Middle States Accreditation

Stockton University was first accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) in 1975, and in 2022 a visiting team reviewed and Statement of Accreditation Stockton's commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Our next review is scheduled for 2029-30. Accreditation is a peer review process that has been used by institutions of higher education since the early twentieth century to create and maintain credibility and public confidence. Read Stockton University's Self Study 2022 here and the MSCHE Visiting Team Evaluation Report 2022 here.

What is Middle States?

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) oversees the accreditation of colleges and universities in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as several international locations. This voluntary, non-governmental, membership association defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. For more information visit: http://www.msche.org/

Standards for Accreditation

MSCHE requires member institutions to conduct a Self-Study every eight years, and complete annual updates. The Self-Study is a comprehensive, multi-year process where schools review their missions and goals, consider ethics and integrity issues, evaluate student learning experience and methods of assessment, survey strategic planning resource allocation, and institutional improvement policies, and review governance, leadership and administration infrastructures. 

students sitting outside on Stockton sign
Stockton Self-Study Team

Three co-chairs will spearhead Stockton's 2021-22 Self-Study Team:

  • Dr. Bob Heinrich, Chief Enrollment Management Officer
  • Dr. Claudine Keenan, Dean, School of Education and Professor of Instructional Technology
  • Dr. Manish Madan, Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice

Time and expertise from many more in the Stockton community will make our Self-Study a success, since each of the standards listed below requires its own working team. We welcome short- or long-term commitments, and seek volunteers from across the campus, including faculty, students, staff, and administrators--we need everyone's voice.  To see a listing of the Standard Working Groups click the plus sign (+) below.


 Document Inventory Team

  • Erika Cassetta, Professional Services Specialist, Office of Development and Alumni Relations
  • Renee Cavezza, Interprofessional Accreditation Specialist, School of Health Sciences
  • Daniel Wright, Production & Facilities Coordinator, School of Arts and Humanities

Do you have documents for the Self-Study Inventory?

If, yes, please send them to msche@stockton.edu


Accreditation Timeline

Fall-Winter 2020-21 Draft Self-Study Chapters
Spring 2021 Share Self-Study draft with the university community; revise
Summer-Early Fall 2021 Revise draft and submit to Middle States External Team Chair
September 29, 2021 Middles States External Team Chair Virtual Visit
October/November 2021     Receive feedback from the External Team Chair and incorporate suggestions.
December 2021 Presentation to the Board of Trustees
January 2022

Complete second round of revisions; re-share the Self-Study with the campus community.

March 2022 Submit final Self-Study to MSCHE
April 10-13, 2022 External Team visit
June 23, 2022 MSCHE final determination

Middle States Steering Committee

The Steering committee is comprised of representatives from our various university constituencies. This group will provide leadership throughout the entire self-study and accreditation process.   

Steering Committee Co-chairs:

  • Dr. Bob Heinrich, Chief Enrollment Management Officer
  • Dr. Claudine Keenan, Dean, School of Education and Professor of Instructional Technology
  • Dr. Manish Madan, Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice

 Committee Members:

  • Michael Angulo, Vice President for Personnel, Labor & Government Relation
  • Dr. Haley Baum, Dean of Students
  • Dennis Fotia, Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Design
  • Dr. Amy Beth Glass, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
  • Dr. Christy Goodnight, Interim Director, Librarian Services, Assistant Professor in the Library
  • Dr. Robert Gregg, Dean of the School of General Studies
  • Dr. Kathy Klein, Executive Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning Design
  • Jennifer Kosakowski, Executive Director of Development
  • Jennifer Potter, Vice President for Administration & Finance, Chief Financial Officer
  • Dr. Steven Radwanski, Executive Director of Residential Life
  • Dr. Ana Edmondson, Director, Student Transition Programs
  • Robert Wallace, Assistant Supervisor 2, Facilities, CWA Union Representative  

Standard Working Groups:

The institution’s mission defines its purpose within the context of higher education, the students it serves, and what it intends to accomplish. The institution’s stated goals are clearly linked to its mission and specify how the institution fulfills its mission.

Standard I Co-chairs:

  • Dr. Robert Heinrich, Chief Enrollment Management Officer
  • Dr. Manish Madan, Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
  • Dr. Claudine Keenan, Dean, School of Education and Professor of Instructional Technology

Faculty:

  • Dr. Nazia Kazi, Associate Professor of Anthropology, SOBL
  • Dr. Pat McGinnis, Professor of Physical Therapy, HLTH
  • Dr. Javier Sanchez, Associate Professor of Spanish, ARHU

Administration:

  • Dr. Valerie Hayes, Chief Officer for Diversity and Inclusion
  • Dr. Angel Hernandez, Associate Director of EOF, Atlantic City  
  • Dr. Michelle McDonald, Associate Professor of Atlantic History
  • Geoffrey Pettifer, Executive Director of University Relations and Marketing
  • Dr. Peter Straub, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • Dr. Walter Tarver, Assistant Vice President, Student Transitions, Access, and Retention

Staff:

  • Stacey Rose, Assistant Director, Office of Student Conduct

Ethics and integrity are central, indispensable, and defining hallmarks of effective higher education institutions. In all activities, whether internal or external, an institution must be faithful to its mission, honor its contracts and commitments, adhere to its policies, and represent itself truthfully.

Standard II Co-Chairs:

  • Robert Wallace, Assistant Supervisor 2, Facilities, CWA Union Representative  
  • Jennifer Kosakowski, Executive Director Research and Sponsored Programs

Faculty:

  • Dr. Kathryn Brzozowski, Assistant Professor of Social Work, SOBL
  • Dr. Pamela Cohn, Associate Professor of Chemistry, NAMS
  • Dr. Mary Padden, Associate Professor of Nursing, HLTH

Administration:

  • Chris Connors, Director of Financial Aid
  • Dr. Marissa Levy, Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences 

Staff:

  • Shawn Manuola, Professional Services Specialist 3, GENS
  • Adam Coopersmith, Professional Services Specialist 4, Institutional Research

An institution provides students with learning experiences that are characterized by rigor and coherence at all program, certificate, and degree levels, regardless of instructional modality. All learning experiences, regardless of modality, program pace/schedule, level, and setting are consistent with higher education expectations.

Standard III Co-Chairs:

  • Dr. Robert Gregg, Dean of the School of General Studies
  • Dennis Fotia, Assistant Director, Center for Teaching and Learning Design

Faculty:

  • Dr. Sharon Musher, Associate Professor of History, ARHU
  • Dr. Marc Richard, Associate Professor of Chemistry, NAMS
  • Dr. Sequetta Sweet, Assistant Professor of Organizational Leadership, EDUC

Administration:

  • Laurie Dutton, Interim Director, Counseling and Psychological Services
  • Tara Williams, Director of Graduate Studies

Staff:

  • Mariah Duffey, Assistant Director of Continuing Studies
  • Patricia Fazio, Librarian Electronic Resource Coordinator

Across all educational experiences, settings, levels, and instructional modalities, the institution recruits and admits students whose interests, abilities, experiences, and goals are congruent with its mission and educational offerings. The institution commits to student retention, persistence, completion, and success through a coherent and effective support system sustained by qualified professionals, which enhances the quality of the learning environment, contributes to the educational experience, and fosters student success.

Standard IV Co-Chairs:

  • Dr. Haley Baum, Dean of Students
  • Dr. Amy Beth Glass, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs

Faculty:

  • Dr. Frank Cerreto, Professor of Mathematics and First-year Studies, GENS
  • Dr. Rebecca Mannel, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, HLTH
  • Dr. Matthew Olson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, NAMS
  • Dr. Beverly Vaughn, Professor of Music, ARHU

Administration:

  • Brett Pulliam, Executive Director for Educational Opportunity & Success Programs
  • Demetrios Roubos, Information Security Officer 
  • Ryan Terrell, Bursar

Staff:  

  • Giancarlo L. Brugnolo, Associate Director, Event Services
  • Lauren Fonseca, Tutoring Center Specialist/Coordinator of Academic Support
  • Marques Johnson,  Director Residential Education and Student Services
  • Patty McConville, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities
  • Dr. Kate Spalding, Assistant Director, Center for Academic Advising

Assessment of student learning and achievement demonstrates that the institution’s students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their program of study, degree level, the institution’s mission, and appropriate expectations for institutions of higher education.

Standard V Co-Chairs:

  • Dr. Kathy Klein, Executive Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning Design
  • Dr. Ana Edmondson, Director, Student Transition Programs

Board of Trustees:

  • Dr. Sonia Gonsalves, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, SOBL 

Faculty:

  • Dr. Cara Hood, Associate Professor of Writing, GENS
  • Dr. Kimberly Lebak, Professor of Education, EDUC
  • Dr. Elizabeth Pollock, Associate Professor of Chemistry, NAMS
  • Dr. Kerri Sowers, Associate Professor of Health Science, HLTH
  • Dr. Janet Wagner, Professor of Computer Information Systems, BSNS

Administration:

  • Christina Birchler, Director, Hammonton Instructional Site
  • Dr. Merydawilda Colon, Executive Director, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
  • Jessica Kay, Director of Institutional Research
  • Dr. JY Zhou, Director of Global Engagement
  • Heather Watkins, Administrative Manager, Office of the President

The institution’s planning processes, resources, and structures are aligned with each other and are sufficient to fulfill its mission and goals, to continuously assess and improve its programs and services, and to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges.

Standard VI Co-Chairs:

  • Jennifer Potter, Vice President for Administration & Finance, Chief Financial Officer
  • Christy Goodnight, Interim Director, Library Services, Assistant Professor in the Library

Faculty:

  • Dr. Petar Dobrev, Assistant Professor of Business Studies, BSNS
  • Dr. Amy Hadley, Associate Professor of Communication Disorders, HLTH
  • Dr. Tom Papademetriou, Professor of Historical Studies, ARHU

Administration:

  • Peter Baratta, Chief Planning Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff
  • Diane Garrison, Director of Budget and Fiscal Planning
  • Karen James, ITS Financial Administrator
  • Jhanna Jean-Louis, Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Rhianon Lepree, Director of Real Estate
  • Kelly Oquist, Director, Academic Finance, Academic Affairs
  • Dr. Ashlee Roberts, Executive Director of Student Affairs Planning and Operations
  • Christy Santiago, Assistant Controller

Staff:

  • Kathleen Hazelton, Professional Service Specialist 3, Facilities Planning 
  • Linda Shea, Senior Technical Management Information Systems, Stockton Police Department

The institution is governed and administered in a manner that allows it to realize its stated mission and goals in a way that effectively benefits the institution, its students, and the other constituencies it serves. Even when supported by or affiliated with governmental, corporate, religious, educational system, or other unaccredited organizations, the institution has education as its primary purpose, and it operates as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy.

Standard VII Co-Chairs:

  • Michael Angulo, Vice President for Personnel, Labor & Government Relations
  • Dr. Steven Radwanski, Executive Director of Residential Life

Faculty:

  • Dr. Norma Boakes, Professor of Education, EDUC
  • Dr. Heather McGovern, Professor of Writing & First-Year Studies, GENS
  • Dr. Tina Zappile, Associate Professor of Political Science, SOBL
  • Dr. Barry Pemberton, Asst. Professor of Chemistry, NAMS

Administration:

  • Dr. Chris Catching, Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Sarah Grady, Assistant Director, LIGHT
  • Brian Jackson, Chief Operating Office, Atlantic City Campus
  • Rosa Perez- Maldonado, Assistant Dean, School of Arts and Humanities
  • Dr. Shelia Quinn, Associate Dean for Nursing and Chief Nurse Administrator

Staff:

  • Chad Roberts, General Manager WLFR   

Board of Trustees:

  • Stan Ellis

Previous Accreditation Reports