Middle States Commission on Higher Education Reaffirms Bergen Community College’s Accreditation

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has reaffirmed Bergen Community College’s accreditation after determining the College is in compliance with all standards on which the Commission assesses institutional performance.
In taking this action, the Commission accepted the monitoring report submitted by Bergen and the recommendations of the Middle States Commission team that visited the campus last semester.

In a letter that arrived at the College on Monday afternoon, the Commission reaffirmed the College’s compliance with Standard 7 (Institutional Assessment) and Standard 14 (Assessment of Student Learning). The Commission evaluates Colleges in 14 areas or standards of assessment. In November of 2011, the Commission questioned whether Bergen had provided insufficient evidence of compliance with Standard 7 and Standard 14.

In reaffirming that Bergen is in compliance, the Commission also asked for another monitoring report, due by October 1, 2013. That report will document further implementation of a comprehensive, organized, and sustained process for the assessment of institutional effectiveness, (Standard 7), as well as further implementation of a documented process to assess the achievement of program-level student learning goals, including General Education (Standard 14). Commission representatives may visit the College again after Bergen submits the monitoring report due by October 1. The Commission’s next scheduled evaluation visit will be during the 2015-2016 academic year.

“I wish to thank all of the faculty and staff who worked so diligently to bring this matter to a successful conclusion,” said Bergen President B. Kaye Walter, Ph.D. “Continuous assessment is critical to attaining the highest levels of institutional and student performance. We must hold ourselves to the highest standards in guiding students along the path to success.”

Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu)  based in Paramus is a public two-year coeducational college, enrolling more than 17,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip J. Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields.