Middle States 2008
Welcome to Brookdale`s Middle States Self-Study web pages! Our goal is to both share information about the self-study process and to invite your questions and suggestions. Your participation is very important to the self-study’s success. We look forward to working with and hearing from you!
Jayne Edman and Richard Pfeffer, Co-Chairs
Self Study Report
Final Self Study Report - January 31, 2008
Final Document Roadmap - 9/24/07
Frequently Asked Questions
What is accreditation? Accreditation is the process by which an external agency examines a program, a curriculum, or an institution and determines whether it does or does not meet certain established standards. Institutions of higher education are accredited by a nongovernmental peer review process, and institutions participate voluntarily. Accreditation does not rank institutions or programs.
What is Middle States? Middle States is a shorthand reference for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Council on Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education recognize Middle States as one of several regional accreditation authorities. Middle States accredits institutions in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several locations abroad.
What is re-accreditation? Colleges and universities in the Middle States region normally are reevaluated every five years, but commission staff members also monitor each institution to determine if special circumstances require more frequent evaluations. The most comprehensive reevaluation occurs approximately every 10 years after an institution’s initial accreditation. This comprehensive reaccreditation is based upon a report that the institution prepares about itself, called a self-study report.
(Brookdale’s last Middle States accreditation was in 1998. Our PRR was in 2003. We are scheduled for an accreditation visit in Spring 2008.)
Are there other agencies accrediting Brookdale Community College? Brookdale, Monmouth County’s official county college, is certified by the State of New Jersey and the United States Department of Education to grant associate degrees to students who complete formal programs of study, and is a member of the Servicemembers’ Opportunity College Consortium. In addition, Brookdale programs have accreditation or recognition from specific organizations and agencies when applicable.
Brookdale Community College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting agency for all colleges in the mid-Atlantic region. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215) 662-5606. Brookdale adheres to the Principles of Good Practice in Institutional Advertising, Student Recruitment and Representation of Accredited Status as defined by the Commission on Higher Education. A copy of the Principles is available in the office of the Executive Vice President for Educational/Student and Outreach Services.
The Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006-2701, (212) 363-5555, extension 153 and by the State of New Jersey, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Nursing, 124 Halsey Street, 6th floor, Newark, NJ 07101; (973) 504-6403.
The Respiratory Therapy program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 1701 West Euless Blvd., Suite 300, Euless, TX 76040; (817) 283-2835.
The Radiologic Technology program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 704-5300.
Concerns regarding any Health Science Program may be forwarded to the appropriate agency listed above.
The Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Legal Assistants, 541 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, (312) 988-5522.
The GM-ASEP and Toyota T-Ten options of the Automotive Technology program are certified by the National Automotive Technicians Foundation (NATEF), Executive Director, 13505 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon VA 22071
What is a self-study report? Self-study is an intensive review of a university’s educational programs and services, student learning, and achievement of its stated goals and mission, as measured against standards that have been developed by Middle States. In order to demonstrate compliance with all 14 Middle States standards, Brookdale is required to produce a self-study report based on one of four available models.
Is this 2008 accreditation process different from previous accreditations? In 2003 Brookdale conducted a comprehensive self-study. The standards and requirements for accreditation have changed dramatically as well. The new standards require that colleges deal explicitly with educational outcomes. We must be able to demonstrate that Brookdale Community College is achieving its stated goals.
What is the Selected Topics Option model for the self-study? This model allows the university to identify certain important topics for in-depth analysis in its self-study, rather than carrying out an exhaustive review of every aspect of the university covered by the Middle States standards. Brookdale will be concentrating on its governance processes and how they affect our culture of engagement and outcomes.
The Middle States standards we will focus on are:
Standard 2: Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal
Standard 3: Institutional Resources
Standard 4: Leadership and Governance
Standard 7: Institutional Assessment
Standard 14: Assessment of Student Learning
We will explore how through governance we manage educational programs, student centeredness, community connections, planning assessment and budget and employee engagement so that they are consistent with our mission, vision, values, and goals.
For those Middle States standards that are not substantially addressed by these topics, the college will assemble already existing documentation and provide a “road map” to verify institutional compliance.
Do institutions ever lose accreditation? Following a review, it is common for the Middle States review team to make recommendations for improvements to universities. This impartial external peer feedback provides the university with an opportunity to enhance its programs and strengthen its mission. Normally, a university is given a reasonable time frame to address the recommendations.
A more detailed explanation of potential steps that may be taken by Middle States can be found at http://www.msche.org/documents/P2.3-RangeofActions.doc.
