Statement of Accreditation Status
Swarthmore College
- CEO: Dr. Valerie Smith, President
- Accreditation Liaison Officer: Dr. Robin Shores
- Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Melissa Hardin, Vice President
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus » Four-year, small, highly residential
- Control: Private (Non-Profit)
- Phase: Accredited
- Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
- Accreditation Granted: 1921
- Last Reaffirmation: 2019
- Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2027-2028
- December 2, 2021
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2027-2028. - March 4, 2021
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. To request a supplemental information report, due September 1, 2021, providing further evidence of athletic, student life, and other extracurricular activities that are regulated by the same principles and procedures that govern all other programs (Standard IV). The next evaluation visit is schedule for 2027-2028. - January 4, 2021
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change and request for expedited review of distance education as a temporary alternative delivery method. To allow the use of distance education through May 30, 2021 to accommodate students impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) interruptions, in accordance with United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published August 21, 2020. Continued use of distance education beyond May 30, 2021 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 2027-2028. - December 15, 2020
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due January 14, 2021, addressing recent developments at the institution which may have implications for current and future compliance with Standard II: Ethics and Integrity and Standard IV Support of the Student Experience. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2027-2028. - 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 2027-2028. - June 27, 2019
To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To reaffirm accreditation. To request that, beginning in 2020 and in conjunction with each Annual Institutional Update prior to the Mid-Point Peer Review in 2024, the institution provide further evidence of (1) the periodic assessment of the relevancy and effectiveness of the institution's mission and goals (Standard I) and (2) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate the extent of student achievement in general education (Standard V). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2027-2028. - November 20, 2014
To accept the Periodic Review Report, to reaffirm accreditation and to commend the institution for the quality of the Periodic Review Report process and report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2018-2019.
- Distance Education
Not 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:
- Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Main Campus
Swarthmore College
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA 19081 - Other Instructional Site
Friends Center
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
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.