Middle States Self-Study
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a global agency that awards accreditation (or reaccreditation); accreditation is important because it allows students, employees, and the larger community to be confident in the quality of education and services provided by a college.
Passaic County Community College is currently in the midst of its reaccreditation. During this time, PCCC will demonstrate compliance with the standards set forth by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This is achieved through a self-study process in which the College conducts a self-reflection and gathers evidence in support of meeting the standards. The standards are: (1) Mission & Goals; (2) Ethics & Integrity; (3) Design & Delivery of the Student Learning Experience; (4) Support of the Student Learning Experience; (5) Educational Effectiveness Assessment; (6) Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement; and (7) Governance, Leadership & Administration.
After the self-study portion is completed, a team of educators (peers from other like colleges), will visit PCCC to review the evaluation and evidence, and determine if the conclusions are accurate.
The entire process spans over a two-year period.
To learn more about Middle States, you can visit msche.org.
For current accreditation information, please see our license and accreditation page.
For a complete explanation of the seven standards used by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, please consult their website www.msche.org/standards.
Standard I. Mission & Goals
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 II. Ethics & Integrity
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 III. Design & Delivery of the Student learning Experience
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 IV. Support of the Student Experience
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 V. Educational Effectiveness Assessment
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 VI. Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
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 VII. Governance, Leadership, & Administration
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.
Working Group I – Mission & Goals
Co-Chairs: John Robb, III, Instructor, Criminal Justice and Lisa Jones, Director, Wanaque
Academic Center
Janet Delaney, Associate Professor, Mathematics
Amanda Kibler, Academic Specialist
Edwin Pagan, Associate Professor, Business Administration
Stony Pak, Instructor, Early Childhood/Teacher Education
Nicole Palmer, Student Development Specialist
Shavita Perry, Student Development Specialist
Ozlem Rozanitis, Associate Director of Grants and Strategic Partnerships
Lia Rowe, Director of Wellness, Student Advocacy and Violence Prevention
Working Group II – Ethics & Integrity
Co-Chairs: Linda Carter, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood/Teacher Education and
Janet Albrecht, Dean, Continuing Education & Workforce Development
Nina-Louise Alsbrook-Jackson, Associate Professor, English
Palma Benko, Ed.D., Professor Mathematics
Teya Eaton, Coordinator, Admissions and Financial Aid Services
Audrey Green-Hill, Pathway Coordinator
Michael Grinberg, Assistant Professor, Engineering
Sarah Khouzam, Assistant Registrar
Lonna Murphy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology
Working Group III – Design & Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
Co-Chairs: Nancy Silvestro, Executive Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning and
John Paul Rodrigues, Assistant Professor, Computer Information Systems
Tanya Da Silva, Director, Early College and Dual Enrollment
Lena Delgado de Torres, Assistant Professor, Social Science
Petar Drakulich, Associate Professor, History
Jennifer Gasparino, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Human Services
Louis Hernandez, Director of the Culinary Arts Program
Khloud Kourani, Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Enrique Noguera, Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund
Marc Yeung, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Working Group IV – Support of the Student Experience
Heather Griffiths, Associate Professor, Nurse Education and Tom Moore, Assistant Dean of Career, Professional Readiness & Experiential Learning
David Burger, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Winster Ceballos, Director of Adult Education
Stephanie Decker, Director of Enrollment Management Communication & Technology
Alexandra Della Fera, Associate Professor, English
Michael Hunt, Coordinator, Developmental English/ESL Student Retention & Completion
Cheryl Morgan-Duncan, Assistant Professor, Radiography
Maricela Shrager, Student Development Specialist (Bi-lingual)
Working Group V – Educational Effectiveness Assessment
Co-Chairs: Henriette Mozsolits, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Biological & Physical Sciences
and Tonisha Taylor, Assistant Dean for Developmental English & English Language Studies
Kristina Fleming, Associate Professor, Mathematics
Daniela Kitanska, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Kala Mayur, Ph.D., Professor, Biological & Physical Sciences
Georgina Mencher, Business Pathway Coordinator
Elizabeth Pachella, Senior Instructional Designer
Joshua Sabatini, Instructor, Biological & Physical Sciences
Ali Saleh, M.D., Assistant Professor, Biological & Physical Sciences
Wendy Watson, Assistant Professor, Nurse Education
Working Group VI – Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement
Co-Chairs: Erica Foote, Assistant Professor, Biological & Physical Sciences and Elizabeth
Harrison, Director, Career & Transfer Services
Michelle Baldino, Budget Manager
Marcin Baranowski, Associate Professor, Biological & Physical Sciences
Ann Deblinger, Assistant Professor, Exercise Science
Henry Kalinowski, Adjunct
Yon Kim, Associate Professor, Mathematics
Michele McQuaid, Associate Director of Grants and Project Management
Deirdre Nance, Coordinator of Tutoring Services and Pathway/Project Director FIPSE
Gayatri Nehrusingh-Pajerowski, Ed.D., Assistant Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund
Bassel Stassis, Ed.D., Senior Dean
Marina Wassef, Instructor, Economics
Working Group VII – Governance, Leadership, and Administration
Co-Chairs: Patricia Medeiros, Director, Passaic Academic Center and Khloud Kourani, Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Michael Cerone, Jr., General Counsel
Linda Gayton, Director, Financial Aid
Gladys Harris, Adjunct
Kathleen Kelly, Associate Professor, English Language Studies
Yanely Maldonado, Enrichment Specialist
Rebecca Royal, Ed.D., Associate Vice-President/Dean of Enrollment Services
Merille Siegel, Professor, Computer Information Science
Michael Walker, Professor, Criminal Justice
Philip Williamson, Adjunct
Working Group VIII – The Compliance Alliance
Co-Chairs: Martha Brozyna, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, History and Michael Carhart,
Ph.D., Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness
Danielle Nepola-DeFelice, Bursar
Lucia Gheorghiu, Ph.D., Professor, Business Administration
Sabrina Johnson-Taylor, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Distance Learning & Learning Resource
Center
Kenneth Karol, Librarian/Senior Learning Management System Administrator & Technical
Resource Specialist
Wayne Martin, Director, Athletics
Wayne Warrick, Instructor, Biological & Physical Sciences
Communications Working Group
Co-Chairs: Meredith Behrens, Director, Foundation & Marketing/Communications and Kelly Bender, Associate Professor, English
Alan Mitnick, Associate Professor, English
Maria Marte, Assistant Dean of Advisement and Credit for Prior Learning
John Fruncillo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Evidence Inventory Team
Co-Chairs: Michael Carhart, Ph.D., Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness, and Felicia Crockett, Data Analyst
Mibong La, Head Librarian
Ashley Castiglia, Director of Admissions
Kenneth Karol, Librarian/Senior Learning Management System Administrator & Technical
Resource Specialist
Accreditation Liaison Officer
Jacqueline Kineavy, Ed.D., Senior Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs
Core Group
Dawn Norman, Ph.D. Associate Dean of Advisement & Retention Pathways
Christine Redman-Waldeyer, D.Litt., CGS Professor, English; Academic Assessment Coordinator, Michael Carhart, Ph.D., Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness, Meredith Behrens, Director, Foundation & Marketing/Communications
Self-Study Co-Chairs
Dawn Norman, Ph.D. Associate Dean of Advisement & Retention Pathways
Christine Redman-Waldeyer, D.Litt., CGS Professor, English; Academic Assessment Coordinator
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) seeks to provide a meaningful opportunity for interested parties to provide information about an institution while it is under review.
A third-party comment is defined as a written comment submitted to the Commission by any person or entity when an institution is under review for Application for Candidate for Accreditation Status, Candidate Assessment, Initial Accreditation, Self-Study Evaluation and Visit, Follow-up Reports and Visits, or Complex Substantive Change.
Since Passaic County Community College falls under the category of “Self-Study Evaluation and Visit”, individuals may submit a third-party comment. Third-party comments should relate to the institution’s compliance with the Commission’s standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements.
To submit a third-party comment, please go to: https://www.msche.org/submit-a-third-party-comment/
Source: Third-Party Comments for Institutions Under Review Procedures Effective, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, July 1, 2023.