Middle States FAQ

What is an institutional self-study and why is Camden County College conducting one at this time?

An institutional self-study is a process through which a college or university examines itself to determine the extent to which it meets set of established standards for academic institutions of its type. Camden County College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. MSCHE sets the standards by which we will be evaluated in achieving our mission. There are several steps the College goes through to prepare for a site visit by a team of external evaluators. These evaluators are our peers, drawn from similar institutions throughout our region. They have been trained in the Middle States standards, are experienced educators, and will provide valuable feedback on the conduct and performance of our college. Our site visit is March 26 through March 28, 2018.

While it is extremely important that we keep in mind the role of the Middle States Commission and accreditation in this process, we must also not lose sight of the fact that the major role of the self-study is for us to examine our institution honestly and openly, to reflect on the current conditions at the college, and to make recommendations on ways we can improve our college. This period of introspection will lead to tangible improvements at the college. This truly is the main benefit of the self-study.

What is the mission statement of Camden County College?

The College mission statement is: Camden County College is committed to the success of a diverse student body through collaborative engagement that provides high quality, accessible and affordable education. The College is responsive to the needs of the community through continuous enhancement of its programs and services.

For the College values, vision, and goals visit our strategic plan.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is proof that an academic institution achieves acceptable levels of performance on a number of standards. Without accreditation, there would be no assurance that acceptable standards of performance are being met. In the absence of accreditation, the Federal Government will not issue certain types of financial assistance including grants to the institution and financial aid to students enrolled at the institution. In short, accreditation gives validity to our degrees and makes us a college.

Who is involved in the self-study?

The self-study is being conducted by a committee of volunteers from across our campus community. In fact, at the current time the committee is composed of more than sixty people, including faculty, staff, administrators, students and trustees. Others, who are not members of this committee, will also participate in a variety of important ways. They may be asked to provide information during interviews, meetings or through surveys. They may be asked for information within their areas of expertise or experience here at the college. Please read the self-study document to prepare for our site visit.

How long will the self-study take?

Camden County College began preparing for its self-study in the fall of 2016. The Self-Study Report was be submitted to Middle States in November 2017, and the site-visit evaluation is March 26 to 28, 2018.

 

Where can I get more information?

You can get more information in the following ways: 

Keeping an eye on our Middle States Self-Study web page. It will be updated from time-to-time, as information becomes available. 

You can contact You can contact Dr. Jackie Galbiati, Vice-President of Institutional Advancement, Research, and Strategic Initiatives at jgalbiati@camdencc.edu, Dr. Vanessa O’Brien-McMasters, Co-Chair of the Self-Study and Dean of Academic Operations at vmcmasters@camdencc.edu or Dr. Susan Choi, Interim Dean of Math, Science, and Health Careers at schoi@camdencc.edu

You can visit the web page of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education at www.msche.org.