Paul Smith’s College

CEO: Dr. Daniel Kelting, Interim President
Accreditation Liaison Officer: Dr. Karen Edwards
Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Anne Wahl, Vice President
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields » Four-year, very small, highly residential
Control: Private (Non-Profit)
Phase: Accredited
Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
Accreditation Granted: 1977
Last Reaffirmation: 2018
Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2026-2027

Contact Information

7777 Route 30
Paul Smiths, NY 12970

(518) 327-6000

www.paulsmiths.edu

August 28, 2023
To note that the supplemental information report due August 15, 2023, was not received. To request a supplemental information report due September 11, 2023, providing an update on the status of the institution. To remind the institution and its governing body of its obligation to be responsive to Commission requests and meet due dates for information (Standard VII). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2026-2027.
July 27, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report due on August 15, 2023, providing an update on the status of the institution. To note that the complex substantive change resubmission required by Commission action of March 14, 2023, is no longer due because the institution withdrew the request. To note the Commission will act on the supplemental information report required by Commission action on April 26, 2023, and November 17, 2022, at the November 2023 meeting. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2026-2027.
April 26, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report due May 22, 2023, providing a teach-out plan and teach-out agreements as required by the Commission's Teach-Out Plans and Agreement(s) Policy and Procedures and 34 CFR §602.24(c). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2026-2027.
March 14, 2023
To note that the complex substantive change request was materially incomplete because the written evidence of required approvals was not submitted within the one-year maximum time limit for the Commission's review of a complex substantive change, which ended on March 11, 2023. To require the resubmission of the complex substantive change request by August 1, 2023, providing updated information including required written evidence of approvals. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2026-2027.
March 9, 2023
To note the commission liaison guidance visit occurred on December 13, 2022. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2026-2027.
November 17, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the complex substantive change request. To postpone a decision and request a supplemental information report, due January 5, 2023 providing evidence of (1) the updated status of the complex substantive change request, including any updated agreements; (2) the sufficiency of resources to fulfill its mission and goals and to support its educational purposes and programs (Standard VI and Requirement of Affiliation 11); (3) updated college by-laws outlining the implementation of a clearly articulated and transparent governance structure that outlines roles, responsibilities, and accountability for decision-making by each constituency (Standard VII and Requirements of Affiliation 12 and 13); and (4) an update on the status of the submission of the institution's pre-acquisition review application to the United States Department of Education, the New York State Education Department, and the New York Attorney General's Office, including the application submitted as part of the review and any pre-acquisition response issued by these agencies (Requirement of Affiliation 5). To request that the supplemental information report also include further evidence of (1) use of assessment results for the improvement of educational effectiveness (Standard V); (2) periodic assessment of the effectiveness of planning, resource allocation, institutional renewal, and availability of resources (Standard VI); and (3) systematic procedures for evaluating administrative units and for using assessment data to enhance operations (Standard VII). To note that AIU recommendations responses are no longer required because the issues identified in the June 21, 2018, Commission action will be addressed by the supplemental information report. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2026-2027.
July 5, 2022
To rescind the substantive change action for an additional location at 111 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10011 because the institution decided not to open the additional location. The action to rescind a substantive change request is not an adverse action, therefore, it is not subject to appeal.
January 4, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the second Masters of Professional Studies in Sustainable Tourism Management within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action.
January 4, 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 written evidence of necessary approvals has been provided. 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 2026-2027.
June 17, 2020
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the additional location at 111 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10011 within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require immediate notification when instruction commences at the additional location. To direct a substantive change site visit as soon as practicable but no later than six months after the commencement of instruction at the additional location. 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 2026-2027.
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 2026-2027.
September 3, 2019
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first Master of Science in Natural Resources Conservation within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note 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 2026-2027.
June 21, 2018
To reaffirm accreditation. To request that, beginning in 2019 and in conjunction with each Annual Institutional Update prior to the Mid-Point Peer Review in 2023, the institution provide further evidence of (1) use of assessment results for the improvement of educational effectiveness (Standard V); (2) periodic assessment of the effectiveness of planning, resource allocation, institutional renewal, and availability of resources (Standard VI); and (3) systematic procedures for evaluating administrative units and for using assessment data to enhance operations (Standard VII). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2026-2027.
November 21, 2013
To accept the Periodic Review Report, to reaffirm accreditation, and to commend the institution for the quality of the Periodic Review Report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2017-2018.

Distance Education
Approved to offer programs by this delivery method
Correspondence Education
Not approved for this delivery method

Approved Credential Levels

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

Postsecondary award (1-2 years) Included within the scope
Associate's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
Post-baccalaureate Certificate Included within the scope to offer ONE program: Advanced Certificate in Resource Management (AKA Grad Cert.)
Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope

Main Campus
Paul Smith's College
P. O. Box 265 7833 State Route 30
Paul Smiths, NY 12970-0265
Other Instructional Site
Adirondack Community College
640 Bay Road
Queensbury, NY 12804
Other Instructional Site
Beekmantown Central School
37 Eagle Way
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Other Instructional Site
Brasher Falls CS
1039 Sh 11c PO Box 307
Brasher Falls, NY 13613-0307
Other Instructional Site
Brushton-Moira Central School
758 County Route 7
Brushton, NY 12916-0309
Other Instructional Site
Clifton-Fine Central School
11 Hall Avenue
Star Lake, NY 13690
Other Instructional Site
Colton-Pierrepont Central School
4921 New York 56
Colton, NY 13625
Other Instructional Site
Crown Point CS
Main Street Box 35
Crown Point, NY 12928
Other Instructional Site
Edwards-Knox Central Schools
2512 County Road 24
Russell, NY 13684
Other Instructional Site
Finger Lakes Community College
3325 Marvin Sands Drive
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Other Instructional Site
Franklin Academy
42 Huskie Lane
Malone, NY 12953
Other Instructional Site
Heuvelton Central School
87 Washington Street
Heuvelton, NY 13654
Other Instructional Site
Lisbon Central School
6866 County Road 10
Lisbon, NY 13658
Other Instructional Site
Madrid-Waddington CS
Route 345 Post Office Box 67
Madrid, NY 13660
Other Instructional Site
Massena High School
84 Nightengale Avenue
Massena, NY 13662
Other Instructional Site
Newcomb Central School
5535 State Rt. 28N
Newcomb, NY 12852
Other Instructional Site
Northeast Clinton County High School
103 Route 276
Champlain, NY 12919
Other Instructional Site
Norwood-Norfolk Central Schools
PO Box 194
Norwood, NY 13668
Other Instructional Site
Ogdensburg Free Academy
1100 State Street
Ogdensburg, NY 13669-3398
Other Instructional Site
Onondaga Community College
4585 West Seneca Turnpike
Syracuse, NY 13215
Other Instructional Site
Potsdam High School
29 Leroy Street
Potsdam, NY 13676
Other Instructional Site
Saranac Lake High School
79 Canaras Avenue
Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Other Instructional Site
Schroon Lake Central School
1125 US Route 9
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Other Instructional Site
Seton Catholic High School
206 New York Road
Plattsburg, NY 12901
Other Instructional Site
Tupper Lake High School
25 Chaney Avenue
Tupper Lake, NY 12986

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