U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Accreditation in Jeopardy?
A assessment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s instructional accreditation has prompted the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to problem a warning to the varsity that its accreditation could also be in jeopardy for non-compliance in sure areas, though the Academy says it’s already working to rectify the problems.
The warning was issued by the MSCHE following a compulsory self-study assessment and MSCHE analysis workforce go to in the course of the 2015-16 educational 12 months.
“Today the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) issued their expected determination regarding accreditation, and while they found the Academy’s academic foundation is sound, and in many ways exemplary, they issued a warning with recommendations regarding two broad areas separate from academics: combatting sexual harassment and assault, particularly during Sea Year; and governance of the USMMA,” the Academy wrote in a reaccreditation replace launched June 30.
Accredited establishments are required to have interaction in an 18-24 month interval of self-study not less than as soon as each 10 years meant to exhibit institutional compliance with accreditation requirements and to advertise institutional enchancment.
The warning was offered in a letter by the MSCHE to Superintendent Helis stating partially:
At its session on June 23, 20 16, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education acted:
To warn the establishment that its accreditation could also be in jeopardy due to inadequate proof that the establishment is at present in compliance with Requirement of Affiliation 7 (Institutional Planning), Standard 2 (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Renewal), Standard 3 (Institutional Resources), Standard 4 (Leadership and Governance), Standard 5 (Administration), and Standard 9 (Student Support Services).
At this time the Academy stays accredited whereas it “works with MSCHE to address the requirements and recommendations, and ensure the highest caliber education for the Academy’s Midshipmen.”
A reaccreditation replace from the Merchant Marine Academy continued:
The MSCHE Evaluation Team’s evaluation additionally discovered “noteworthy achievements in the following areas: admissions; achievement of the licensing component of the institutional mission; the Advisory Board’s assessment reports; the Sea Year; progress on developing a formal and integrated leader development program; and assistance provided to department and course-level assessment.” In truth the newest incoming courses at USMMA are probably the most numerous in its historical past, and probably the most certified. Further, in every of the final three years, Kings Point graduates have had report “pass” charges within the grueling four-day U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer licensing examination.
The Academy mentioned it has two years to succeed in compliance, including “we are confident that we can return to compliance within that span of time.”
The MSCHE has requested a monitoring report due March 1, 2017 documenting proof that the Academy has achieved and may maintain compliance with the necessities cited within the warning letter.
An earlier letter from Superintendent Helis to the President of the MSCHE, Dr. Elizabeth Sibolski, written in response to a MSCHE draft report, acknowledged:
We have already begun to implement the necessities and proposals within the remaining Evaluation Team Report mandatory to enhance the Academy’s efficiency and meet the MSCHE requirements for accreditation. In specific, the incidences of sexual assault and harassment have been of acute concern to me and my management workforce since I arrived at USMMA in 2012. While now we have established a program primarily based on greatest practices from the opposite Federal academies and throughout greater training, we acknowledge the necessity to convey basic change to the tradition of USMMA and create a secure setting and an environment of mutual respect that permits every Midshipman to develop and thrive.
The warning comes amid USMMA’s transfer to droop Sea Year for Midshipmen as a part of a wider effort to fight sexual harassment and sexual assault each on campus and off, and to make sure “an appropriate training and work environment for the Midshipmen,” a USMMA spokesman wrote in an e-mail to gCaptain earlier this month.
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