Middle States Commission on Higher Education Reaffirms NYMC Accreditation for Maximum Term of Eight Years
The Accreditation Comes With No Additional Reporting Requirements and Several Commendations
At its June 2021 session, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) voted to reaffirm New York Medical College's (NYMC) accreditation for the maximum eight-year period with no reporting requirements or recommendations while offering several commendations for excelling in certain areas. After a two-year process of an inclusive, transparent and evidence-based self-appraisal process involving stakeholders across NYMC, culminating in a four-day virtual site visit, the results could not be better.
MSCHE is the regional accreditation body to ensure institutional accountability, self-appraisal, improvement and innovation, through peer review and the rigorous application of accreditation standards within the context of the institutional mission. Accreditation by regional accreditation bodies like MSCHE is a requirement for students to be eligible to receive federal financial aid.
To successfully get reaffirmed for accreditation, NYMC had to meet or surpass MSCHE's seven Standards of Accreditation and associated criteria, 14 Requirements of Affiliation and provide evidence of compliance with all accreditation-relevant federal regulations. The process included the submission of a 100-page self-study report, titled “Assessing the Present to Position for our Future,” that included an addendum describing NYMC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A six-member team, led by MSCHE Site Visit Chair Bruce Jarrell, M.D., FACS, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, conducted a virtual site visit in April, meeting with faculty, staff, students and administration. On the last day of the site visit, Dr. Jarell presented their preliminary findings online to the campus community. He reported that the MSCHE team unanimously agreed that NYMC was in compliance and commended NYMC in several areas including: having a structured and highly inclusive process to develop, review, revise and assess its mission, vision and five-year strategic plan; developing a College-wide Academy of Educators program; demonstration of an effective COVID-19 pandemic response, recovery and planning initiatives; and diversity and inclusion efforts.
The MSCHE Team also recognized NYMC's association with the Touro College and University System and the 12-year renewal agreement between NYMC and Westchester Medical Health Network as notable benefits to enhancing the long-term stability of the College.
The official report stated there are no prescriptive negative findings and no additional reporting requirements. However, institutions including NYMC who had virtual reaccreditation site visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be required to have an in-person follow-up visit.
“I am proud and thankful for the dedicated members of the NYMC community who worked together not only to achieve reaffirmation of accreditation but to engage in an inclusive, open and evidence-based, self-appraisal process to chart where we are as a College, where we want to go and to strategically plan how we are going to get there,” said Dana Mordue, Ph.D., vice chancellor of MSCHE Accreditation, associate professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology, and secretary of the Faculty Senate. “The success of the College in achieving its mission and goals is dependent on our people—faculty, staff, students, administration and senior leadership. This success belongs to all of us and reaffirms that we are doing well and moving in the right direction.”
“We are proud of this outstanding result and are grateful for the overwhelming support from the campus community in the MSCHE reaccreditation process as well as the exceptional work that is carried out on a daily basis,” said Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer.
