Accreditation
Garrett College is a public, two-year institution that is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
- The most recent Statement of Accreditation Status can be found here
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The College's Paramedic Training is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
- The last site visit was held on December 9 & 10, 2024 as part of a comprehensive review in the continuing accreditation process.
- CAAHEP will send an official letter containing its action taken, standards citations, if any, and the due date for a progress report to CoAEMSP, if applicable in May 2025.
- Links to the current Accreditation Certificate and Letter can be found below:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education - Self-Study Process and Design
Garrett College is preparing its 8-year self-study report for the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE or Middles States). This report is critical to the future of Garrett College. Institutions submit Annual Institutional Updates (AIU) by entering or verifying institutional data in four categories: student achievement, annual enrollment, financial health, and federal financial responsibility. The AIU is a mandatory activity in accordance with the Accreditation Review Cycle and Monitoring Policy and Procedures.
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The self-study will evaluate how well:
- our programs and services accomplish our institutional priorities;
- we fulfill our mission; and
- we meet the MSCHE's standards.
The current self-study process began in fall 2024 and will culminate with an on-site visit of the MSCHE evaluation team in early fall 2027. The evaluation team will be made up of community college peers from outside the state who will review the findings and recommendations of our self-study report. The evaluation team will then make a recommendation to MSCHE on our accreditation status.
Purpose of the self-study
- to advance institutional self-understanding and self-improvement
- to demonstrate to external audiences, such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, government regulatory agencies, and the public, that the institution meets the standards for accreditation
- to maintain eligibility to receive federal financial aid.
Middle States FAQ
What is MSCHE? The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a global institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Secretary of Education since 1952. As an accreditor and member of the regulatory triad, MSCHE assures students and the public of the educational quality for its over 500 institutions of higher education. The Commission’s accreditation process ensures institutional accountability, self-appraisal, improvement, and innovation through peer review and the rigorous application of standards within the context of institutional mission. (https://www.msche.org/about-us/).
The United States Department of Education (USDE) recognizes accrediting agencies deemed authorities on the quality of higher education. Under the Higher Education Act’s (HEA’s) federal student aid programs, accrediting agencies recognized by USDE must meet the Department’s regulatory criteria. MSCHE is a title IV gatekeeper and is a link to federal programs, and institutions access title IV through MSCHE accreditation. (https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation/college-accreditation-united-states/college-accreditation-in-the-united-states--pg-3#RegionalInstitutional).
What is accreditation? Accreditation is the process through which an external agency examines an institution and determines whether it meets established requirements and standards. Institutions participate voluntarily. Accreditation is important for our students because federal student aid is available only to students enrolled in accredited institutions.
What is re-accreditation? Every eight years MSCHE mandates that its member institutions undergo a rigorous self-study process and write an extensive report on that process. This report is the foundational document for the MSCHE evaluation team's onsite visit.
What is a self-study report? A self-study report is a comprehensive review of a college's educational programs, institutional policies, and student services. It is conducted by the college. It determines how well a college meets its own mission and strategic goals, as measured against MSCHE's seven standards of accreditation and fifteen requirements of affiliation.
How Does the College Do the Self Study? The college prepares a Design Document, which is the blueprint for the self-study. The Design Document includes goals for the self-study, questions that guide the research undertaken, documents that need be collected to address this research, institutional priorities, and a timetable for the self-study process.
Garrett College Self-Study Steering Committee
- Professor Christa Bowser, Dean of Academic Affairs/Chief Academic Officer (Co-Chair)
- Dr. Robert (JR) Kerns, Esq., Dean of Student Affairs/Chief Student Affairs Officer (Co-Chair)
- Dr. Kelli Sisler, Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO)
- Ms. Lisa Nichols, Dean of Administrative Services/Chief Financial Officer
- Ms. Julie Yoder, Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD)
- Ms. Marcia Knepp*, Executive Assistant to the President/Board
- Ms. Kym Newmann, Coordinator of Student Affairs
- Dr. Stacy P. Miller, Esq., Academic Director of Business, Social Sciences, & Sports Management/Professor of Business & Economics
Self-study working groups
In process- will be announced during the August 2025 All College Forum (ACF) and then publicized on this page.
Note: asterisk (*) denotes Garrett College alumni
