Directory Listing Print SAS
Statement of Accreditation Status

Mercyhurst University

  • CEO: Dr. Kathleen Getz, President
  • Accreditation Liaison Officer: Dr. Dyan Jones
  • Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Sean McKitrick, Vice President
  • Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs » Four-year, small, highly residential
  • Control: Private (Non-Profit)
  • Phase: Accredited
  • Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
  • Accreditation Granted: 1931
  • Last Reaffirmation: 2014
  • Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2021-2022
  • Next Mid-Point Peer Review: 2026

Contact Information

501 E. 38th Street
Erie, PA 16546

(814) 824-2000

www.mercyhurst.edu

  • The following represents the MSCHE accreditation actions taken in the last ten (10) years.
  • January 4, 2022
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the additional location at 5999 State Rt. 89, North East, PA 16428 within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require immediate notification when instruction commences at the additional location. 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. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
  • January 3, 2020
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution's decision to close its branch campus at 16 W Division Street, North East, PA 16428. To require immediate notification when instruction ceases at the branch campus. 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 2021-2022.
  • January 3, 2020
    To acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan. To approve the teach-out plan. To note that the institution will conduct and complete its own teach-out by May 31, 2021. To note that teach-out agreements are not required. To note that students may obtain academic records at Mercyhurst University, 501 E. 38th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16546 .
  • March 14, 2019
    To note that the Mid-Point Peer Review has been conducted. To request that the next self-study, in preparation for a visit in 2021-2022, provide further evidence of (1) improvement of key indicators of student success, including retention and graduation rates (Standard IV); (2) clearly stated policies, processes and programs to admit, retain and facilitate the success of all students (Standard IV); and, (3) improved financial viability and sustainability with evidence of sufficient resources to improve student achievement measures (Standard VI and Requirement of Affiliation 11).
  • January 2, 2018
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note that the institution has closed its additional locations at (1) Booz-Allen-Hamilton, 8283 Greensboro Drive, Tyson's Corner, VA 22102; (2) Courtyard by Marriott, 1960 A Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22102; (3) Department of Homeland Security, 2900 Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22206; (4) J. Edgar Hoover Building, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20535-0001; (5) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), 12011 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, VA 20190; (6) Phoenix Center for Professional Development, 5845 Richmond Highway Alexandria, VA 22303; and (7) SRA International, 34334 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201. To remove these additional locations from the institution's accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
  • June 22, 2017
    To accept the progress report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
  • June 25, 2015
    To accept the monitoring report. To request a progress report, due April 1, 2017, documenting further implementation of an organized and sustained process to evaluate and improve student learning and institutional effectiveness, with evidence that assessment results are linked to budgeting and planning and are used to improve teaching and learning (Standards 7 and 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2018.
  • November 20, 2014
    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 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal), Standard 7 (Institutional Assessment) and Standard 14 (Assessment of Student Learning) and to reaffirm accreditation. To request a monitoring report, due April 1, 2015, documenting further implementation of (1) planning and improvement processes that are clearly communicated, provide for constituent participation, and incorporate the use of assessment results in budgeting and planning (Standard 2) and (2) development and documentation of an organized and sustained process to evaluate and improve student learning and institutional effectiveness (Standards 7 and 14). The Periodic Review Report is now due June 1, 2018.
  • March 6, 2014
    To note the recent visit by the Commission's representative. To remind the institution of the warning that that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that the institution is in compliance with Standard 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal), Standard 7 (Institutional Assessment), and Standard 14 (Student Learning Assessment). To note that the institution remains accredited while on warning. To also remind the institution of the request for a monitoring report, due September 1, 2014, documenting evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Standards 2, 7 and 14. The monitoring report should include, but not be limited to, documented evidence of (1) planning and improvement processes that are clearly communicated, provide for constituent participation, and incorporate the use of assessment results in budgeting and planning (Standard 2) and (2) development and documentation of an organized and sustained process to evaluate and improve student learning and institutional effectiveness (Standards 7 and 14). A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report.The due date for the Periodic Review Report will be established when accreditation is reaffirmed.
  • January 2, 2014
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To note the institution's decision to close its additional location at Mercyhurst West, 824 Main Street East, Girard, PA 16417. The Commission requires notification within thirty days of the closure of this additional location. To remind the institution of the warning that that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that the institution is in compliance with Standard 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal), Standard 7 (Institutional Assessment), and Standard 14 (Student Learning Assessment). To note that the institution remains accredited while on warning. To also remind of the request of a monitoring report, due September 1, 2014, documenting evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Standards 2, 7 and 14. The monitoring report should include, but not be limited to, documented evidence of (1) planning and improvement processes that are clearly communicated, provide for constituent participation, and incorporate the use of assessment results in budgeting and planning (Standard 2) and (2) development and documentation of an organized and sustained process to evaluate and improve student learning and institutional effectiveness (Standards 7 and 14). A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report. A Commission liaison guidance visit will be conducted to discuss the Commission's expectations for reporting. The due date for the Periodic Review Report will be established when accreditation is reaffirmed.
  • November 21, 2013
    To accept the monitoring report and to note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To warn the institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that the institution is in compliance with Standard 2 (Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal), Standard 7 (Institutional Assessment), and Standard 14 (Student Learning Assessment). To note that the institution remains accredited while on warning. To request a monitoring report, due September 1, 2014, documenting evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Standards 2, 7 and 14. To request that the monitoring report include, but not be limited to, documented evidence of (1) planning and improvement processes that are clearly communicated, provide for constituent participation, and incorporate the use of assessment results in budgeting and planning (Standard 2) and (2) development and documentation of an organized and sustained process to evaluate and improve student learning and institutional effectiveness (Standards 7 and 14). A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations for reporting. The due date for the Periodic Review Report will be established when accreditation is reaffirmed.
  • June 27, 2013
    To reaffirm accreditation and to request a monitoring report, due September 1, 2013, documenting further (1) implementation of planning and improvement processes that are clearly communicated, provide for constituent participation, and incorporate the use of assessment results in budgeting and planning (Standard 2) and (2) development and documentation of an organized and sustained process to evaluate and improve student learning and institutional effectiveness (Standards 7 and 14). A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations for reporting. The Periodic Review Report is due November 1, 2018.
  • April 29, 2013
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology and Archaeology within the scope of the institution's accreditation. To note that the evaluation visit scheduled for 2012-2013 has been conducted and will be acted on by the Commission at its June meeting.
  • 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 year) Included within the scope:
  • Postsecondary award (1-2 yrs) 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:
  • Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope:
  • Doctor's Degree- Research/Scholarship Included within the scope to offer ONE program:
  • Additional Location
    Booker T. Washington Center
    1720 Holland Street
    Erie, PA 16503
    Opened: 01/03/2012
  • Additional Location
    Corry Campus
    221 North Center St
    Corry, PA 16407
  • Additional Location
    Janet L. Miller Building
    5999 State Road 89
    North East, PA 16428
    Opened: 01/10/2022
  • Other Instructional Site
    Mercyhurst Dungarvan
    Dungarven
    Ireland

The following are links to sites that are not maintained by the MSCHE. These are provided as additional external resources about each institution that the MSCHE accredits.