On June 27, 2024, Cairn University received notice of full reaffirmation of accreditation from The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a demonstration of the effectiveness of the University’s mission in the education of its students and its operations and governance.
Accreditation is evaluated every eight years. The University Steering Committee began formal preparation for the self-study in Summer 2021. The University decided to conduct a priority-based self-study, which allowed for the University to examine the effectiveness of its declared mission as it meets MSCHE’s seven accreditation standards. Over 40 faculty and staff members were involved in the creation of the 90-page self-study document that represented over 550 pieces of collected evidence.
After submitting the self-study, the University hosted an evaluation team from MSCHE composed of volunteer administrators from other MSCHE-accredited institutions. The site visit was March 24–27, 2024, and involved the team interviewing nearly 50 department representatives and students, in addition to members from the Board of Trustees. At the conclusion of their visit, the review team provided 22 pieces of collegial advice, 13 commendations, four recommendations, and no requirements. They specifically commend the University for its:
- “commitment to make the Mission of the institution pervasively visible in the physical structures of the buildings, to embed it in the curricular and co-curricular programs, and to embody it in the lives of its faculty, staff, and students”
- “attentiveness to mounting concerns for students indebtedness and its commitment to practices that highlight the risks of student debt and for measures to control cost of attendance that moderates student loan reliance”
- “comprehensive academic and co-curricular services that promote academic readiness, retention, and persistence, as well as support for international students through its innovative Missionaries in Residence Program”
- “review of the curriculum and for discontinuing low enrollment programs”
“I am very pleased that Cairn has received a clean reaccreditation,” said Dr. Todd J. Williams, president of Cairn University. “This is evidence not only of the University’s fiscal stability but also of the quality of work carried out by the excellent faculty and staff who serve here. It is particularly gratifying to have an accrediting body and site visit team commend our institution for the strength, clarity, and professional execution of our mission.”
