MSCHE News

Gallaudet University is gearing up for its decennial reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education during the 2022-2023 academic year. Learn more in this message from President Cordano, and in the accompanying FAQ.

Dear campus community:

As an institution of higher education, we are committed to innovation, creativity, and excellence in education. Rigorous standards — those we apply to ourselves and those set by external accreditors — ensure that our students are well-prepared for their futures.

I am pleased to announce we are beginning our Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation self-study this spring. We have been continuously accredited since 1957, most recently in 2013. Our accreditation work is integral to the strategic direction and transformation of our university. While the accreditation process ensures that we adhere to minimum standards, it also presents us with an opportunity to identify our areas of strength, what areas of support we need for future success, and what we can innovate going forward. These building blocks will continue to lead Gallaudet forward as an institution of excellence.

This two-year effort will be led by Dr. Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Certification in the Office of Student Success and Academic Quality. Dr. Kobek Pezzarossi will work closely with two self-study co-chairs, one of whom will be a member of the faculty and the other a member of the staff. Many members of our community will be involved in the self-study, which will culminate in a site visit during 2022-2023.

Going forward, the self-study team will communicate frequently. They have already developed a set of frequently asked questions. I encourage you to keep abreast of their work, and to offer your assistance and support. This will allow us to continue to provide our students with a quality bilingual education, and to maintain our standing as the premier institution of higher education for deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and hearing students the world over.

Sincerely,
Roberta J. Cordano
President