Eastern receives continuing accreditation
NECHE praises Eastern's self-study
Willimantic, CT (12/01/2021) — Eastern Connecticut State University, Connecticut's only public liberal arts college, has received continuing accreditation from the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), the regional accrediting agency for colleges and universities in the six New England states. The Commission's action is the best possible outcome for any institution undergoing a comprehensive reaccreditation - an interim report is due in five years and the next comprehensive evaluation and review team visit will take place in 10 years.
The commission praised Eastern's 100-page Self Study for its candor, comprehensiveness and use of data to analyze the University's operations. The commission also acknowledged high impact practices on Eastern's campus such as undergraduate research and service learning.
"There is no more important recognition or validation for a college or university than regional accreditation," said Nunez. "Institutions cannot disburse federal financial aid, nor can their students receive such aid without accreditation. Accreditation is also a critical measure of academic quality that assures graduates that their degrees are being granted by a reputable institution. I could not be more pleased with this result, and I commend the entire campus community for working together on this mission-critical project."
Three areas the commission requested that Eastern focus on in its five-year Interim Report, due in fall 2025, were the implementation timeline and assessment of the revised Liberal Arts Core currently being developed by the faculty; use of evaluation and assessment to inform planning and resource allocation; and enrollment management.
"Peer evaluation is at the heart of regional accreditation in America and has served us well for more than 100 years," said Eastern Provost William Salka. "Accreditation has a critical role to play in ensuring that we are delivering on our promise to our students, as it confirms our academic rigor; our financial stability; and the accountability we need to ensure the public trust."
The accreditation process began with preparation of a Self-Study, which is designed to allow institutions to examine their operations and conduct a candid and objective analysis of their strengths and challenges. Eastern's Self-Study began in 2018 and was managed by a 20-member steering committee led by Professor Barbara Liu and Dean Jennifer Brown.
The Self-Study Report that was submitted to NECHE responded to the accrediting agency's nine standards: (1) Mission/Purposes, (2) Planning and Evaluation, (3) Organization and Governance, (4) Academic Programs, (5) Students, (6) Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship, (7) Institutional Resources, (8) Educational Effectiveness and (9) Integrity, Transparency, and Public Disclosure.
"I am excited by the direction Eastern is heading," said Nunez in announcing the continuing accreditation to the campus community. "The recommendations of the New England Commission on Higher Education will help guide us as we continue to strengthen our academic programs and the services we provide students."
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving more than 4,300 students annually on its Willimantic campus. In addition to attracting students from 163 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 32 other states and 10 countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked as the top public regional university in New England by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020, 2021 and 2022 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 11 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.
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A student walks through campus on an autumn afternoon.