Standards for Accreditation and Working Groups

Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation is an expression of confidence in an institution’s mission and goals, its performance, and its resources. An institution is accredited when the educational community has verified that its goals are achieved through self-regulation and peer review. The extent to which each educational institution accepts and fulfills the responsibilities inherent in the process of accreditation is a measure of its commitment to striving for and achieving excellence in its endeavors.

The institution’s mission defines its purpose within the context of higher education, the students it serves, and what it intends to accomplish. The institution’s stated goals are clearly linked to its mission and specify how the institution fulfills its mission.

Standard I – Working Group
Dr. Nancy Viana Vázquez, Chair Faculty, College of Social Sciences
Dr. Agnes Bosch Irizarry, Co-Chair Dean, College of Humanities
Dr. Ana Helvia Quintero Academic Senator; Faculty, College of Natural Sciences
Dr. Rosa Rodríguez Benítez Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
Ms. Adria Bermúdez Ramírez Keyholder, UPR Licence Renovation
Ms. Sofia Calderón Student, College of Social Sciences
Ms. Faviola del Valle Interim President or Representative, General Student Council UPR-RP
Mr. Miguel Marín President or Representative, General Student Council UPR-RP (active until May 30, 2024)
Ms. Cynthia Rivera-Sánchez President, General Student Council UPR-RP (active until May 30, 2024)

Ethics and integrity are central, indispensable, and defining hallmarks of effective higher education institutions. In all activities, whether internal or external, an institution must be faithful to its mission, honor its contracts and commitments, adhere to its policies, and represent itself truthfully.

Standard II – Working Group

Dr. María Medina, ChairAcademic Senator; Faculty, College of Education
Dr. Carmen Figueroa Jiménez, Co-ChairAcademic Senator; Faculty, College of Business Administration
Prof. Oscar Miranda MillerFaculty, School of Law
Dr. Myra Pérez RiveraFaculty, College of Business Administration
Dr. Ada Lucía Verdejo CarriónFaculty, College of Education
Ms. Coralie Pacheco ValcárcelOmbudsman, Student Ombusman Office
Mr. Gabriel Reyes RiveraGeneral Student Council UPR-RP Representative

An institution provides students with learning experiences that are characterized by rigor and coherence at all program, certificate, and degree levels, regardless of instructional modality. All learning experiences, regardless of modality, program pace/schedule, level, and setting are consistent with higher education expectations.

Standard III – Working Group

Dr. Kevin S. CarrollFaculty College of Education, Chair
Dr. Teófilo Espada BrignoniFaculty, College of Social Sciences, Co-Chair
Mr. Julio Vallejo GonzálezStudent, College of General Studies
Dr. Milagros MartínezActing Assistant Dean for Development and Renewal of Academic Programs (consultant)

Dr. Rafael L. Irizarry Odlum

Faculty, Graduate School of Planning

Dr. Frances Ruiz Alfaro

Faculty, College of Social Sciences

Dr. Wanda Reyes Velázquez

Faculty, College of Communication and Information

Dr. Carmen Pacheco Sepúlveda

Director, Center for Academic Excellence

Dr. Luis Joel Donato Jiménez

Director, LabCAD (Laboratory for Computational Support to Faculty for Technologies Inclusion)

Across all educational experiences, settings, levels, and instructional modalities, the institution recruits and admits students whose interests, abilities, experiences, and goals are congruent with its mission and educational offerings. The institution commits to student retention, persistence, completion, and success through a coherent and effective support system sustained by qualified professionals, which enhances the quality of the learning environment, contributes to the educational experience, and fosters student success.

Standard IV – Working Group

Dr. Gloria Díaz Urbina, ChairDean of Students’ Affairs
Dr. Ivelisse Acevedo Moreno, Co-ChairCoordinator, Graduate Student Affairs

Dr. Zulyn Rodríguez Reyes, Co-Chair

Mrs. Sheila Lugo Amaral, Co-Chair

Registrar, Registrar’s Office (From April 2022 to May 5, 2023) Acting Registrar, Registrar’s Office (May 6, 2023 further)
Mrs. Viviana OrtízDirector, Office of Admissions
Dr. Javier Almeyda LoucilLibrary System Representative
Dr. Maria Jiménez ChafeyDirector, Department of Counceling for Student Development (DCODE)
Ar. Darwin MarreroAssistant Dean of Student’s Affairs
Prof. Sandra Sánchez GonzálezAssistant Dean of Student Affairs
Ms. Silvia Ayala TorresGeneral Student Council Representative (Cert. 067, Academic Year 2022-2023)
Assessment of student learning and achievement demonstrates that the institution’s students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their program of study, degree level, the institution’s mission, and appropriate expectations for institutions of higher education.

Standard V – Working Group
Dr.  Héctor Aponte Alequín, Chair Institutional Researcher, DIIA
Dr. Maribel Baéz Lebrón, Co-Chair Faculty, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Counceling
Dr. Ramaris Albert Trinidad Faculty, College of Communication and Information
Ms. Adriana Casillas Guevara Graduate student, College of Education
Ms. Yngrid Salazar Tavara Graduate student, College of Education
Mr. Angel N. Ortiz Montañez Undergraduate student, College of Education
Dr. Alejandro Álvarez Nieves Faculty, College of Humanities
Dr. Indira Luciano Montalvo Faculty, College of Social Sciences
Dr. Gisela Álvarez Pérez Faculty, College of Business Administration
Dr. Sarah Rosario Vázquez Coordinator of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Assessment, DIIA

The institution’s planning processes, resources, and structures are aligned with each other and are sufficient to fulfill its mission and goals, to continuously assess and improve its programs and services, and to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges.

Standard VI – Working Group

Dr. Basilio Arroyo Rivera, ChairDirector, Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting
Mr. Edgardo Díaz Labrador, Co-ChairDirector, Office of Finance
Dr. Aida L.  Jiménez TorresALO; Faculty College of Social Sciences
Dr. Nivia A. Fernández HernándezDirector, Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics; Faculty College of Natural Sciences
Ms. Aurora Sotográs SaldañaDirector, Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (DECEP)
Dr. Nancy Abreu BáezDirector, Library System
Ms. Yadymar Figueroa RiveraStudent Representative, Administrative Board
Ms. Will A. Gómez OrtízGeneral Student Council UPR-RP Representative
The institution is governed and administered in a manner that allows it to realize its stated mission and goals in a way that effectively benefits the institution, its students, and the other constituencies it serves. Even when supported by or affiliated with governmental, corporate, religious, educational system, or other unaccredited organizations, the institution has education as its primary purpose, and it operates as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy.

Standard VII – Working Group
Mrs. Anaisa López Cédres, Chair Acting Dean of Administration
Dr. Carlos Sánchez Zambrana, Co-Chair Dean, College of General Studies
Dr. Jorge Santiago Pintor Acting Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Dr. Reinaldo Berrios Acting Dean, Deanship for Graduate Studies and Research
Mrs. Rebeca Guadalupe Sanabria Acting Associate Dean of Administration
Mr. Rubén Rodríguez Ocasio Director, Division of Academic and Administrative Technologies
Mr. Delvin Caraballo Rodríguez Student Representative, Board of Governance, UPR System, College of Natural Sciences
Mr. Sebastian Morales Tirado General Student Council Representative (Cert. 068, Academic Year 2022-2023)
Mr. Angel Rodríguez Ramírez Graduate Student, College of Social Sciences
Dr. Luz Mayrim López Rodríguez Faculty, Graduate Program of Public Administration

Evidence Inventory – Working Group

Mrs. Sandra E. Flores Pabón, Chair

Analyst Electronic Systems, IPEDS Keyholder; Keyholder, UPR License Renovation

Mr. Jan Flores Guzmán

Coordinator, Technical Services to Users

Mrs. Adria Bermúdez Ramírez

Keyholder, UPR License Renovation

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