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. Carlos González, Chair | From May 2022 to April 2023 |
Dr. Nancy Viana Vázquez, Co-Chair | Faculty, College of Social Sciences |
Dr. Ana Helvia Quintero | Academic Senator; Faculty, College of Natural Sciences |
Dr. Rosa Rodríguez Benítez | Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research |
Dr. Lorna Jaramillo Nieves | Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies and Research |
Dr. Agnes Bosch Irizarry | Dean, College of Humanities |
Dr. Mirerza González Vélez | Associate Dean, College of Humanities |
Ms. Cynthia Rivera-Sánchez | President, General Student Council |
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, Chair | Academic Senator; Faculty, College of Education |
Dr. Carmen Figueroa Jiménez, Co-Chair | Academic Senator; Faculty, College of Business Administration |
Prof. Oscar Miranda Miller | Faculty, School of Law |
Dr. Myra Pérez Rivera | Faculty, College of Business Administration |
Dr. Ada Lucía Verdejo Carrión | Faculty, College of Education |
Mrs. Coralie Pacheco Valcárcel | Ombudsman, Student Ombusman Office |
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. Frances Ruiz Alfaro, Chair | Faculty, College of Social Sciences |
Dr. Yahaira Torres Rivera, Co-Chair | Acting Dean of Distance Education Affairs |
Dr. Javier Carrión Guzmán | Faculty, College of Education |
Dr. Eunice Pérez Medina, Chair | Acting Associate Dean, College of General Studies |
Dr. Rafael L. Irizarry Odlum | Faculty, Graduate School of Planning |
Dr. Teófilo Espada Brignoni | 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, Chair | Dean of Students’ 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. Ángeles D. Méndez Concepción | Acting Director, Office of Admissions |
Dr. Ivelisse Acevedo Moreno | Coordinator, Graduate Student Affairs |
Dr. Javier Almeyda Loucil | Library System Representative |
Dr. Manuel Rivera | Department of Counseling for Student Development (DCODE) Representative |
Ar. Darwin Marrero | Assistant Dean of Student’s Affairs |
Prof. Sandra Sánchez González | Assistant Dean of Student Affairs |
Silvia Ayala Torres | General 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 | Acting Associate Dean, College of Education |
Dr. Vivian Olivera Santiago, Co-Chair | Institutional Coordinator for Programs’ Periodic Assessment |
Dr. Isabel Montañez Concepción | Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs; Director, Division of Institutional Research and Assessment |
Dr. Ramaris Albert Trinidad | Faculty, College of Communication and Information |
Adriana Casillas Guevara | Graduate student, College of Education |
Yngrid Salazar Tavara | Graduate student, College of Education |
Angel N. Ortiz Montañez | Undergraduate student, College of Education |
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, Chair | Director, Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting |
Mr. Edgardo Díaz Labrador, Co-Chair | Director, Office of Finance |
Dr. Aida L. Jiménez Torres | ALO; Faculty College of Social Sciences |
Dr. Nivia A. Fernández Hernández | Director, Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics; Faculty College of Natural Sciences |
Ms. Aurora Sotográs Saldaña | Director, Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (DECEP) |
Dr. Nancy Abreu Báez | Director, Library System |
Ms. Yadymar Figueroa Rivera | Student Representative, Administrative Board |
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. Nellie E. Torrado Pérez | Acting Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Faculty College of Education |
Dr. Reinaldo Berrios | Acting Dean, Deanship for Graduate Studies and Research |
Ms. Aurora Sotográs Saldaña | Executive Secretary, Administrative Board |
Dr. Claribel Cabán Sosa | Secretary, Academic Senate |
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 |
Sebastian Morales Tirado | General Student Council Representative (Cert. 068, Academic Year 2022-2023) |
Angel Rodríguez Ramírez | General Student Council Representative (Cert. 068, Academic Year 2022-2023) |
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 |