Statement of Accreditation Status

    The Statement of Accreditation Status (SAS) is the official statement of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) about each institution’s current accreditation status and scope of accreditation. The SAS also provides a brief history of the actions taken by the Commission.

  • Institution:
    SUNY Fredonia
    Fredonia, NY
  • Address:
    280 Central Avenue
    Fredonia, NY 14063
  • Phone:
    (716) 673-3111
  • URL:
  • Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO):
    Dr. Xiao Zhang
  • Commission Staff Liaison:
    Dr. Sean McKitrick, Vice President

Accreditation Summary

For more information, see the Commission’s Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures.

  • Phase: Accredited
  • Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
  • Accreditation Granted: 1952
  • Last Reaffirmation: 2020
  • Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2027-2028

Alternative Delivery Methods

The following represents approved alternative delivery methods included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:

Distance Education
Approved to offer programs by this delivery method

Correspondence Education
Not approved for this delivery method

Credential Levels

Approved Credential Levels

The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:

  • Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Post-baccalaureate Certificate Included within the scope
  • Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Post-Master's Certificate Included within the scope

Locations

The following represents branch campuses, additional locations, and other instructional sites that are included within the scope of the institution’s accreditation:

Location Type
SUNY College at Fredonia
280 Central Avenue
Fredonia, NY 14063
Main Campus
BOCES Loguidice Center
9520 Fredonia-Stockton Road
Fredonia, NY 14063
Other Instructional Site
DUNKIRK Middle School
525 Eagle St
Dunkirk, NY 14048
Other Instructional Site
Hamburg School District
5305 Abbott Rd
Hamburg, NY 14075
Other Instructional Site
INIM - University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
12 Ave. Universidad Ste.1201
San Juan, PR 00925-2532
Other Instructional Site
JCC Cattaraugus County Campus
260 N Union St
Olean, NY 14760
Other Instructional Site

Definitions: For definitions of branch campus, additional locations, or other instructional sites, see the Commission’s Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.

Accreditation Actions

The following represents the MSCHE accreditation actions taken in the last ten (10) years. For more information, see the Commission’s Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures and the Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.

  • November 16, 2023
    To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of May 12, 2023. To request a supplemental report, due April 1, 2024, providing further evidence of documented financial resources, funding base, and plans for financial development, including those from any related entities, adequate to support its educational purposes and programs and to ensure financial stability (Standard VI) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2027-2028.
  • October 31, 2023
    To note the verification visit took place on June 2, 2023 to the main campus at 280 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063.
  • May 12, 2023
    Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report due April 14, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (financial health), as reported on the 2022 Annual Institutional Update (AIU) in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19(d). To request a supplemental information report due August 1, 2023, documenting further evidence of documented financial resources, funding base, and plans for financial development, including those from any related entities, adequate to support its educational purposes and programs and to ensure financial stability (Standard VI). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2027-2028.
  • March 24, 2023
    Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due April 14, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (financial health) as reported on the 2022 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19 (d). The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2027-2028.
  • November 17, 2022
    To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2027-2028.
  • December 2, 2021
    To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. To request a supplemental information report, due September 1, 2022, documenting further evidence of (1) the implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate the extent of student achievement in general education (Standard V) and (2) the implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate institutional effectiveness (Standard VI). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2027-2028.
  • November 19, 2020
    To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note that the institution hosted a virtual site visit in lieu of an on-site visit in accordance with United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 17, 2020. To reaffirm accreditation. To request a supplemental information report, due September 1, 2021 documenting further evidence of (1) a campus climate that fosters respect among all constituencies (Standard II); (2) the periodic assessment of the effectiveness of student support programs and experiences (Standard IV); (3) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate the extent of student achievement in general education (Standard V); (4) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate institutional effectiveness (Standard VI); and (5) a clearly documented administrative structure with members who possess the skills, time, assistance, technology and expertise to perform their duties (Standard VII). To note that a verification visit is required by USDE guidelines and will be conducted within a reasonable period of time following the virtual site visit. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2027-2028.
  • September 1, 2020
    To acknowledge receipt of documentation of written approvals from the State University of New York and the New York State Education Department .
  • April 30, 2020
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the second alternative delivery method-distance education program - Bilingual Education Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require written evidence of approvals from all necessary licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary, including State University of New York and the New York State Education Department. To note that the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2019-2020.
  • 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 2019-2020.
  • February 27, 2020
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first alternative delivery method-distance education program (Master of Science in Education TESOL) within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2019-2020.
  • November 19, 2015
    To accept the Periodic Review Report and to reaffirm accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2019 - 2020.
  • June 28, 2012
    To accept the monitoring report and to request that the Periodic Review Report, due June 1, 2015, document (1) further implementation of a documented assessment process for general education (Standard 12) and (2) steps taken to implement uniform processes for the evaluation of adjunct and part-time faculty across programs (Standard 10).

Information about the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a global institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Secretary of Education since 1952. As an accreditor and member of the regulatory triad, MSCHE assures students and the public of the educational quality for its over 500 institutions of higher education.

MSCHE accreditation applies to an institution as a whole rather than the specific programs within an institution. MSCHE does not approve or accredit individual programs. Each institution is regularly and consistently evaluated and monitored in accordance with the Commission’s policies and procedures.

An institution maintains its accreditation unless it is voluntarily surrendered, whether through institutional closure or otherwise, or it is denied or withdrawn by the Commission.