STATEMENT OF ACCREDITATION STATUS

KEYSTONE COLLEGE
One College Green
La Plume, PA 18440-0200
Phone: (570) 945-8000; Fax: (570) 945-8965
keystone.edu

Most Recent Commission Action:

June 23, 2011:

To accept the monitoring report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2013-2014.

Brief History Since Last Comprehensive Evaluation:

June 25, 2003:

To reaffirm accreditation and to commend the institution for the quality of the self-study process and report. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2008.

November 20, 2008:

To warn the institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of a lack of evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with Standard 14 and to request a monitoring report, due by September 1, 2009 providing evidence of (1) a comprehensive institutional strategic plan that links long-range planning to decision-making and budgeting processes (Standard 2); (2) implementation of a comprehensive, organized, and sustained process for the assessment of institutional effectiveness, with evidence that assessment information is used in budgeting, planning and allocating resources (Standard 7); (3) steps taken to strengthen institutional research capability to support institutional assessment activities and decision-making (Standard 7); and (4) development and implementation of an organized and sustained assessment process to evaluate and improve student learning (Standard 14). To direct an immediate staff visit to discuss the Commission's expectations for reporting. A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report.

March 5, 2009:

To thank the institution for receiving the Commission's representative and to remind the institution that the Commission has issued a warning that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of a lack of evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with Standard 14. To remind the institution that a monitoring report, due by September 1, 2009 should provide evidence of (1) a comprehensive institutional strategic plan that links long-range planning to decision-making and budgeting processes (Standard 2); (2) implementation of a comprehensive, organized, and sustained process for the assessment of institutional effectiveness, with evidence that assessment information is used in budgeting, planning and allocating resources (Standard 7); (3) steps taken to strengthen institutional research capability to support institutional assessment activities and decision-making (Standard 7); and (4) development and implementation of an organized and sustained assessment process to evaluate and improve student learning (Standard 14). A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report.

November 19, 2009:

To accept the monitoring report and to note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To remove the warning because of progress to date and to reaffirm accreditation. To request a monitoring report by October 1, 2010, documenting (1) continued development and implementation of organized and sustained assessment processes to evaluate and improve student learning (Standard 14) and (2) evidence that student learning assessment information is used to improve student learning (Standard 14). The next evaluation visit is now scheduled for 2013-2014.

January 4, 2010:

To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the online Associate of Science in Business and Bachelor of Science in Business programs within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2013-2014.

May 5, 2010:

To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to add the additional location at Delaware Valley School Complex, 236 Route 6 & 209, Milford, PA 18337 provisionally within the scope of the institution's accreditation, pending a site visit within six months. To remind the institution of the monitoring report due by October 1, 2010, documenting (1) continued development and implementation of organized and sustained assessment processes to evaluate and improve student learning (Standard 14) and (2) evidence that student learning assessment information is used to improve student learning (Standard 14). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2013-2014.

November 18, 2010:

To reject the monitoring report because it did not respond to the Commission's request of November 19, 2009. To note that the report necessitated extraordinary effort by the Commission's representatives performing the review. To request resubmission of the report by March 1, 2011, documenting (1) continued development and implementation of organized, sustained assessment processes to evaluate and improve student learning and (2) evidence that student learning assessment information is being used to improve student learning (Standard 14). To direct a prompt Commission liaison visit to discuss Commission expectations. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2013-2014.

November 18, 2010:

To note the visit by the Commission's representative and to affirm the inclusion of the additional location at Delaware Valley School Complex, 236 Route 6 & 209, Milford, PA 18337, within the scope of the institution's accreditation.

March 3, 2011:

To note the visit by the Commission's representative. To note that the monitoring report due March 1, 2011 will be acted on by the Commission at its next meeting. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2013-2014.

Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2013 - 2014

Next Periodic Review Report: 2019

Date Printed: February 3, 2012

DEFINITIONS

Branch Campus - A location of an institution that is geographically apart and independent of the main campus of the institution. The location is independent if the location: offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential; has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and has its own budgetary and hiring authority.

Additional Location - A location, other than a branch campus, that is geographically apart from the main campus and at which the institution offers at least 50 percent of an educational program. ANYA ("Approved but Not Yet Active") indicates that the location is included within the scope of accreditation but has not yet begun to offer courses. This designation is removed after the Commission receives notification that courses have begun at this location.

Other Instructional Sites - A location, other than a branch campus or additional location, at which the institution offers one or more courses for credit.

Distance Education Programs - Yes or No indicates whether or not the institution has been approved to offer one or more degree or certificate/diploma programs for which students could meet 50% or more of their requirements by taking distance education courses.

EXPLANATION OF COMMISSION ACTIONS

An institution's accreditation continues unless it is explicitly suspended or removed. In addition to reviewing the institution's accreditation status at least every 5 years, actions are taken for substantive changes (such as a new degree or geographic site, or a change of ownership) or when other events occur that require review for continued compliance. Any type of report or visit required by the Commission is reviewed and voted on by the Commission after it is completed.

In increasing order of seriousness, a report by an institution to the Commission may be accepted, acknowledged, or rejected.

Levels of Actions:

Grant or Re-Affirm Accreditation without follow-up

Defer a decision on initial accreditation: The institution shows promise but the evaluation team has identified issues of concern and recommends that the institution be given a specified time period to address those concerns.

Postpone a decision on (reaffirmation of) accreditation: The Commission has determined that there is insufficient information to substantiate institutional compliance with one or more standards.

Continue accreditation: A delay of up to one year may be granted to ensure a current and accurate representation of the institution or in the event of circumstances beyond the institution’s control (natural disaster, U.S. State Department travel warnings, etc.)

Recommendations to be addressed in the next Periodic Review Report: Suggestions for improvement are given, but no follow-up is needed for compliance.

Supplemental Information Report: This is required when a decision is postponed and are intended only to allow the institution to provide further information, not to give the institution time to formulate plans or initiate remedial action.

Progress report: The Commission needs assurance that the institution is carrying out activities that were planned or were being implemented at the time of a report or on-site visit.

Monitoring report: There is a potential for the institution to become non-compliant with MSCHE standards; issues are more complex or more numerous; or issues require a substantive, detailed report. A visit may or may not be required.

Warning: The Commission acts to Warn an institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy when the institution is not in compliance with one or more Commission standards and a follow-up report, called a monitoring report, is required to demonstrate that the institution has made appropriate improvements to bring itself into compliance. Warning indicates that the Commission believes that, although the institution is out of compliance, the institution has the capacity to make appropriate improvements within a reasonable period of time and the institution has the capacity to sustain itself in the long term.

Probation: The Commission places an institution on Probation when, in the Commission’s judgment, the institution is not in compliance with one or more Commission standards and that the non-compliance is sufficiently serious, extensive, or acute that it raises concern about one or more of the following:

1. the adequacy of the education provided by the institution;
2. the institution’s capacity to make appropriate improvements in a timely fashion; or
3. the institution’s capacity to sustain itself in the long term.

Probation is often, but need not always be, preceded by an action of Warning or Postponement. If the Commission had previously postponed a decision or placed the institution on Warning, the Commission may place the institution on Probation if it determines that the institution has failed to address satisfactorily the Commission’s concerns in the prior action of postponement or warning regarding compliance with Commission standards. This action is accompanied by a request for a monitoring report, and a special visit follows. Probation may, but need not always, precede an action of Show Cause.

Suspend accreditation: Accreditation has been Continued for one year and an appropriate evaluation is not possible. This is a procedural action that would result in Removal of Accreditation if accreditation cannot be reaffirmed within the period of suspension.

Show cause why the institution's accreditation should not be removed: The institution is required to present its case for accreditation by means of a substantive report and/or an on-site evaluation. A "Public Disclosure Statement" is issued by the Commission.

Remove accreditation. If the institution appeals this action, its accreditation remains in effect until the appeal is completed.

Other actions are described in the Commission policy, "Range of Commission Actions on Accreditation."