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Middle States Self‐Study 2026–28 Timeline
The Middle States Self‐Study and reaccreditation process takes place over three years and includes three phases.
Key Dates
Self‐Study Design Phase:
- January 2026 – Submit Self‐Study Design draft to MSCHE
- March 2026 – Self‐Study Preparation Visit by MSCHE Vice President
- June 2026 – Self‐Study Design finalized
Self‐Study Report Draft Preparation Phase:
- August 2026 – Working Groups begin writing Self‐Study Report
- January 2027 – Chapter drafts (first draft) complete
- May 2027 – Chapter draft (final) complete
Self‐Study Report Draft Review and Site Visit Preparation Phase:
- Fall 2027 – Community review of Self‐Study Report begins
- Spring 2028 – Site Visit with Evaluation Chair
- Summer 2028 – Submit Self‐Study Report to MSCHE
- Fall 2028 – Site Visit with Evaluation Team
Detailed Timeline
- Vice dean for education (VDE), assistant dean for educational programs and planning (accreditation liaison officer, or ALO), and assistant dean for accreditation and program evaluation attend MSCHE Self‐Study Institute (SSI).
- Dean appoints Self‐Study co-chairs, reviews proposed Steering Committee membership, and Self‐Study Design approach.
- Executive Team convenes with Working Group co-chairs to plan Self‐Study Design approach, draft institutional priorities, and Self‐Study outcomes.
- Post-SSI conference call with VDE, ALO, and assigned MSCHE Vice President Reha Shackelford to discuss Self‐Study Design approach.
- Self‐Study co-chairs and assistant dean for accreditation and program evaluation refine first draft of institutional priorities and Self‐Study outcomes in accordance with the guided process from the SSI.
- Dean invites Steering Committee members.
- Steering Committee Kickoff led by Self‐Study co-chairs.
- Evidence Team develops initial list of institutional documents to be used in Evidence Inventory.
- Self‐Study co-chairs meet with each pair of Working Group co-chairs for each standard to facilitate development of Lines of Inquiry/Research Priorities, draft working group membership, and refine list of documents required for the Evidence Inventory.
- Initial Board of Trustees presentation by Self‐Study co-chairs.
- Co-chairs lead development of draft Self‐Study Design with Working Group chair collaboration and direct input.
- Evidence Inventory Team begins compiling documents Canvas.
- Communication Team presents Communication Plan to Steering Committee.
- Steering Committee reads and finalizes Self‐Study Design and Lines of Inquiry/Research Priorities.
- Einstein submits draft Self‐Study Design to MSCHE.
- Evidence Inventory Team continues data/document collection and organization.
- Self‐Study Design draft discussed with key stakeholders (dean, Board of Trustees, cabinet, senate, and student leaders).
- Schedule and prepare for Self‐Study Preparation Visit (SSPV) with MSCHE representative.
- Host SSPV with MSCHE representative.
- Revise Self‐Study Design on basis of MSCHE Vice President Liaison feedback.
- Finalize Working Group membership (students, faculty).
- Submit final version of Self‐Study Design to MSCHE.
- Co-chairs invite membership in Working Groups.
- Complete preliminary evidence collection.
- Communications Team launches MSCHE website.
- MSCHE to approve of Self‐Study Design.
- Working Group chairs orientation.
- Working Groups kick off (August).
- Working Groups convene to:
- address research areas
- identify and gather evidence that addresses standards
- carry out gap analyses
- identify recommendations
- prepare Self‐Study chapter drafts
- Working Groups prepare initial Self‐Study chapter drafts and share with co-chairs by end of December.
- Self‐Study co-chairs review Self‐Study chapter drafts and provide feedback to Working Groups for additional revisions.
- Self-Study co-chairs and Communications Team continue community engagement and updates with various stakeholder groups to report on Self‐Study progress.
- Working Groups retreat #1
- Working Groups finalize Self‐Study chapter drafts and share with Steering Committee by end of February.
- Steering Committee reviews and offers feedback on all Working Group initial chapter drafts by end of April.
- Steering Committee, Working Group co-chairs and Communications Team continue community engagement and updates with various stakeholder groups to report on Self‐Study progress.
- Working Groups retreat #2.
- Working Group chairs finalize final Self‐Study chapters by end of May.
- Steering Committee reviews and offers feedback on Self‐Study chapter drafts by end of June.
- Steering Committee co-chairs and Communications Team continue community engagement and updates with various stakeholder groups to report on Self‐Study progress.
- Implement mechanisms for public comment.
- Share draft with the Einstein community.
- Steering Committee meets every six weeks.
- Self‐Study co-chairs make final revisions and present draft to designated readers for feedback.
- Self‐Study Report finalized and submitted to Visiting Team Chair.
- Steering Committee meets to prepare for Visiting Team Chair.
- Host one-day Site Visit by Visiting Team Chair.
- Revise Self‐Study Report based on feedback from Visiting Team Chair.
- Submit final Self‐Study Report to MSCHE.
- Prepare for Visiting Team Site Visit.
- Visiting Team Site Visit.
- Receive Visiting Team's initial report.
- Submit institutional response.