E-mail this pageMiddle States Commission Recommendations On Higher Education: Mission, Goals, Objectives
Overview
This page is designed to share some insights on how the Middle States Commission expects institutions of higher education to utilize their mission statement in the assessment process.
Recently, there has been a national shift in focus for higher education assessment, as noted by James Frederick Volkwein:
"Views about academic quality and effectiveness have shifted over the past three decades from an almost exclusive pre-occupation with inputs and processes to a more mission specific focus on outputs and outcomes. The national trend is now toward a more results oriented concern for the outcomes of the research, and teaching, and learning processes."- Managing a Program of Outcomes Assessment, AIR 37th Annual Forum, Pre-forum Workshop
Regional Accrediting Organizations for Higher Education
Besides Middle States, there are five different higher education regional accrediting agencies that oversee specific geographic areas of the United States. Each of these agencies has their own sets of standards required for accreditation. All of the regional accrediting agencies and their sub-commissions are listed below:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Technical and Career Institutions
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
- Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges: The Senior College Commission
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Middle States Commission 14 Standards for Accreditation
In January 2002, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education approved 14 revised standards for accreditation.
These standards affirm that the individual mission and goals of each institution remain the context within which these accreditation standards are applied during self-study and evaluation.
As such, the emphasis is now on institutional assessment and assessment of student learning.
Mission, Goals, Objectives for SUNY Plattsburgh
The mission defines the institution, delineates the scope of the institution, explains the institution's character and individuality, and articulates values as appropriate. Related statements, such as a statement of institutional philosophy or institutional vision, may accompany the mission.
- Planning, Resource Allocation, & Institutional Renewal - "An institution conducts ongoing planning and resource allocation based on its mission and uses the results of its assessment activities for institutional renewal. Implementation and subsequent evaluation of the success of the strategic plan and resource allocation support the development and change necessary to improve and to maintain institutional quality."
- Institutional Resources -"The human, financial, technical, physical facilities, and other resources necessary to achieve an institution's mission and goals are available and accessible. In the context of the institution's mission, the effective and efficient uses of the institution's resources are analyzed as part of ongoing outcomes assessment."
- Leadership & Governance - "The institution's system of governance clearly defines the roles of institutional constituencies in policy development and decision-making. The governance structure includes an active governing body with sufficient autonomy to assure institutional integrity and to fulfill its responsibilities of policy and resource development, consistent with the mission of the institution."
- Administration - "The institution's administrative structure and services facilitate learning and research/scholarship, foster quality improvement, and support the institution's organization and governance."
- Integrity - "In the conduct of its programs and activities involving the public and the constituencies it serves, the institution demonstrates adherence to ethical standards and its own stated policies, support of academic and intellectual freedom."
- Institutional Assessment - 'The institution has developed and implemented an assessment plan and process that evaluates its overall effectiveness in: achieving its mission and goals; implementing planning, resource allocation, and institutional renewal processes; using institutional resources efficiently; providing leadership and governance; providing administrative structures and services; demonstrating institutional integrity; and assuring that institutional processes and resources support appropriate learning and other outcomes for its students and graduates."
- Student Admissions - "The institution seeks to admit student whose interests, goals, and abilities are congruent with its mission."
- Student Support Services - "The institution provides student support services reasonably necessary to enable each student to achieve the institution's goals for students."
- Faculty - "The institution's instructional, research, and service programs are devised, developed, monitored, and supported by qualified professionals."
- Educational Offerings - "The institution's educational offerings display academic content, rigor, and coherence that are appropriate to its higher education mission. The institution identifies student learning goals and objectives, including knowledge and skills, for its educational offerings."
- General Education - "The institution's curricula are designed so that students acquire and demonstrate college-level proficiency in general education and essential skills, including oral and written communication, scientific and quantitative reasoning, critical analysis and reasoning, technological competency, and information literacy."
- Related Educational Activities - "Institutional programs or activities that are characterized by particular content, focus, location, mode of deliver, or sponsorship meet appropriate standards."
- Assessment of Student Learning - "Assessment of student learning demonstrates that the institution's students have knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with institutional goals and that students at graduation have achieved appropriate higher education growth."
Source: Middle States Commission on Higher Education. (2002). Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education, Philadelphia, PA: Author
Additional Information
Contact Information
For more information about the Office of Institutional Research, please contact:
Dr. Robert Karp
Director
Office Location: 315 Kehoe Building
Phone: (518) 564-4106
E-mail: robert.karp@plattsburgh.edu
Pamela Munson
Assistant Director
Office Location: 314 Kehoe
Phone: (518) 564-4107
E-mail: munsonpj@plattsburgh.edu