
Fall 2025 - Middle States Accreditation Self-Study Update.
The MSCHE Steering Committee held its first fall meeting on September 10 to continue the work of our Middle States Self-Study process. The faculty and staff continue to contribute their time to support this vital work. During their meeting, the Steering Committee reviewed a summary of changes to the finalized Self-Study Design and reviewed key deliverables. Steering Committees will begin to work with their groups to prepare drafts of the Self-Study Report.
It is essential to recognize the extensive work that has been completed. Working groups have worked on identifying and collecting evidence to demonstrate compliance with the accreditation standards, laying a strong foundation for the Self-Study work that will continue during the upcoming Fall and Spring semesters. During this phase, our Working Groups will prepare drafts of the Self-Study Report, with a first review by our cross-functional committees and Faculty committees, which will serve as “external reviewers” in March 2026.
For additional information on our Middle States Self-Study, contact your Steering Committee Co-Chairs at middlestates@atlanticcape.edu
On Wednesday, April 2nd, Atlantic Cape Community College hosted Dr. Tiffany Lee, Vice President of Institutional Field Relations for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) at the Mays Landing campus for a Self-Study Preparation Visit.
Dr. Lee met with President Dr. Barbara Gaba, members of the Board of Trustees, our Middle States Steering Committee, and students, faculty, and staff to offer guidance and feedback on our plans for completing the self-study process for reaccreditation.
Under the leadership of Dr. Vanessa O’Brien-McMasters, and with the support of Co-Chairs Dr. Gwen Setley and Sherwood Taylor, a Steering Committee and Working Groups comprised of faculty and staff from across the college have begun compiling evidence that aligns to the MSCHE Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. Dr. Lee praised our efforts thus far and provided concrete feedback on our planned approach to addressing our institutional priorities through self-study. We are honored that Dr. Lee also indicated her intent to recommend our Self-Study Design as an example for the next cohort of institutions going through the self-study institute!
Stay tuned for updates on the MSCHE reaccreditation process in upcoming issues of The Communicator or by visiting this page!
Atlantic Cape Community College kicked off its nearly three-year-long Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) reaccreditation process on January 31 with a gathering in the nursing lecture hall. College leadership, staff and faculty who have volunteered for this effort convened as President Dr. Barbara Gaba began the day by speaking to the tremendous importance of the work that lies ahead. “This is us telling our story to Middle States, by looking in the mirror and saying this is what we have accomplished these past eight years, how we have evolved, what issues have we faced, etc?”
Over the next two years, Atlantic Cape’s Reaccreditation Self-Study Team, comprised of a Steering Committee led by Dr. Vanessa O’Brien-McMasters, Dr. Gwen Setley and Sherwood Taylor, will lead seven working groups, which are led by two co-chairs and a cabinet liaison, responsible for assessing and demonstrating the College’s compliance, through the accumulation of documented evidence, with MSCHE’s Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. Stay tuned for updates on the MSCHE reaccreditation process in upcoming issues of The Communicator.