2026 Middle States Reaccreditation: Draft & Survey
The following message was sent to the Skidmore community on behalf of the Middle States
Steering Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Dear Skidmore Community,
We are pleased to share the draft of the College’s self-study for reaffirmation of our accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). You can access the current draft here.
Our accreditation is based on demonstrating how we meet MSCHE’s seven professional standards. Accreditation affirms the quality of our institution, ensures our degrees are recognized, maintains our access to federal aid, and helps us measure our performance against those standards.
Seeking Your Input
We invite you to review the draft and offer your feedback via this Qualtrics Survey. Your insights are vital to ensuring that the document accurately and appropriately represents Skidmore. Please let us know if you identify any inaccuracies in the draft or if there are essential elements of the Skidmore experience that are missing that should be included.
Context for the Self-Study
The self-study is both a reflective and evidence-based document. While it serves our community by identifying strengths and areas for improvement, its primary audience is MSCHE and our peer review team. They will be focused on whether we meet the MSCHE standards based on evidence.
Over the past year, the four Self-Study Working Groups gathered evidence, reviewed data, and analyzed key areas of the College, such as our mission, the student learning experience, student support, planning and resources, and governance. Their work served as the basis for the self-study. The document demonstrates how we meet or exceed the seven standards and outlines what is next for our institution, informed by Creative Futures: The Skidmore College Strategic Plan, 2025-2030.
Timeline
- Mid-September through October: Steering Committee gathers feedback and consults
with governance committees and stakeholder groups.
- Nov. 5–6: Dr. Jamila Bookwala, provost at Gettysburg College and chair of our peer review team, will conduct a
campus visit to provide feedback on the draft.
- November through January: Final revisions and copyediting of the self-study.
- Feb. 1, 2026: Final self-study submitted to MSCHE.
- March 29 – April 1, 2026: Peer evaluation team visit.
- June 2026: MSCHE decision on reaffirmation of accreditation.
We thank the members of the Self-Study Working Groups and Steering Committee, along with the many faculty members, staff, administrators, and students who contributed evidence and insights. The self-study reflects the care and thoughtfulness of our community.
Thank you for taking the time to review the draft and providing your feedback.
Sincerely,
Natalie Taylor
Co-Chair, MSCHE Steering Committee
Interim Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kelly Sheppard
Co-Chair, MSCHE Steering Committee
Faculty Director of Assessment
Amy Tweedy
Accreditation Liaison Officer
Institutional Effectiveness Specialist
