Statement Regarding the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and USDE Recognition

Why Accreditation Should Not Matter in Higher Education

Thomas DeVere Wolsey, EdD

26 February 2023

The purpose of this statement is to call into question the integrity of decisions and accreditation of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This statement was submitted to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI)

Background:

As the accreditation industry is called into question by many other sources, MSCHE has doubled down on questionable policies and processes. This statement adds to their voices.

MSCHE may have exceeded the scope of its accreditation mandate by accrediting institutions whose teaching and research operations are not in and often not subject to the laws and jurisdiction of the United States or any of the separate or collective groups of states. Demonstrated violations by member institutions whose primary activities occur outside of the United States or are beyond the jurisdiction of US/US States’ jurisdiction are routinely ignored by MSCHE (34 CFR 602.27(a)(3)(ii). MSCHE does not consider itself an “investigative body” yet it accepts complaints which are provided to member institutions; at the same time, the entire accreditation process including complaint responses are shrouded in secrecy and covered by overly broad and poorly written “confidentiality”…