SALEM — The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) approved Salem State University’s (SSU) continued accreditation for the next decade.
NECHE, the university’s regional accreditor, approved SSU after a thorough review that is required every 10 years.
The self-study and external review included examination of the university in academics, student-support services and preparedness upon graduation, financial strength, and positioning for the future and more.
“Salem State University is commended for its comprehensive and thoughtful self-study that documented the institution’s accomplishments over the past decade and provided an opportunity for it to reflect on the challenges ahead,” said Chair of the Commission George W. Tetler.
NECHE sent a letter to the university to recognize its strong academic offerings, growth of student programming, commitment to civic learning, adoption of the student-success platform Navigate, efforts to build an “inclusive and respectful community,” and large increases in graduation rates and institutional financial aid.
SSU President John D. Keenan said he is deeply grateful for the time and attention put into this campus-wide effort, particularly appreciative of all that was accomplished despite the unforeseen challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our campus is dedicated to ensuring the strength of our academic programs and supporting our students as they progress through them and prepare to launch careers or enter graduate school,” Keenan said.
NECHE invited SSU representatives to present at regional workshops on its self-study process because its study was chosen as the exemplar among all of the regional public institutions accredited in the last year.
“This commitment is reflected in the rigorous self-study that led us to this affirming support from our regional accreditor, putting Salem State on a path to continue enhancing the way we serve students and the region,” Keenan said.
The NECHE review team is made up of nine representatives from institutions throughout New England and was chaired by Southern Connecticut State University President Joseph Bertolino.
The university is asked to provide an update on several matters in three years and file a standard five-year report prior to its next 10-year accreditation in 2031.
“The re-accreditation process forms the bedrock of what it means to be an ever-changing academic institution committed to ongoing improvement,” said Provost and Academic Vice President David Silva. “We take very seriously our responsibility to offer strong academic programs, and this review is particularly important to ensuring our ongoing academic strength. I am appreciative of our NECHE review team for its thoughtful and thorough feedback and thankful to our faculty and staff for not only completing this self-study, but for doing the day-to-day work to strive for success in all of the commission’s standards.”
The review process started in the summer of 2019 and included a self-study, virtual site visit by a regional accreditation team, a preliminary report, a response by the university, and a final meeting on Sept. 23, 2021.
Salem State was reviewed on nine regional standards, including mission; planning and evaluation; organization and governance; the academic program; students; teaching; learning and scholarship; institutional resources; educational effectiveness; and integrity, transparency and public disclosure.
The letter also recognized the university for establishing the Center for Research and Creative Activities, creating a vice president of student-success position, and “embracing a culture of transparent assessment and continuous improvement, including sharing student-success measures “frequently and broadly.”
In regards for areas of institutional improvement, NECHE asked for a report in August 2023 that outlines SSU’s progress and success in effective shared governance; building a culture of assessment; achieving enrollment and retention goals; and strengthening its financial position, referencing challenges that include enrollment declines and reliance on tuition and fees.
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].
