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Self Study Design Self-Study Timeline Download the Self-Study Report

Gallaudet University is proudly an accredited institution.

Gallaudet University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)*. Gallaudet Universtiy’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 22, 2023 was to reaffirm. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.

Many of the academic programs at Gallaudet University are accredited by discipline-specific accreditation agencies and associations. Also, those non-accredited academic programs hold rigorous expectations in their outcomes that are approved through our University Council on Education.

Institutional Accreditation Organization

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
1007 North Orange Street
4th Floor, MB #166
Wilmington, DE 19801

MSCHE

  • CEO: Ms. Roberta Cordano, President
  • Accreditation Liaison Officer: Dr. Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi
  • Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Sean McKitrick, Vice President
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities »
  • Four-year, small, highly residential
  • Control: Private (Non-Profit)
  • Former Name(s): Gallaudet College (1/1/1986)
  • Phase: Accredited
  • Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
  • Accreditation Granted: 1957
  • Last Reaffirmation: 2023
  • Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2030-2031

*The United States Department of Education (USDE) recognizes accrediting agencies deemed authorities on the quality of higher education. Under the Higher Education Act’s (HEA’s) federal student aid programs, accrediting agencies recognized by USDE must meet the Department’s regulatory criteria. MSCHE is a Title IV gatekeeper and is a link to federal programs, and institutions access Title IV through MSCHE accreditation. Learn more about MSCHE here.

Programs

MSCHE Self-Study Timeline 2020-2023

We are conducting a self-study from 2020 to 2023 . Gallaudet's Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) is Dr. Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Certification. Visit our MSCHE Self-Study Timeline.

Program Accreditation

Particular programs offered by Gallaudet have met the standards and requirements of programmatic accrediting organizations. The University's teacher preparation programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CAEP reviews the educator preparation programs as a unit; this includes the Department...

Information

FAQs

Policies and Information

MSCHE accreditation occurs every ten years. Gallaudet’s last reaccreditation was in 2013, and was led by Dr. Patricia Hulsebosch and Dr. Leslie Rach. The most important part of the reaccreditation process is to conduct a self-study. We are now organizing our self-study, ahead of the MSCHE site visit during 2022-2023.
During its self-study, an educational institution examines its structure, policies, practices, and other infrastructure with an eye towards critical inquiry. This is an opportunity to ask ourselves what we are doing well, what areas of support we need for success, and what we can innovate going forward. A major reason we are accredited is so we can get Title IV funds – financial aid – for our students. This is a complex undertaking, and involves many data points and contributions by the community.
A self-study involves you as a valuable part of our community! The MSCHE accreditation process is a community-driven process. Your help is much needed and appreciated. We will be asking the community to be a part of several committees led by your colleagues. We are committed to shared governance, and we will work closely with you and your colleagues to ensure full transparency, access, and communication. Please be on the lookout for these announcements and please work closely with your governing bodies. This spring, we will create a Steering Committee led by two co-chairs: one from the faculty and one from the staff. Their first task will be to support the development of the self study design which includes the structure, focus, and implementation of the self study.
MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). It conducts accreditation activities and reviews for colleges and universities in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. MSCHE is one of six institutional accrediting agencies for higher education in the United States. All MSCHE member institutions are peer-reviewed in order to ensure that all stakeholders receive excellence in education. Accreditation considers the institution as a whole rather than as piecemeal. Gallaudet University has been a proud member of MSCHE since 1957. We work closely with MSCHE, and our collaboration with MSCHE is a way to ensure accreditation of Gallaudet University. The accreditation process is motivated by the fundamental desire to ensure that your Gallaudet experience is driven by best practices in higher education.

Common Questions

If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please contact Dr. Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Certification. She will be happy to meet with you. Her email address is Contact. The MSCHE self-study also has a dedicated email address: Contact.
Back to Institutional Effectiveness and Certification
Self Study Design Self-Study Timeline Download the Self-Study Report

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