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Accreditation

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Eastern Connecticut State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.).

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

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Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals also may contact: 

New England Commission of Higher Education
301 Edgewater Place, Suite 210, Wakefield, MA 01880
phone: (781) 425-7785
website: https://www.neche.org
e-mail: info@neche.org

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FAQs

  • NECHE is recognized as the leading accreditation agency for colleges and universities in the six New England States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NECHE also accredits a dozen international institutions. The Commission is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority on the quality of education for the institutions it accredits.

  • Accreditation is a status that provides assurance to prospective students, their families and the general public that an institution meets clearly stated Standards for Accreditation and that there are reasonable grounds to believe the institution will continue to meet those standards in the future.

  • The NECHE Interim Report is a periodic review required by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) to assess how Eastern Connecticut State University continues to meet the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. The report also reflects on progress since the last comprehensive review and outlines areas of focus for the next review.

  • The interim report will be submitted in August 2025.

  • The report serves several purposes:

    • It stimulates continuous improvement.
    • It strengthens Eastern’s system of self-evaluation.
    • It provides NECHE with information to assure the public about the quality of higher education at Eastern.
  • The last comprehensive review was conducted in 2021.

  • The next comprehensive review is scheduled for Fall 2030.

  • The NECHE Interim Report Task Force is composed of the following members:

    • Karyl Bulmer, Director of Financial Planning
    • Michelle Delaney, Vice President of Student Affairs
    • Chris Dorsey, Director of Alumni Communications and Advancement
    • Megan Heenehan, Professor of Mathematical Sciences
    • Sara Madera, Title IX Coordinator
    • Mike Palumbo, Director of ITS and Media Services
    • Niti Pandey, School of Education and Professional Studies, Task Force Chair
    • Jianguo (Jay) Zhu, Director of Institutional Research / Human Resources Manager
  • The Task Force is responsible for:

    • Overseeing the development of the interim report.
    • Meeting regularly to ensure progress.
    • Providing periodic updates to the campus community through the accreditation website and the University Senate.
  • You can stay updated by:

    • Visiting the accreditation website, where periodic updates will be posted.
    • Reviewing updates shared at University Senate meetings.
  • Every member of the Eastern community is encouraged to support the accreditation process by providing input and participating in discussions during the report’s development.