Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Phase: Formerly Accredited
Status: Merged/Consolidated/Acquired
Accreditation Granted: January 1, 1942
Accreditation Ceased: June 30, 2022

On March 10, 2022, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education included the integration of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania with Lock Haven 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. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is the surviving institution and changed its name to Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania effective July 1, 2022. To note that students may obtain historical records and transcripts at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA. On June 30, 2022, separate degree granting authority from the Pennsylvania Department of Education ceases and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is no longer 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.

Accreditation Actions

June 23, 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 postpone a decision. To note the Commission action of March 10, 2022. To note that Mansfield University of Pennsylvania's accreditation will cease as of the effective date of the integration with Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (formerly Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania), anticipated to be July 1, 2022. To remind Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania of its obligation to address the team findings from the evaluation visit of the Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. To request that the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania supplemental information report due October 1, 2022, also include further evidence of (1) sufficient qualified professionals to provide effective support systems (Standard IV); (2) sufficiency of resources to fulfill its mission and goals and to support its educational purposes and programs (Standard VI); and (3) systematic procedures for evaluating administrative units and for using assessment data to enhance operations (Standard VI). To direct the institution to conduct a new comprehensive evaluation in accordance with Commission policy and procedures and federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.22(h) in anticipation of an evaluation visit in 2024-2025. To note the date of the evaluation is one year earlier than the date indicated in the March 10, 2022 action.
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 Mansfield 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 Mansfield 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 Mansfield 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 Mansfield University of Pennsylvania into Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania effective July 1, 2022, the anticipated date of the transaction. To note that Mansfield 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.
July 16, 2020
To rescind the substantive change action of July 2, 2019 because the institution is unable to implement the proposed Post-Secondary Certificate program (>=1 year, <2 years) in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
July 2, 2019
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first Postsecondary Certificate program (>=1 year, <2 years), Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 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 2021-2022.
April 18, 2018
To accept the Periodic Review Report and to reaffirm accreditation. To request that, beginning in 2019 and in conjunction with each Annual Institutional Update prior to the Self-Study Evaluation visit in 2021-2022, the institution provide: (1) further evidence of investment in strategies to measure and assess the adequacy and efficient utilization of institutional resources required to support the institution's mission and goals and (2) further evidence of the use of assessment results linked to planning and resource allocation (Standard VI). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
November 16, 2017
To accept the Periodic Review Report and to reaffirm accreditation. To request that, beginning in 2019, in conjunction with each Annual Institutional Update, the institution provide: (1) further evidence of investment in strategies to measure and assess the adequacy and efficient utilization of institutional resources required to support the institution's mission and goals and (2) further evidence of the use of assessment results linked to planning and resource allocation (Standard VI). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
June 26, 2014
To accept the monitoring report and to note that a visit will not be conducted. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017.
June 28, 2012
To reaffirm accreditation. To request a monitoring report, due March 1, 2014, documenting (1) further development of a comprehensive strategic planning process that establishes measurable goals and achievable objectives and that links long-range planning to decision-making and budgeting processes (Standard 2); (2) the use of assessment results to inform planning and resource allocation (Standard 7); and (3) further implementation of the academic assessment plan (Standard 14). A visit may follow submission of the monitoring report. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017.