Middle States Reaccreditation Moves Into the Next Phase
September 22, 2025
Rutgers is in the process of seeking reaccreditation from an independent commission that evaluates colleges and universities to ensure they are meeting standards and delivering quality education.
The process of receiving reaccreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is rigorous and is repeated every eight years. This independent commission evaluates colleges and universities to ensure they are meeting standards and delivering quality education. The process involves an institution-wide self-study. Rutgers began this round in 2023 and received approval for its Self-Study Design plan in June 2025.
This work is led by a 25-member steering committee, selected from across the university last year. The group will hold a meeting on Sept. 24 to kick off the implementation of the Self-Study Design in the coming year.
The co-chairs of the steering committee – Kim O'Halloran, vice president for academic planning and administration and chief of staff for the executive vice president for academic affairs; and Michele Deegan, associate vice president for academic assessment and accreditation and the university’s accreditation liaison officer – spoke with Rutgers Today about what’s next in the process and why reaccreditation matters.