Hobart & William Smith Colleges

Phase: Formerly Accredited
Status: Voluntarily Surrendered Change of Accreditor
Accreditation Granted: January 1, 1921
Accreditation Ceased: February 16, 2023

On February 16, 2023, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accepted Hobart & William Smith Colleges' request to voluntarily surrender its accreditation and terminate its membership. The Commission did not require a teach-out plan and teach-out agreements because the institution will retain its degree-granting authority from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and its primary accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), another accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE). The final action by the Commission was taken following the approval of the United States Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid of the change in accreditor and the Commission's determination that the institutional change of accrediting agency was voluntary pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 602.14(a). The approval of NYSED was not required. The New England Commission of Higher Education is the designated title IV gatekeeper for the institution. Student records will be maintained at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 337 Pulteney Street, Geneva, NY 14456. MSCHE accreditation ceased on February 17, 2023, and as of February 18, 2023, Hobart & William Smith Colleges is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. For more information about the institution and its accreditation status with NECHE, please visit www.neche.org.

Accreditation Actions

February 16, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report directed by Commission action of October 14, 2022. To note that evidence of written communication to the institution's community regarding its decision to change accreditors was not received. To accept the institution's request to voluntarily surrender its accreditation and terminate its membership effective February 16, 2023. To note that a teach-out plan and teach-out agreements are not necessary because the institution will retain its degree granting authority from the New York State Department of Education and primary accreditation through another accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education. To note that the United States Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid determined reasonable cause for the change in accreditor and issued approval for the change in accreditor on January 17, 2023, pursuant to DCL ID GEN 22-11 updated September 26, 2022, and DCL ID GEN 22-10 dated July 19, 2022. To note further that the Commission has determined the institutional change of accrediting agency is voluntary pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 602.14(a). To note the New England Commission of Higher Education is the institutional accreditor for the institution as of February 16, 2023, and will now serve as the designated Title IV gatekeeper for the institution. To note that student records will be maintained at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 337 Pulteney Street, Geneva, NY 14456. To note that MSCHE accreditation ceased on February 16, 2023, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. To note this action is not retroactive.
October 14, 2022
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due October 28, 2022, providing: (1) written evidence from the United States Department of Education (USDE) that it acknowledges the new accrediting agency as the institution's primary accrediting agency (Requirement of Affiliation 5); (2) notification of the date by which the primary accreditor and gatekeeper with the USDE will change (Requirement of Affiliation 5); (3) copies of any additional correspondence between the institution and the other accreditor (Requirement of Affiliation 14); and (4) copies of any additional communications to the institution's community (students and other constituents) concerning the change in accreditor (Requirements of Affiliation 6 and 14, Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
September 26, 2022
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due September 30, 2022, providing: (1) signed and dated letter briefly describing the rationale for the voluntary surrender of accreditation and the anticipated date of the voluntary surrender of accreditation (MARCHE Bylaws and Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures); (2) copies of all New York State requirements and approvals and pending requests for approvals regarding the voluntary surrender of the institution's accreditation status (Requirement of Affiliation 5); (3) information regarding any implications of the voluntary surrender of accreditation on Hobart and William Smith Colleges' Title IV/student financial aid program participation, including any correspondence or notification from the Federal Student Financial Aid Office of the United States Department of Education (Requirement of Affiliation 5); written documentation from the Federal Student Financial Aid Office of its approval to change accreditors (Requirement of Affiliation 5); (4) copies of all communications to the institution's community (students and other constituents) related to the surrender of accreditation as appropriate (Requirements of Affiliation 6 and 14, Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures); and (5) copies of all correspondence and materials submitted as part of the institution's application for accreditation process with another accreditor (Requirement of Affiliation 14). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
February 17, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include alternative delivery method-distance education within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind approval of this substantive change if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision and/or the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
March 4, 2021
To note that the Mid-Point Peer Review has been conducted. To request that the next self-study, in preparation for a visit in 2023-2024, provide further evidence of (1) demonstrated strategies to measure and assess the adequacy of institutional resources required to support the institution's mission and goals (Standard VI) and (2) improved financial viability and sustainability (Standard VI).
April 16, 2020
To acknowledge receipt of formal written notice from the institution in response to the Commission's request of March 9, 2020. To temporarily waive Substantive Change Policy and Procedures and allow the use of distance education to accommodate students impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) interruptions, in accordance with United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 5, 2020. Continued use of distance education beyond the limitations of USDE guidelines will require substantive change approval in accordance with Substantive Change Policy and Procedures. This flexibility is not available for clock-hour courses that lead to licensure if the licensing body will not accept distance learning courses or hours or give credit for them toward the number of hours a student must complete. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
June 26, 2014
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, 2019.
November 19, 2009
To accept the Periodic Review Report, to reaffirm accreditation, and to commend the institution for the quality of the report and progress to date. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2013-2014.