Le Moyne College has reaffirmed its Middle States Higher Education accreditation as of June
2017 after the organization found insufficient data to show student learning.
To maintain the accreditation, Le Moyne created an institutional assessment committee to
“oversee the quality of academic programs, assess student learning, and ensure financial
stability within the college” says Professor Jim Hannan, Dean of Learning Assessment. Middle
States gives institutions a two-year period to demonstrate compliance with a violated standard.
Le Moyne completed its evaluation in just one year and received its full commission in June.
Le Moyne has upheld its Middle States accreditation since 1953. Hannan said, “It is very
unlikely that a college fails to reaffirm their accreditation, however, in the case that they don’t,
the institution would no longer be allowed to distribute financial aid and students would have
difficulty transferring their credits elsewhere.” Hannan also pointed out that due to the
financial failure alone, a school would have great trouble staying open.
“I would be very upset if Le Moyne lost the accreditation,” said Junior Erin Pepe, “I’ve invested
a lot of money into attending college, so for Le Moyne to not be a recognized school would be a
hard pill to swallow.”
According to the “Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education” document that Middle
States uses, “Standard 14 is the assessment of student learning demonstrates that, at
graduation, or other appropriate points, the institutions’ students have knowledge, skills, and
competencies consistent with institutional and appropriate higher education goals.”
The institutional assessment committee that evaluates the school’s constant standing within
the standards is made up of faculty, administrators, and staff. Hannan recounted the
“phenomenal work that was performed in order to comply with the standard. Everybody
worked and supported one another. They have created a path to maintain the progress that
was built. It should be viewed as a great accomplishment.”
Father Joseph Marina, Provost of Le Moyne College, recounted what Middle States liaison Dr.
Sean McKitrick said in Grewen Auditorium the day the Middle States returned to deliver the
news of pending compliance.
“Le Moyne may now consider itself a forerunner in student learning assessment,” said
McKitrick.

“There is no higher compliment from them (Middle States) and the school has learned a lot and
has grown in the process, we have every right to be proud,” Marina said.
The aim of the group was to create policies that are ongoing and could sustain the acquired
progress so far. Its ultimate goal is to maintain sustainability so that Le Moyne could be ready
at any time to show compliance with all of Middle States’ standards. The next examination
however, will be conducted in eight years.