursing

Standard IV: Support of the Student Experience

  • Chelsea Foster, co-chair, director of TRIO Opportunity Programs
  • Khristeena Lute, co-chair, associate professor of English and director for Center for Reading and Writing
  • Michelle Bilodeau-Lanne, assistant director of Registration and Records
  • Cassie Schrammel, senior Human Resources administrator
  • David Willis, peace officer II
  • Jeff Shakow, College Services associate in Accessibility Services
  • Donna Ellis, secretary II in Student Affairs
  • Heather McDowell, director of SUNY Adirondack Saratoga and College in the High School

Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment

  • Kelly Black, co-chair, grant writer
  • Lisa Dester, director of Business/Financial Affairs
  • Susan Wynkoop, director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development
  • Josh Kranz, coordinator of Enrollment Management
  • Andrew Nolan, College Services associate in Counseling
  • Matt Muller, associate professor of Business
  • Mariya Stockwell, assistant professor of Mathematics

Standard VI: Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement

  • Eric Conduzio, co-chair, budget analyst
  • Mark Strohmaier, co-chair, associate professor of Computer Science and chair of TECS
  • Kevin Schultze, associate director of Facilities Operations
  • Ali Stidd, senior Human Resources administrator
  • Todd Mallard, custodian

Standard VII: Governance Leadership and Adminstration

  • Jen Chase, co-chair, executive assistant to the President
  • Charlie D'Souza, co-chair, associate professor of Chemistry
  • Marc Morin, director of Facilities
  • Patti Jo Tennyson, administrative assistant
  • Jeevan Gurung, professor of English
  • Carrie Menard, professor of Mathematics and chair of Mathematics
  • Marc Guise, associate professor of Computer Science

Contact us

Wendy Johnston

  • Associate professor of Political Science; Chair of Social Science Division
  • SUNY Adirondack delegate to the Faculty Council of Community Colleges; chair of the Faculty Council Governance Committee