Self Study 2024
Self-Study Process
University of the Potomac is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. MSCHE provides accreditation for all programs offered by the University. To maintain accreditation, the University must meet MSCHE’s rigorous Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation.
This in-depth institutional self-study occurs every 8 years. Peer reviewers conduct an on-site evaluation to assess University of the Potomac’s compliance with Middle States Standards and Requirements of Affiliation, verify compliance with accreditation-relevant federal regulations, and identify areas needing improvement. University of the Potomac’s most recent self-study occurred in 2015, and the next will occur in 2023-2024.
Every eight years, institutions engage in self-study which requires employing a comprehensive and reflective assessment process to evaluate educational quality and the institution’s success in meeting its mission. Institutions are reviewed by peer evaluators during a culminating site visit.
As part of this process, the University will identify institutional priorities and opportunities for improvement and innovation. In the first quarter of 2024, the University will submit a final, in-depth report to MSCHE documenting its compliance with MSCHE standards, requirements of affiliation, and all accreditation-related federal regulations. A team of peer reviewers appointed by MSCHE will conduct an on-site evaluation visit to verify the evidence provided in the self-study report, which the team will determine whether the University is substantially compliant with MSCHE standards and requirements of affiliation and recommend whether accreditation should be reaffirmed.
The self-study process is a university-wide initiative, and students, faculty, staff, and other institutional constituencies should be aware of this self-study process and the many opportunities for participation.
Timeline
November-December
Co-chairs send the draft of the Self-Study Design to the Steering CommitteeSteering Committee revises Self-Study DesignALO submits the draft of Self-Study Design to Middle States Liaison
Steering Committee sends revised Self-Study Design to Middle States Liaison
Work Groups submit an outline of the report to the Steering Committee.
- Work Groups submit the draft of chapters to the Steering Committee
- Work Groups submit revised chapters to Steering Committee.
- Steering Committee presents the draft of the Self-Study Report to the campus, Board of Trustees, and community
- Co-chairs submit the draft of the Self-Study Report to the Evaluation Team Chair (at least two weeks prior to Team Chair visit)
January
- Steering Committee finalizes Self-Study Report
February-April
- ALO uploads final Self-Study Report/Verification of Federal Compliance/Evidence Inventory to MSCHE portal
(Six weeks prior to team visit)
May-June
- College prepares institutional response to Evaluation Team report
Self Study Committees
STEERING COMMITTEE
The Steering Committee will support the Work Groups by providing the guidance and resources necessary for carrying out the work of evaluating and assessing the Commission’s Standards and UOTP’s priorities and goals.
The Committee will establish the Self-Study timeline and oversee adherence to submission deadlines. The Steering Committee is charged with developing a comprehensive understanding of the entire accreditation process. The Committee will communicate about the accreditation process to various campus constituencies, including the accreditation working groups, institutional leadership, and the Board of Trustees.
WORK GROUPS
The UOTP Middle States Steering Committee comprises seven Work Groups. The Self-Study co-chairs, who also serve as Work Group chairs, provide guidance to the Steering Committee members and act as liaisons between MSCHE representatives and the Work Group members.
Work Group Chairs in coordination with the Director of Institutional Research and Assessment will establish intermediary assessment deadlines for the group to facilitate progress in addition to meeting the essential reporting milestones.
University of the Potomac Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee | ||
Name | Title | Self-Study Role |
Ms. Andrea Ford | President | Chair, Self-Study Work Group: 1, 2, 6, 7 |
Dr. Lee Smith | Provost | Co-Chair Self-Study Work Group: 1, 5, 6 |
Ms. Shannyn Stern | Chief Financial Officer | Work Group: 1,3, 6, 7 |
Ms. Camilla Meros | Director, Institutional Research and Assessment | Accreditation Liaison Officer Work Group: 2, 5 |
Dr. Sergei Andronikov | Dean of Graduate Studies | Work Group: 1, 3, 6 |
Dr. Yvonne Hood | Dean of Undergraduate Studies | Work Group: 3, 6 |
Ms. Rosanna DePinto | Director, Student Support Services | Work Group: 1, 2 |
Ms. Lachelle Matthews | Dean of Student Retention and Services | Work Group: 4 |
Mr. Akeem Brown | Associate Director of Admissions | Work Group: 4, 6 |
Name | Title |
Ms. Andrea Ford | President |
Dr. Lee Smith | Provost, Chair |
Ms. Shannyn Stern | Chief Financial Officer |
Ms. Rosanna DePinto | Director, Student Support Services |
Dr. Sergei Andronikov | Dean of Graduate Studies, Co-Chair |
Ms. Chantavia Crowder | Admissions Officer |
Ms. Khrystyna Tymchuk | Student Financial Services Specialist |
Name | Title |
Ms. Andrea Ford | President, Co-Chair |
Ms. Camilla Meros | Director of Institutional Research and Assessment |
Ms. Rosanna DePinto | Director of Student Support Services, Chair |
Dr. Felix Kravets | Director of ESL Programs |
Ms. Velvet Quick | Student Retention Services Advisor |
Name | Title |
Dr. Sergei Andronikov | Dean of Graduate Studies, Chair |
Dr. Yvonne Hood | Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Co-Chair |
Ms. Shannyn Stern | Chief Financial Officer |
Ms. Iwona Rzeznik | Student Success Manager |
Dr. Muhammad Abdulrahman | Director of Learning Resource Center |
Dr. Svetlana Mitereva | Adjunct Faculty/Curriculum Design |
Mr. Anand Kutty | IT Administrator |
Name | Title |
Ms. Lachelle Matthews | Dean of Student Retention and Services, Chair |
Mr. Akeem Brown | Associate Director of Admissions, Co-Chair |
Ms. Marcia Holmes | Admissions Officer |
Ms. Elise Alva | Director of Career Services |
Dr. Walter Foggie | Adjunct Faculty |
Ms. Mandakhbayar Mendbayar | MBA Student |
Name | Title |
Dr. Lee Smith | Provost, Co-Chair |
Ms. Camilla Meros | Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, Chair |
Ms. Seble Tekle | Director of Human Resources |
Mr. Douglas Rhodes | Director of General Studies |
Ms. Ezella Montgomery | Registrar |
Dr. Nate Perry | Adjunct Faculty/ IT Chair |
Name | Title |
Ms. Andrea Ford | President, Chair |
Ms. Shannyn Stern | Chief Financial Officer, Co-Chair |
Dr. Lee Smith | Provost |
Dr. Sergei Andronikov | Dean of Graduate Studies |
Dr. Yvonne Hood | Dean of Undergraduate Studies |
Mr. Akeem Brown | Associate Director of Admissions |
Dr. Muhammad Abdulrahman | Director of Learning Resource Center |
Mr. Mark Jiidee | Director of IT |
Name | Title |
Dr. Oksana Malysheva | Owner/Board of Trustees |
Ms. Andrea Ford | President, Co-Chair |
Ms. Shannyn Stern | Chief Financial Officer, Chair |
Mr. Arnie Sherman | Board, Chair of Finance Committee |
Mr. John Danielson | Chairperson, Board of Trustees |
Mr. Rodd Satterwhite | Member, Board of Trustees |
Ms. Seble Tekle | Director of Human Resources |
SECONDARY READERS
Content experts will carefully review subject matter in the self-study report drafts and provide applicable feedback throughout the process.
Resources
Contact Us
Email: selfstudy@potomac.edu
