Middle States Accreditation
Slippery Rock University’s grant of accreditation was reaffirmed on June 24, 2021 by the Middle States Commission. MSCHE reaffirmed our grant of accreditation for eight years with no follow-up action required.
Our accreditation action statement is:
Slippery Rock University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Slippery Rock University’s accreditation status is “accreditation reaffirmed” as posted on our MSCHE Statement of Accreditation Status (SAS)]. The Commission’s most recent action on our accreditation status on June 24, 2021 was to reaffirm the institution. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) 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.
Our next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029 (taken from www.msche.org/institution/0561/).
Accreditation is a voluntary review process that demonstrates that we are providing an excellent education in accordance with our mission. Middle States requires each member institution to complete a self-study process every eight years, concluding in a site visit by a team of higher education peers. Maintaining accreditation is necessary for institutions to gain access to Title IV federal financial aid funding. Since about 85% of Slippery Rock University students use some form of financial aid, this recognition is crucial to our identity and mission as an excellent educational institution serving Pennsylvania residents and beyond. Accreditation can also be a factor in transfer of credit between institutions, admission to graduate school, eligibility for certain credentialing exams, and employment decisions.
MIDDLE STATES STANDARDS
MSCHE instituted the 14th edition of the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation effective July 1, 2023. Slippery Rock will address these standards as it prepares for our 2028-29 self-study review.
Here is a short introduction to the what and why of MSCHE accreditation. Additionally, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education has detailed explanations of the standards, self-study process, and expectations. Interested in our current MSCHE accreditation status? Learn more about MSCHE Accreditation. Middle States celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019. Learn more about MSCHE history.
SRU-MSCHE DOCUMENT ARCHIVE
2021 MSCHE Self-Study
2020 SRU-MSCHE FAQs
2019 Self-Study Design Approval
2019 Self-Study Design
Self-study working group membership
2016 Slippery Rock University PRR
2011 MSCHE Self-Study
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mary Hennessey, Accreditation Liaison Officer and Assistant to the Provost
307 Old Main
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
724.738.2171
mary.hennessey@sru.edu