News 2020: UMass Dartmouth solicits Public Comments as part of accreditation process

The university welcomes community input on the quality of the institution

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit on March 22-25 by a team representing the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). NECHE was formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The New England Commission of Higher Education is one of seven accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis.

Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 220 institutions in the six-state New England region as well as several American-style institutions overseas.

The March 22-25 visit will be conducted by a trained group of faculty and administrators who provide UMass Dartmouth and the Commission with a valuable external perspective. The team members will gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. They will then recommend to the Commission a continuing status for UMass Dartmouth. Following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action.

According to New England Commission of Higher Education, “accreditation is a status that provides assurance to prospective students, their families and the general public that an institution meets clearly stated Standards for Accreditation and that there are reasonable grounds to believe the institution will continue to meet those standards in the future.”

UMass Dartmouth has been accredited by the Commission since 1963 and was last reviewed in 2010. For the past year and a half, UMass Dartmouth has been engaged in a process of self- study, addressing the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation.

As part of the accreditation process, NECHE welcomes Public Comments from the community. Public Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of UMass Dartmouth. The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments. Public Comments must be received by March 25, 2020. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding UMass Dartmouth to:

Public Comment on UMass Dartmouth

New England Commission of Higher Education

3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100

Burlington, MA 01803-4514

E-mail: info@neche.org