Policy and Procedures Updates

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has approved the following procedures and guidelines:

Administrative Procedures

• Acceptable Use of Commission Technology Procedures   
• Dues and Fees Procedures 2024-25

Accreditation Procedures and Guidelines 

• Substantive Change Procedures 
• Substantive Change Guidelines 

The Acceptable Use of Commission Technology Procedures were developed in alignment with the Information Security and Privacy Policy and Procedures. The administrative procedures explain the Commission’s expectations for Commission representatives, including Commissioners, staff, and peer evaluators, to adhere to professionalism and collegiality when working with Commission technology and conducting Commission business. It establishes secure practices for the safety and security of Commission technology, training for Commission representatives, and requires annual certification of review of the procedures.

The Dues and Fees Procedures 2024-25 were updated to reflect an overall dues increase of three percent. In addition, the revisions aim to consolidate previously separate fees into one inclusive fee for accreditation activities such as application and candidacy and self-study evaluation. These procedures introduce a fee for a voluntary surrender of accreditation and unplanned institutional closure. The Commission staff will assist institutions through these processes.

Administrative procedures are not subject to public call for comment.

The Substantive Change Procedures were revised to clarify procedural action steps and reflect updated federal definitions. Specifically, the definition of additional location now specifies that prison and correctional facilities are included in the federal definition. Additional revisions were made to clarify that an institutional closure is considered to be unplanned when it will occur in less than six months. An unplanned institutional closure is no longer permitted to come through the substantive change review process.  

The Substantive Change Guidelines were revised to streamline language and clarify the definitions of types of substantive change such as significant departure and (planned) institutional closure.  

The Commission also voted to withdraw its former Policy for the Consideration of Actions Taken by Regional, National, and Specialized Accrediting Associations statement, to be retroactively applied to July 1, 2023.  

The revised documents went into effect July 1, 2024, and are available on the Browse Policies and Procedures page. They can also be found using the search filter.