2025-2026 Middle States Accreditation Self-Study


Dear Faculty, Staff, Trustees & Students;

CCAC has begun the process of seeking reaccreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The Commission mandates through accreditation that member institutions meet rigorous and comprehensive standards, which are to be addressed in the context of the mission and within the culture and ethical practices of institutional integrity expected of accredited institutions. For more information about the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation, click here.

This self-study process comes at an optimal moment for reflection on what we do and to ensure that we have regularly assessed and documented the effectiveness of our work. Each working group is responsible for preparing a report to demonstrate how we meet the MSCHE criteria, identifying challenges, weaknesses, strengths, and opportunities. The report will be prepared by a single author in a narrative form. As members of the college community, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback. Our reaccreditation visit will conclude with a self-study evaluation during the 2025-2025 academic year.

We are counting on your participation because we seek to carry-out a self-study process that is participatory, transparent, and collaborative. We plan on including as many voices as possible. In the coming months, we will start providing a number of opportunities for you to provide feedback and response

Sincerely,

Richard Coleman, Associate Professor
Beenah Moshay, Associate Vice President for Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness
Co-Chairs of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee

 

Steering Committee

  • Richard Coleman, Associate Professor (Co-Chair)
  • Beenah Moshay, Associate Vice President for Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness (Co-Chair)
  • Anne Duffy, Assistant Instructor
  • Sara Conroy, Dean of Business and Technology
  • Caroline Evans, Professor
  • James Flynn, Vice President for Finance
  • Norm Johnson, Professor
  • Neil Jones, Academic Advisor
  • Mary Lou Kennedy, Associate Vice President for Student Success Services
  • Ketwana Schoos, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
  • Hannah Thomas, Assistant Professor
  • Bonita Richardson, Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Trustees
  • Juel Smith, Associate Dean of Sciences
  • Michael Zdilla, Professor
  • Jamie Hightower-Poindexter, Executive Director of Financial Aid

Working Groups

Identify the extent to which the College meets Middle States expectations for mission and goals. Consider the current understanding of CCAC's mission in relationship to the College's current strategic plan.

  • Anne Duffy (Co-Chair), Assistant Instructor
  • Beenah Moshay (Co-Chair), Associate Vice President for Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness
  • Megan Crane, Counselor
  • Jill Hennessy, Assistant Director of Academic Advising
  • Michael Tompkins, Assistant Dean of Business and Technology

Determine the extent to which the College meets Middle States expectations with regard to ethics and integrity. Consider whether our policies, practices, and communications support our values and priorities.

  • Neil Jones, Academic Advisor
  • Ketwana Schoos (Co-Chair), Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
  • Norm Downey, Senior Director of Workforce and Job Readiness
  • Leah Taylor, Assistant Director of Purchasing
  • Jody Wilson, Librarian
  • Tawanda Wright, Online Support Specialist
  • David Zlockie, Student Conduct Manager

Determine whether the College meets Middle States' expectations with regard to the design and delivery of the student learning experience.

  • Juel Smith (Co-Chair), Associate Dean of Sciences
  • Michael Zdilla (Co-Chair), Professor
  • Patricia Donehue, Assistant Instructor
  • Diane Jacobs, Registrar
  • Millie Rodriguez, Dean of Virtual Campus
  • Sylvia Wallace, Adjunct Faculty

Examine the extent to which the College meets Middle States' expectations with regard to support of the student experience. Identify the College's strengths, challenges, and opportunities in supporting the success of all CCAC students.

  • Mary Lou Kennedy (Co-Chair), Associate Vice President for Student Success Services
  • Hannah Thomas (Co-Chair), Assistant Professor
  • Michael Chirdon-Jones, Senior Director of Advising
  • Daniel Duffy, Director of Military and Veterans Service
  • Kathy Drakulic, Regional Director of Registration SE
  • Kristen Spiker, Dean of Student Development
  • Justin Starr, Endowed Professorship Advanced Technologies

Determine the extent to which the College assesses student learning and demonstrates that students have accomplished goals that are consistent with their program of student, general education, and the mission of CCAC.

  • Sara Conroy (Co-Chair), Dean of Business and Technology
  • Caroline Evans (Co-Chair), Professor
  • Valery Keibler, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Adjunct Services
  • Carmen Livingston, Professor
  • Debra Misencik, Professor
  • Mary Utter, Dean of Students, Student Advocacy

Examine the extent to which the College meets Middle States' expectations with regard to planning, resources, and institutional improvement. Determine how well the system of institutional effectiveness is serving the institution and whether it is leading to institutional improvement. Examine how well the institutional priorities within this self-study are supported by planning processes and resources.

  • James Flynn (Co-Chair), Vice President for Finance
  • Norm Johnson (Co-Chair), Professor
  • Tiffany Evans, Dean of Students and Interim Enrollment Services Lad Administrator
  • Rebecca Shakoske, Adjunct Faculty
  • Jamie Hightower-Poindexter, Executive Director of Financial Aid
  • Vladimir St. Surin, Dean of Students, Student Engagement
  • Debra Roach, Vice-President of Workforce Development

Determine the extent to which the College meets Middle States' expectations with regard to governance, leadership, and administration. Consider the ways in which the institution is organized to carry out the mission and goals.

  • Richard Coleman (Co-Chair), Associate Professor
  • Bonita Richardson (Co-Chair), Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Trustees
  • Denise Cylenica, Senior Secretary
  • Elizabeth Johnston, Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer
  • Jamie McMahon, Chief Executive Officer of the Educational Foundation
  • Gerald Ferguson, Professor

Intended Outcomes of the Self-Study

In completing our self-study, the Community College of Allegheny County will:

  1. Demonstrate how the institution currently meets the Commission's Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation (Fourteenth Edition) and provides evidence by Standard in alignment with the Evidence Expectations by Standard.
  2. Leverage periodic assessment through each standard, using assessment results for continuous improvement and innovation to ensure levels of quality for constituents and the attainment of the institution's priorities, mission, and goals.
  3. Engage the institutional community in an inclusive and transparent self-appraisal process, including analysis of a range of data, including disaggregated data, to ensure students are appropriately served and institutional mission and goals are met.
  4. To assess CCAC's strengths, weaknesses, and identify our opportunities and our challenges, which will lay the groundwork for the next strategic plan.

Timeline

2022 Timeline

August
Recruitment began

2023 Timeline

January
Introductory meetings to the standards

March
Recruitment ended and finalized

October
Institutional priorities survey sent to college community

November
ALO consulted with President on institutional priorities 2024

2024 Timeline

January
I
nstitutional priorities sent to college community

February
Work groups prepared survey questions for Fall 2024 College Survey

March
Finalize self-study design

April
MSCHE liaison visit
Self-study design approved by MSCHE
Work groups submit draft of reports
Self-study open meetings with faculty and staff to discuss work group reports 
 
Fall
MSCHE selects evaluation team chair, chair sets date for team visit and evaluation team chair preliminary visit, send self-study design to evaluation team chair

October
Open meeting to discuss the work group survey

November
Work groups submit final reports; work group reports to include strengths, suggestions, opportunities, and challenges related to meeting the standards

2025 Timeline

January through March
Writer completes first draft of self-study

March-April
Open meetings with college community to discuss draft

May through August
Writer edits self-study based on feedback from open meetings

September
CCAC community and Board of Trustees review second draft of self-study

September
Evaluation team chair preliminary visit

October
Evaluation team chair reviews second draft self-study

December
College submits final draft self-study and uploads all evidence

2026 Timeline

February - Mid-April
Self-study evaluation team visit

June
MSCHE action regarding accreditation status