Carroll Community College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Periodically, an institution has to be reaccredited and this process typically begins with an institutional Self Study. Middle States has seven Standards of Accreditation to which the college must demonstrate its adherence:

Standard 1 – Mission and Goals

Task: 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 2 – Ethics and Integrity

Task: 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 3 – Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience

Task: 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 4 – Support of the Student Experience

Task: 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 5 – Educational Effectiveness Assessment

Task: 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 6 – Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement

Task: 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 7 – Governance, Leadership, and Administration

Task: 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.

Dr. Ball has appointed working groups for each of these standards, as well as a Steering Committee and committee on compliance. Members of these groups are shown on the opposite page.

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