RIT’s Middle States reaccreditation process underway
Dear members of the RIT community,
In my 2024 President’s Annual Report, I briefly outline how RIT is perpetually creating the future and taking a leading role in higher education. One important aspect of creating our future is securing reaccreditation with our regional accrediting body, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), every 8 years.
RIT has begun this initiative and has embarked on a universitywide process, which concludes in spring 2026. The evaluation, last completed in 2017, consists of extensive institutional self-study activities that produce a written self-study report highlighting both RIT’s significant strengths as well as opportunities for improvement going forward. This is a critical process for RIT.
As an inclusive community endeavor, our goal is to have a broad cross section of the campus community engaged at every stage: in the Steering Committee, affiliated Working Groups, and upcoming campuswide discussions.
Please visit the new RIT accreditation website to learn more about the Steering Committee members, Working Group members, timelines, and more news and information. Our accreditation process is led by three co-chairs:
- Christine Licata, vice provost for Academic Affairs and accreditation liaison officer;
- Larry Buckley, associate professor and senior associate dean, College of Science;
- Risa Robinson, professor and department chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
You will receive ongoing progress reports directly from the steering committee. Members will be soliciting your ideas and feedback. Comments and questions can be sent to accreditation@rit.edu.
RIT faculty, staff, and students are cordially invited to join Sean McKitrick, Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) vice president for Institutional Field Relations, for an in-person discussion on RIT’s self-study and reaccreditation process. The university forum will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., Friday, April 19, in Ingle Auditorium, Student Alumni Union or register in advance to view the forum online. Feel free to send question ahead of the meeting to Karel Shapiro at kdsdfp@rit.edu.
We are striving to go further in our Middle States self-study to ensure our programs exceed the national standards while reflecting our vision to leverage the power of technology, the arts, and design for the greater good.
This initiative will guide us to reflect on our strengths and distinctiveness, as well as our shortcomings and challenges. This is a major event in the life of the university. It invites us to innovate for the benefit of our students. And it allows us to transform our future based on opportunities uncovered for us to continue to be a leader in higher education.
Sincerely,
David Munson
President
Munson@rit.edu