STATEMENT OF ACCREDITATION STATUS

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
Old Queens Building
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (732) 445-4636; Fax: (732) 932-8060
www.rutgers.edu

Most Recent Commission Action:

March 7, 2013:

To acknowledge the complex substantive change request and to include within the scope of the institution's accreditation the following changes: 1) the change in the established mission of the institution to incorporate the medical and health-related academic programs transferred to Rutgers University from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey by The New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act, viz., the programs offered by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Jersey Dental School, New Jersey Medical School, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, School of Public Health, School of Health Related Professions, School of Nursing, University Behavioral HealthCare and Cancer Institute of New Jersey with the programs of the New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey Dental School, School of Nursing, and School of Health Related Professions included provisionally pending an affiliation agreement between Rutgers University and University Hospital to continue the latter's support of these schools' academic missions; 2) changes in the governance structure of the University to include a new board of directors for Rutgers-Camden, advisory boards for Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers-Newark, and a joint board of governors for Rutgers-Camden and Rowan University; 3) the offering of the MD and DMD degrees and associate's degrees offered by the School of Nursing and the School of Health Related Professions, provisionally, pending approval by the Secretary of Higher Education of the State of New Jersey; and 4) additional locations at 40 East Laurel Road, Stratford, NJ 08084 and 1776 Raritan Road,Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. To request a monitoring report, due December 1, 2014, documenting evidence of 1) the completion and implementation of debt refinancing plans, including the financing of University Hospital debt (Standard 3); 2) State funding of University Hospital to ensure the integrity of the clinical and educational programs held there (Standard 3); 3) five-year financial forecasts related to a new strategic plan and including costs of IT integration (Standards 2 and 3); 4) the development and implementation of a long-term strategy for capital reinvestment to address critical deferred maintenance needs related to equipment and facilities transferred from UMDNJ to Rutgers (Standards 2 and 3); 5) further development and implementation of new governance structures (Standard 4); 6) the alignment of policies and procedures for faculty and staff, including those subject to negotiated agreements (Standards 4, 5 and 6). A small team visit will follow. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2013.

Brief History Since Last Comprehensive Evaluation:

June 26, 2008:

To reaffirm accreditation. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2013.

November 4, 2009:

To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the following additional location within the scope of the institution's accreditation: Neptune Township School District, 60 Neptune Boulevard, Neptune, NJ 07753. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2013.

May 5, 2011:

To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the additional location at Raritan Valley Community College, 118 Lamington Rd., North Branch, NJ 08876 within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2013.

June 28, 2011:

To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the additional location at Camden County Boathouse, 7050 North Park Drive, Pennsauken, NJ 08109 within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2013.

November 1, 2011:

To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to re-classify the instructional site at Burlington County College, 3331 Route 38, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 as an additional location and to include the location within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2013.

August 27, 2012:

To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the additional location at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, Two Convention Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The Commission requires written notification within thirty days of the commencement of operations at these additional locations. In the event that operations at the additional location do not commence within one calendar year from the approval of this action, approval will lapse. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2013.

Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2017 - 2018

Next Periodic Review Report: 2013

Date Printed: October 15, 2013

DEFINITIONS

Branch Campus - A location of an institution that is geographically apart and independent of the main campus of the institution. The location is independent if the location: offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential; has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and has its own budgetary and hiring authority.

Additional Location - A location, other than a branch campus, that is geographically apart from the main campus and at which the institution offers at least 50 percent of an educational program. ANYA ("Approved but Not Yet Active") indicates that the location is included within the scope of accreditation but has not yet begun to offer courses. This designation is removed after the Commission receives notification that courses have begun at this location.

Other Instructional Sites - A location, other than a branch campus or additional location, at which the institution offers one or more courses for credit.

Distance Education Programs - Yes or No indicates whether or not the institution has been approved to offer one or more degree or certificate/diploma programs for which students could meet 50% or more of their requirements by taking distance education courses.

EXPLANATION OF COMMISSION ACTIONS

An institution's accreditation continues unless it is explicitly suspended or removed. In addition to reviewing the institution's accreditation status at least every 5 years, actions are taken for substantive changes (such as a new degree or geographic site, or a change of ownership) or when other events occur that require review for continued compliance. Any type of report or visit required by the Commission is reviewed and voted on by the Commission after it is completed.

In increasing order of seriousness, a report by an institution to the Commission may be accepted, acknowledged, or rejected.

Levels of Actions:

Grant or Re-Affirm Accreditation without follow-up

Defer a decision on initial accreditation: The institution shows promise but the evaluation team has identified issues of concern and recommends that the institution be given a specified time period to address those concerns.

Postpone a decision on (reaffirmation of) accreditation: The Commission has determined that there is insufficient information to substantiate institutional compliance with one or more standards.

Continue accreditation: A delay of up to one year may be granted to ensure a current and accurate representation of the institution or in the event of circumstances beyond the institution’s control (natural disaster, U.S. State Department travel warnings, etc.)

Recommendations to be addressed in the next Periodic Review Report: Suggestions for improvement are given, but no follow-up is needed for compliance.

Supplemental Information Report: This is required when a decision is postponed and are intended only to allow the institution to provide further information, not to give the institution time to formulate plans or initiate remedial action.

Progress report: The Commission needs assurance that the institution is carrying out activities that were planned or were being implemented at the time of a report or on-site visit.

Monitoring report: There is a potential for the institution to become non-compliant with MSCHE standards; issues are more complex or more numerous; or issues require a substantive, detailed report. A visit may or may not be required.

Warning: The Commission acts to Warn an institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy when the institution is not in compliance with one or more Commission standards and a follow-up report, called a monitoring report, is required to demonstrate that the institution has made appropriate improvements to bring itself into compliance. Warning indicates that the Commission believes that, although the institution is out of compliance, the institution has the capacity to make appropriate improvements within a reasonable period of time and the institution has the capacity to sustain itself in the long term.

Probation: The Commission places an institution on Probation when, in the Commission’s judgment, the institution is not in compliance with one or more Commission standards and that the non-compliance is sufficiently serious, extensive, or acute that it raises concern about one or more of the following:

1. the adequacy of the education provided by the institution;
2. the institution’s capacity to make appropriate improvements in a timely fashion; or
3. the institution’s capacity to sustain itself in the long term.

Probation is often, but need not always be, preceded by an action of Warning or Postponement. If the Commission had previously postponed a decision or placed the institution on Warning, the Commission may place the institution on Probation if it determines that the institution has failed to address satisfactorily the Commission’s concerns in the prior action of postponement or warning regarding compliance with Commission standards. This action is accompanied by a request for a monitoring report, and a special visit follows. Probation may, but need not always, precede an action of Show Cause.

Suspend accreditation: Accreditation has been Continued for one year and an appropriate evaluation is not possible. This is a procedural action that would result in Removal of Accreditation if accreditation cannot be reaffirmed within the period of suspension.

Show cause why the institution's accreditation should not be removed: The institution is required to present its case for accreditation by means of a substantive report and/or an on-site evaluation. A "Public Disclosure Statement" is issued by the Commission.

Remove accreditation. If the institution appeals this action, its accreditation remains in effect until the appeal is completed.

Other actions are described in the Commission policy, "Range of Commission Actions on Accreditation."