Middle States Accreditation Self-study

Bucknell University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (Middle States). Middle States is a nongovernmental association whose mission is to oversee the quality of both public and private institutions across the country.

Middle States accredits colleges and universities in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, Puerto Rico and other geographic areas. Accredited institutions engage in an ongoing cycle of review to retain accredited status.

Every eight years, Bucknell engages in a significant institutional self-study that produces a comprehensive written report addressing each of Middle States' seven accreditation standards and fifteen requirements of affiliation.

The report, and materials collected during the self-study process, serves as the basis for evaluation by a team of external peer reviewers and the Commission. The self-study is an analytical assessment of evidence-based policies, procedures and processes that specifically address criteria posed in each standard. The self-study process also gives us an opportunity to reflect on what we do and ensures that we regularly assess and document the effectiveness of our work.

The self-study process is a significant undertaking, typically taking two years from start to finish. The process culminates with a three-day on-campus visit by a team of external peer evaluators in the Spring of 2024.

The evaluation team meets with administration, faculty, staff, students and members of the Board of Trustees and reviews materials and reports gathered during the self-study process. If we are successful, the visiting team of experts from peer institutions will confirm our compliance with the seven standards through a review of Bucknell’s self-study.

The visiting team then makes a recommendation to the Middle States Commission regarding the University's accreditation status.