The university is conducting an extensive self-study as part of its regular reaccreditation process.
GW is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a voluntary membership association of colleges and universities located in the mid-Atlantic region. Institutions in MSCHE’s jurisdiction undergo reaccreditation every 10 years.
In early 2016, GW formed a steering committee for the accreditation process, which is led by Paul Duff, professor of religion, and Cheryl Beil, associate provost for academic planning and assessment. In addition to the steering committee, eight working groups composed of representatives of all 10 GW schools are focused on assessing the university’s compliance with the MSCHE’s standards for accreditation and requirements of affiliation, which include the following topic areas:
- Mission and goals
- Ethics and integrity
- Design and delivery of student learning experience
- Support of student learning experience
- Educational effectiveness assessment
- Planning, resources and institutional improvement
- Governance, leadership and administration
- Compliance with accreditation-relevant federal regulations
“We want this to be a transparent process, and we want the university community to be involved,” Dr. Duff said.
Dr. Beil said members of the working groups will be reaching out to colleagues across the university to solicit input. “Feedback from across the university is critical and will help ensure that we produce the strongest self-study possible,” she said.
Members of the university community who wish to provide input may also do so online at the committee’s website.
The working groups will complete an initial self-study draft in spring 2017. After a review period that includes community input, the university will finalize the report and submit to the visiting team in fall 2017. The MSCHE will make an accreditation determination in summer 2018.
The multiyear process involves a self-study, a campus visit from a team of academics and administrators from other institutions who have read the self-study and a ruling on the accreditation status of the institution. MSCHE accreditation applies across the university, regardless of accreditation processes for individual schools or programs.
Members of the steering committee include:
Elizabeth Amundson, registrar and associate provost
Charles Barber, deputy general counsel
Cheryl Beil, associate provost for academic planning and assessment (co-chair)
Sarah Baldassaro, associate vice president for communications
Jeffrey Brand, associate dean for graduate studies, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences; associate professor of philosophy
Elizabeth Chacko, associate dean for undergraduate studies, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences; professor of geography
Steve Charnovitz, associate professor of law
Joseph Cordes, associate director, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration; professor of economics, public policy and public administration
Julie DeLoia, associate dean, Milken Institute School of Public Health; professor of exercise and nutrition science
Paul Duff, professor of religion (co-chair)
Gina Lohr, interim associate vice president for research
Geneva Henry, dean of libraries and academic innovation
Pamela Jeffries, dean, School of Nursing
Laurie Koehler, vice provost for enrollment management and retention
Raymond Lucas, associate dean for faculty affairs and professional development; associate professor of emergency medicine
Mike Mochizuki, associate professor of political science and international affairs
Terry Murphy, deputy provost, professor of American studies
Bhagi Narahari, associate dean of undergraduate affairs and programs, School of Engineering and Applied Science; professor of engineering and applied science and of engineering management and systems engineering
Rene Stewart O’Neal, vice provost of budget and finance
Barbara Porter, chief of staff, President’s Office
Liesl Riddle, associate professor of international business
Paul Wahlbeck, vice dean for programs and research, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences; professor of political science
A Student Representative, TBD
Working group co-chairs are:
Working Group 1: Mission and Goals
Jeffrey Brand, associate dean for graduate studies, CCAS; associate professor of philosophy
Sarah Baldassaro, associate vice president for communications
Working Group 2: Ethics and Integrity
Steve Charnovitz, associate professor of law
Raymond Lucas, associate dean for faculty affairs and professional development; associate professor of emergency medicine
Working Group 3: Student Learning Experience
Julie DeLoia, associate dean, Milken Institute School of Public Health; professor of exercise and nutrition science
Geneva Henry, dean of libraries and academic innovation
Working Group 4: Support of Student Experience
Laurie Koehler, vice provost for enrollment management and retention
Bhagi Narahari, associate dean of undergraduate affairs and programs, School of Engineering and Applied Science; professor of engineering and applied science and of engineering management and systems engineering
Working Group 5: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
Elizabeth Chacko, associate dean for undergraduate studies, CCAS; professor of geography
Mike Mochizuki, associate professor of political science and international affairs
Working Group 6: Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement
Joseph Cordes, associate director, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration; professor of economics, public policy and public administration
Rene Stewart O’Neal, vice provost of budget and finance, Office of the Provost
Working Group 7: Governance, Leadership and Administration
Charles Barber, deputy general counsel
Paul Wahlbeck, vice dean for programs and research, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences; professor of political science
Working Group 8: Requirements of Affiliation – Compliance
Elizabeth Amundson, registrar and associate provost
Pamela Jeffries, dean, School of Nursing