Statement of Accreditation Status
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
- Phase: Formerly Accredited
- Status: Merged/Consolidated/Acquired
- Accreditation Granted: January 1, 1949
- Accreditation Ceased: June 30, 2022
On March 10, 2022, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education included the integration of Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania with Mansfield University of Pennsylvania and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania pursuant to the legislative authorization of Act 188 as amended (including Act 50 of 2020) within the scope of accreditation effective July 1, 2022. As part of that request, the Commission approved the teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreement with Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. To note that Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is the surviving institution and changed its name to Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania effective July 1, 2022. Students may obtain historical records and transcripts at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA. On June 30, 2022, separate degree granting authority from Pennsylvania Department of Education ceases and Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania is no longer be accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education www.msche.org. For more information, please see the Commission's Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures.
- March 10, 2022
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 the United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 17, 2020. To reaffirm accreditation. To request a supplemental information report, due March 1, 2023, documenting further evidence of (1) the improvement of key indicators of student success, including retention and graduation rates (Standard IV) and (2) financial planning and budget processes that are aligned with mission, goals and objectives and are evidence-based (Standard VI). 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 2028-2029. - March 10, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan. To approve the teach out plan. To approve the teach-out agreement with Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania which will be renamed Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania on July 1, 2022. To note that Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania's accreditation will cease as of the effective date of the integration, anticipated to be July 1, 2022. To note the transfer of Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania student records, programs, and services to Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. To note that Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA has been designated as the repository of all Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania student records. To require written notification when student records have been transferred to Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. To note that degree granting authority from the Pennsylvania Department of Education will cease as of July 1, 2022. To note the action for Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania on March 10, 2022. - March 10, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the complex substantive change request. To include the change in legal status, form of control, or ownership within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note the complex substantive change request includes the modification of the fundamental structure of the institution pursuant to the legislative authorization of Act 188 as amended (including Act 50 of 2020), that integrates Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania into Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania effective July 1, 2022, the anticipated date of the transaction. To note that Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania's accreditation will cease as of the effective date of the integration, anticipated to be July 1, 2022. To further note that degree granting authority from the Pennsylvania Department of Education will cease as of July 1, 2022. To require verification from the related entity and the institution of the date of the closing of the transaction within five calendar days of the transaction. To require submission of any written evidence of approvals from all necessary licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary, including the United States Department of Education. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action 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. To note the action for Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania on March 10, 2022. - February 17, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the relocation of the additional location from 2986 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-1201 to One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110 within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require immediate notification when instruction commences at the new location and of the date that instruction ceases at the former 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 the Commission may rescind this action if instruction does not commence within one calendar year from the date of this action. - February 17, 2022
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the reclassification of the branch campus at 201 University Drive, Clearfield, PA 16830 to an additional location within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require immediate notification when the change is implemented. 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. To note the evaluation visit has occurred and will be acted upon by the Commission at the March meeting. - October 29, 2020
To delay the On-Site Evaluation visit scheduled for Spring 2021 due to extraordinary circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19) interruptions and to continue accreditation. To note the institution remains accredited during a delay granted by the Commission. The Evaluation visit will be scheduled in accordance with Commission policy and procedures. - January 3, 2020
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the second Postsecondary Certificate (<1 year) in Social Media Marketing 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 2020-2021. - January 3, 2020
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first Postsecondary Certificate (<1 year)in Curriculum and Assessment for Early Care and Education Certificate Program 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 - June 21, 2018
To accept the progress report. The next evaluation is scheduled for 2020-2021. - November 17, 2016
To accept the Periodic Review Report and to reaffirm accreditation. To request a progress report, due April 1, 2018, providing evidence of the development and implementation of a comprehensive institutional strategic plan that links long-range planning to decision-making and budgeting processes (Standard 2). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2020- 2021. - November 15, 2012
To accept the monitoring report and to note that a small team visit will not be conducted at this time. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2016. - March 1, 2012
To accept the monitoring report and to note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To remove the warning because the institution is now in compliance with Standard 14, and to reaffirm accreditation. To remind the institution of the monitoring report, due September 1, 2012, providing evidence related to Standard 2, that planning and improvement processes are (1) clearly communicated, continuous and systematic; and (2) that they have produced a documented record of institutional and unit improvement efforts and results. To also remind the institution that the monitoring report should provide evidence, related to Standard 7, that institutional assessment processes, including the assessment of the Strategic Plan, (3) include the use of multiple measures that clearly relate to the goals they are assessing; (4) receive appropriate administrative, technical, and financial support; and (5) are being used in institutional planning, resource allocation and renewal to improve all units, programs, services, and processes. To further request that the monitoring report provide (6) data-based evaluation of the effectiveness of all student learning assessment processes; and (7) documentation of the use of student learning assessment information to inform institutional assessment (Standards 7 and 14). A small team visit may follow submission of the monitoring report. The Periodic Review Report is now due June 1, 2016. - June 23, 2011
To accept the monitoring report and to note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To continue to warn the institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with Standard 14 (Assessment of Student Learning). To note that the institution remains accredited while on warning. To request a monitoring report, due December 1, 2011, documenting that the institution has achieved and can sustain compliance with Standard 14, including but not limited to evidence of (1) an organized and sustained process for assessing student achievement of key learning outcomes in all programs, including general education; (2) the use of multiple direct measures that are clearly and purposefully related to the outcomes they are assessing; and (3) that student learning assessment information is shared with appropriate constituents and is used to improve teaching and learning (Standards 12 and 14). A small team visit will follow submission of this monitoring report. In addition, to request a second monitoring report, due September 1, 2012, providing evidence related to Standard 2, that planning and improvement processes are (4) clearly communicated, continuous and systematic; (5) that they have produced a documented record of institutional and unit improvement efforts and results. To further request that the second monitoring report provide evidence, related to Standard 7, that institutional assessment processes, including the assessment of the Strategic Plan, (6) include the use of multiple measures that clearly relate to the goals they are assessing; (7) receive appropriate administrative, technical, and financial support; and (8) are used in institutional planning, resource allocation and renewal to improve all units, programs, services, and processes. A small team visit may follow submission of the second monitoring report. The due date for the next Periodic Review Report will be established when warning is removed and accreditation is reaffirmed. - November 18, 2010
To thank the institution for receiving the Commission’s representative and to affirm inclusion of the additional locations at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, 1001 East Second Street, Coudersport, PA 16915 and Dixon University Center, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, 2986 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA within the scope of the institution’s accreditation. - November 18, 2010
To note the visit by the Commission’s representative. To remind the institution that its warning continues because of a lack of evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with Standard 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal). To note that the institution remains accredited while on warning. To request a monitoring report, due by March 1, 2011, documenting that the institution has achieved and can sustain compliance with Standard 2, including evidence of (1) the development of a preliminary comprehensive institutional strategic plan, consistent with the institution's revised mission and goals, that links long-range planning to decision-making, budgeting, and resource allocation (Standard 2). In addition, to request that the monitoring report provide evidence of (2) an organized and sustainable assessment process to evaluate and improve institutional effectiveness (Standard 7); (3) implementation of an organized and sustained assessment process for general education (Standard 12); and (4) an organized and sustainable process to assess the achievement of student learning goals at the course and program levels, including direct measures, with evidence that assessment information is used to improve teaching and learning (Standard 14). A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report. To note that the due date for the next Periodic Review Report will be established when accreditation is reaffirmed.
