Reflect. Refine. Reaffirm: Taking Stock Through Our Middle States Self-Study

Every eight years, many colleges and universities across the country pause to take a deep, honest look at themselves. For Monroe University, that moment is now.

Monroe is currently engaged in a comprehensive Self-Study as part of its reaffirmation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a third-party accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. While the process is detailed and demanding, its purpose is simple: to ensure that institutions deliver on their mission, support students effectively, and operate with integrity and accountability.

As Vice President of Academic Records, Assessment, and Planning Dr. Janice Girardi explains, accreditation is not simply a one-time achievement.

“You don't just get accredited once and never revisit your accreditation – it is a continual cycle.  At the heart of it is the ‘Self-Study’ process, which is required every eight years,” she said. 

The Self-Study emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement across the institution, and continuing to grow in pursuit of student success and academic excellence. Members of the Self-Study team must demonstrate that they have collaboratively analyzed what has happened over recent years and have a solid plan for improving and then reassessing appropriately.

The Self-Study is a multi-year undertaking that requires Monroe to demonstrate, with evidence, how it meets MSCHE’s rigorous standards. The core standards evaluated during accreditation include:

- Mission and Goals
- Ethics and Integrity
- Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
- Support of the Student Experience
- Educational Effectiveness Assessment
- Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement
- Governance, Leadership and Administration

 “The Self-Study is a very involved process that lasts anywhere from two to three years in preparation for an actual accreditation visit,” Dr. Girardi said.

Institutions involved in Self-Study must assess themselves in an evidenced-based, comprehensive manner, led by a steering committee and working groups over several years. Their work culminates in a Self-Study report, which is then followed by the site visit from peer evaluators from other MSCHE-accredited institutions.

So what is “accreditation”? 

At its most basic level, it is the lifeblood of a college or university – an external and necessary validation of its policies, practices, and procedures, allowing it to award degrees and participate in federal financial aid programs. At Monroe, however, leaders see the Self-Study as far more than just a compliance exercise.

“While it is a lot of work, it really involves the whole campus community,” Dr. Girardi said. “It gives us the opportunity to really reflect and ask ourselves, ‘Are we living up to our mission?’”

The timing for Monroe’s Self-Study is particularly auspicious. In the summer of 2024, Monroe achieved university status. At this same time, the University is approaching the midpoint of its current strategic plan. Both of these milestones prompt deeper questions about the institution’s identity, impact, and direction. 

“We're right in the thick of Self-Study, and we just transitioned to university status,” said Chris Cascio, Dean of Academic Outcomes, Reporting, and Effectiveness. “It means even more this time because of that elevation.”

Monroe’s Self-Study theme was selected to meet this especially unique moment – one that looks back, assesses the current moment, and aims high for the future: Reflect. Refine. Reaffirm.

At the heart of the Self-Study is the student experience and an assessment of mission efficacy across all programs, campuses, and learning modalities. Monroe serves a highly diverse population, from recent high school graduates, adult students, online learners, international students, and students balancing work, family, and school.

“It really lets you take a step back and ask whether the way we are facilitating our learning, in and out of the classroom, continues to serve all of our populations as well as possible,” Dr. Girardi said.

Ensuring consistency and equity across instructional formats is a big part of that work.

“We really have to think about what we are requiring of our students and if it is the same, regardless of modality,” Mr. Cascio said. “Are all of our students able to access the same support? Do they have the same information and the same access to the same services?”

The Self-Study also examines whether academic programs are creating the outcomes that help students succeed and get to work after graduation. It also provides an opportunity to assess the totality of the student experience and gauge how well our facilities, support services, and student activities help to enhance their time at Monroe.

In an era of heightened scrutiny around higher education and its return on investment, Monroe’s leaders see MSCHE accreditation and reaffirmation as a critical trust-building mechanism.

“Middle States is the gold standard as far as accrediting bodies,” Dr. Girardi said. “They would not be accrediting us and not reaffirming us every eight years if we did not demonstrate ethics and integrity.”

Those expectations extend across the institution, from marketing, the classrooms, admissions, and beyond. Importantly, the accreditation process is evidence-based, requiring institutions to provide supporting documentation for their Self-Study assertions.

“You need to demonstrate what you claim in your Self-Study report,” Dr. Girardi emphasized. “The accreditors dig down into the documents. They interview people. They go through your financials. They go through everything.”

For Mr. Cascio, that rigor reinforces Monroe’s confidence in the work it is doing, particularly around student support and social mobility.

“We are confident that we are serving students in a way that is unique and very powerful,” he said. “This Self-Study should help reinforce that, because it gives us a chance to really demonstrate the nuts and bolts of how all that happens.”

While much of the Self-Study work might appear to happen behind the scenes, it is intentionally designed to involve voices from all departments across the University, as well as the surrounding community.

“We're required to involve every facet and every corner of our community – and that is a very good mandate,” Mr. Cascio said, including faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

As the process continues, members of the Monroe community may see more visible reminders of the University’s mission, values, and goals, and there may be opportunities to engage in conversations connected to the Self-Study.

Ultimately, it is not about proving perfection – it’s about continuous improvement and ensuring alignment with the needs of students as the institution moves into the future.

“We believe that we're doing very good work,” Mr. Cascio said, “but in this evolving world, we need to evolve with it so that we continue to meet the needs of our students today and tomorrow.”

If you would like to learn more about the Self-Study process, please reach out to Dr. Girardi at jgirardi@monroeu.edu or Mr. Cascio at ccascio@monroeu.edu.