Hilbert College Logo
  • Info For
  • Search
  • Office Directory
Info For
  • Alumni
  • Parents
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Current Students
  • COVID-19
  • Online
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Graduate Programs
  • About
    • Hilbert 2025 | Strategic Plan
    • Mission & Vision
    • Office of the President
    • Conferences & Events
    • News
    • Fast Facts
    • History & Traditions
    • Visiting Hilbert
    • Virtual Tour
    • Employment & Benefits
    • Consumer Disclosure
    • Notice of Non-Discrimination
    • Institutional Research & Assessment
    • Directory
    • Ten Things About Hilbert
    • State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
    • Accreditation
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Pre-Professional Programs
    • Master's Programs
    • Online Opportunities
    • Dual Enrollment Program
    • Advising
    • Summer Sessions
    • Student Services
    • Research
    • Library
    • Commencement
    • Value of Hilbert Education
    • Academic Catalog
    • Honors Program
    • Hilbert Blueprint
    • Academic Calendar
    • Academic Policies & Procedures
    • Liberal Learning Outcomes
    • Class Cancellations
    • Liberty Partnership Program
  • Admissions
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • International Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
    • Accepted Students
    • Schedule a Visit
    • Apply to Hilbert
    • Summer Sessions
  • Costs & Aid
    • Undergrad Financial Aid & Costs
    • Graduate Financial Aid & Costs
    • Making a Payment
    • Apply for a Student Loan
    • Financial Literacy Resources
    • Refund Policies
    • Financial Aid FAQs
    • Consumer Information
  • Student Life
    • Health & Wellness Center
    • Student Activities
    • Residence Life
    • Campus Safety
    • Campus Dining
    • Events Calendar
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Campus Ministry
    • Counseling Center
    • Veterans
    • Student Services
    • Bookstore
    • Service Learning
    • New Student Orientation
    • Student Handbook
    • International Education
    • Army ROTC
  • Athletics
  • Alumni
    • Ways to Give
    • News & Updates
    • Events
  • Visits
Give Now
  • Home/
  • About/
  • Accreditation/
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Accreditation

Accreditation Renewal 

Hilbert College is working towards renewal of its Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation status.  

The first part of the MSCHE process includes a two-year institutional self-review to explore key components of the College, including student learning experiences, institutional mission and goals, our organizational governance, and more. The self-study requires an institution to engage in a collaborative process to identify institutional priorities, assess progress in fulfilling them, and to reflect on opportunities for improvement and innovation.  

MSCHE provides opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and members of the public to submit comments regarding the qualifications for accreditation of its member institutions.  

Self-Study Design 

View the Middle States Self-Study Design here. A Hilbert email address is required to access this link. This document has been submitted to MSCHE.   

Background

Why the MSCHE study is important  

Accreditation has a direct impact on the College. As an MSCHE accredited institution, Hilbert secures its designation as a qualified institution of higher learning, and signals our priorities of continual improvement into the future.  

MSCHE accreditation grants the College and its students access to federal funding through resources such as Federal Financial Aid through Title IV.  

For more information about Hilbert College’s accreditation, please visit the MSCHE website.  

Standards for Evaluation 

Standards-based self-study approach 
The College’s self-study will be organized by the standards for MSCHE accreditation under the fourteenth edition. Each standard has a dedicated working group focused on report delivery and meaningful impact and overlaps with the Hilbert College’s strategic planning efforts.

  • Mission and Goals 
  • Ethics and Integrity
  • Design and Delivery of the Student Experience
  • Support of the Student Learning Experience
  • Educational Effectiveness Assessment
  • Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
  • Governance, Leadership, and Administration
  • Compliance with Accreditation-Relevant Federal Regulations  

Committee Members   

Each of the self-study standards has its own dedicated committee, working diligently on ensuring proper representation in the report. In addition, the Steering Committees provide overarching leadership and support for the report.  

 

Steering Committee Leadership Team

  • Kristine Lynn Still, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice President
  • Katelyn Letizia, Ed.D., Assistant Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Registrar
  • Donald E. Vincent, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Digital Media & Communication

Mission and Goals Committee

  • Chair: Melissa Laidman, Public Services & Instruction Librarian 
  • Diedre Debose, Ed.D., Vice President of Mission and Equity
  • Krisi Kopp, Director of Academic Operations
  • Kate Scibilia, Associate Registrar
  • John Sullivan, Assistant Professor of Intelligence and Data Analysis

Ethics and Integrity Committee

  • Chair: Colleen Kumiega, Professor of Human Services, Chair of Behavioral Sciences  
  • Grace Adams, Director of Residence Life & Community Standards  
  • Ryan Caster, Interim Chief Financial Officer   
  • John Culhane Jr., J.D., Associate Professor of Criminal Justice   
  • Alex Gill, Director of Student Involvement   
  • Lauren Gill, Assistant Dean of Admissions
  • Shelby Russell, Director of Creative Services

Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience Committee 

  • Chair: Caitlin Szalkowski, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology 
  • Kristen Connolly, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice  
  • Tara Kazmark, Assistant Professor of English, Writing Coordinator  
  • Jenelle Lukasik, Associate Professor of Mathematics 
  • Amy Smith, Ph.D., Interim Academic Dean, Professor of English, Director of Honors  
  • Rachel Wozniak, Assistant Vice President of Student Life, Career Development, Service Learning & Community Engagement 

Support of the Student Experience Committee

  • Co-Chair: Bobbie Bilotta, Director of Human Resources  
  • Co-Chair: Rachel Wozniak, Assistant Vice President of Student Life - Career Development, Service Learning & Community Engagement 
  • Johnny Black, Head Men’s Soccer Coach  
  • Todd Harris, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
  • Deb McLoughlin, Associate Vice President for Student Success  
  • Tim Seil, Director of Athletics 

Educational Effectiveness Assessment Committee

  • Co-Chair: Habibul Bakht, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Chair of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 
  • Co-Chair: Charles Ernst, Ph.D., Professor of English, Director of Center for Excellence in Learning 
  • John D’Amico, Professor of Business, Chair of Business 
  • Laura Dannebohm, J.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Criminal Justice  
  • David Reis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Chair of Liberal Studies, Director of First Year Experience 
  • Sharon Sisti, Associate Professor of Human Services 
  • Megan Witzleben, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English

Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement Committee

  • Co-Chair: Jessica Hoffman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology 
  • Co-Chair: Jack Napier, HCG Project Management Specialist
  • Patrick Johnson, Associate Professor of Accounting  
  • Julie Kusmierz, Ph.D., Professor of Human Services 
  • LeeAnn Petronsky, Director of Annual Fund and Alumni Engagement 
  • Jeremy Trumble, Chief Information Officer 

Governance, Leadership, and Administration Committee

  • Chair: Herb Kauderer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English 
  • Dana Bagwell, Ph.D., Professor of Graduate Studies 
  • Laura Edholm, Associate Athletic Director, Title IX Coordinator, Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach  
  • Katie Halper, Assistant Director of Enrollment Operations 
  • MaryAnn Hobar, Associate Professor of Crime Scene Investigation  
  • Kathleen Christy, Vice President for Institutional Advancement 
  • Gordon Snow, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy 

Compliance with Accreditation-Relevant Federal Regulations Committee

  • John Wise, Ph.D., Director of Institutional Research and Assessment 

Alignment with Strategic Plan   

Alignment of Institutional Priorities with MSCHE Standards for Accreditation

Middle States Standards   Strengthen a culture that is inclusive, equitable, diverse, and accessible Enhance connections both within the Hilbert community and with external communities  Identify how ongoing assessment of processes can be used to increase student success and retention 
Standard I: Mission and Goals  X   X  X
 Standard II: Ethics and Integrity   X  X  
 Standard III: Design and Delivery of Student Learning Experience   X  X  X
Standard IV: Support of the Student Experience   X  X  X
Standard V: Education Effectiveness Assessment   X    X
Standard VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement  X     X
 Standard VII: Governance, Leadership, and Administration  X  X  

Timeline

Below lists the Self-Study project timeline, including important deliverables and future key projects.  

 
2024
  • May - Draft Self-Study Design; Submit Self-Study Design; Self-Study Preparation Visit with VP Liaison
  • June - Revision of Self-Study design based on feedback and review of design
  • July/August - Finalize Self-Study Design
  • September - Begin Self-Study Data Collection
  • November/December - Evaluate data, identify further evidence collection needs, and submit first outline 
2025
  • January/February -  First draft of Working Group chapters using report guidelines
  • February - Review of first draft of Working Group chapters by Co-Chairs and Steering Committee
  • March - Second draft of Working Group chapters using report guidelines; Review of second draft of Working Group chapters by Co-Chairs and Steering Committee
  • April - Complete Working Group chapters and submit to Co-Chairs; Co-Chairs finalize draft of Self-Study and share with Steering Committee
  • May -  Self-Study draft shared with the campus community
  • June - Collection and assessment of campus community feedback 
  • July -  Revision of Self-Study draft based on campus community feedback
  • August - Submit Self-Study draft to Middle States Team Chair; Final Self-Study report shared with the campus community
  • November -  Final Self-Study report and supporting documents uploaded to MSCHE portal 
2026
  • February/March -  Prepare for and host on-site evaluation team visit
  • April/May -  Receive draft report, submit corrections, submit evaluation team report, submit formal institutional response
  • June - Middle States determines action 
  • Accreditation
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Apply Now

    Application forms, procedures and additional information

  • Schedule A Visit

    There are many ways to experience
    Hilbert for yourself

  • Request Info

    Learn more about the programs that interest you

Hilbert College Logo
  • Conference & Event Center
  • Campus Ministry
  • Title IX
  • Veterans
  • Careers
  • Diversity
  • Request a Transcript

For accessibility help, contact Debra McLoughlin at dmcloughlin@hilbert.edu or call (716) 926-8826.
For media inquiries, contact media@hilbert.edu.

Hilbert Wordmark Tagline and Footer 
5200 South Park Avenue
Hamburg, New York 14075
(716) 649-7900 | info@hilbert.edu | Privacy Policy

Monday - Thursday from 8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm

 

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Flickr
  • Twitter
Students Faculty/Staff Blackboard Login