MSCHE Releases COVID-19 Guidance and Actions to Institutions

In response to the growing concerns and impact on member institutions and their faculty, staff, and students related to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE) has made operational changes that align with recent guidelines issued by the United States Department of Education (USDE), Office of Postsecondary Education.

Among the changes, MSCHE will temporarily waive the substantive change requirements for distance education and contractual agreements put in place in response to the coronavirus. Click here to read the memo issued to institutions by MSCHE on March 9, 2020.

Previously, the Commission had prohibited international travel for Commission representatives, including Commissioners, staff, and peer evaluators (March 2, 2020). In so doing, the Commission took action to delay upcoming international site visits to three locations, including Franklin University Switzerland, The American University of Paris, and H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

At this time, MSCHE has not made any changes to scheduled domestic on-site evaluation or follow-up visits. However, MSCHE has issued individual guidance to peer evaluators and institutions as they prepare for scheduled on-site visits.

The Commission will continue to provide timely updates on its Travel Warnings and Advisories webpage.