Jefferson Community College Accreditation is Reaffirmed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Jefferson Community College (JCC) is pleased to announce that the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (Middle States), Wilmington, Delaware, acted to reaffirm the accreditation of Jefferson Community College on June 27, 2024.  The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

In April, a 7-member evaluation team representing Middle States visited Jefferson and spent three days interviewing College administration, faculty, staff and students, and evaluating College programs and policies. Prior to the Middle States visit, the College was required to conduct a comprehensive self-study, the results of which were compiled into a 110-page document and used as the basis for the evaluation team to conduct its review of the College.  A steering committee was approved by the JCC Board of Trustees in January 2022 to build and manage the self-study.  Over the course of the next two years, with the involvement of ten working groups and the contributions of faculty, staff and students across campus, the self-study was completed and submitted to the evaluation team in March 2024.

During the April 2024 visit, Jefferson Community College was commended by the evaluation team for its comprehensive and well-prepared self-study report.  The evaluation team concluded, and the Middles States Commission on Higher Education concurred, that the College continues to meet all Commission Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines).  The seven standards upon which the College was evaluated are mission and goals, ethics and integrity, design and delivery of the student learning experience, support of the student learning experience, educational effectiveness assessment, planning, resources and institutional improvement, and governance, leadership and administration. Provost, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, and accreditation liaison, Jerilyn Fairman, states, “I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the self-study co-chairs, editor, and steering committee for their invaluable leadership, dedication and expertise in the completion of Jefferson’s self-study. The self-study process, which culminated with a team visit in which faculty, staff, students, and trustees participated in more than 95 individual and group interviews, will guide the campus in its work over the next eight years. By engaging in this evaluative peer review process, these individuals and the entire campus community demonstrated JCC’s commitment to the standards and to a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.”

In its report, the evaluation team recognized numerous significant accomplishments of Jefferson Community College and issued 12 commendations, among them cross-training practices for all of enrollment services, a 30% reduction of developmental coursework required for students, implementation of instructional admissions and financial aid videos on the college website, and bringing “high touch” educational planners on staff to assist students with the onboarding process. The evaluation team also noted the ingenuity of the College in building a central warehouse for assessment data and the use of advisory committees to review academic programs and recommend changes with respect to curriculum and pedagogy. Other commendations included those for the steadfast collaboration and implementation of the College’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and a comprehensive organizational structure study involving the entire campus, which resulted in a reorganization of roles and responsibilities spearheaded by Jefferson’s new president, Dr. Dan Dupee. The College’s Board of Trustees was further commended in the evaluation team’s report, stating they deserve “special recognition for their clear and forward-thinking vision, which consistently prioritizes student success and community needs. Their strong commitment to the success of the college and its broader community, evident in their strategic decision-making and oversight.”

JCC President Dr. Dupee states, “I am so very proud of this institution and every faculty and staff member who fulfills the College’s mission to educate, inspire and empower our students each and every day. Development of the self -study was an excellent means to identify what we do well and what we can continue to improve upon.  We embraced what we learned throughout the process and continue to hold each other accountable to maintaining high standards in the quality of education we provide our community.”  

Jefferson was initially accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 1969.  The College’s accreditation was last reaffirmed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 2015 and Jefferson will be required to re-apply for accreditation in 2031-2032. For more information on Middle States Commission on Higher Education, visit www.msche.org or contact communications@msche.org.