Wheaton College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.).
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied though a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
The commission renewed Wheaton’s accreditation on October 8, 2019. The details of the commission’s decision are contained in its official notice of accreditation (pdf).
The college submitted its interim fifth-year report to the commission in January 2024. Interim reports require institutions to review how they: continue to meet the commission’s Standards for Accreditation; demonstrate progress made since the last comprehensive review; and project the institution’s areas of focus for the following five years leading up to the next comprehensive review.
On March 27, 2024, NECHE provided notice to Wheaton that the interim fifth-year report was accepted; that the next comprehensive evaluation will be scheduled for Spring 2029; and that the substantive change visit to assess the implementation of the B.S. in Nursing program scheduled for Spring 2025 was confirmed. The notice and interim fifth-year report are available through the Provost Office. (Login required.)
Comments
For more information on Wheaton’s accreditation, or to comment upon the process, please address your email to [email protected]
Individuals also may contact:
New England Commission of Higher Education
301 Edgewater Place, Suite 210, Wakefield, MA 01880
(781) 425 7785
E-Mail: [email protected]