Key Process Notes (from Application & Candidacy Review Cycle Procedures, eff. Sept. 1, 2020):
• A Commission staff liaison is assigned once the pre-application is materially complete. Liaison guidance does not guarantee candidate status — decisions are made through the Commission's multi-level process.
• The review team includes at least 2 peer evaluators from the Committee on Applicant and Candidate Institutions. UMF must affirm there is no conflict of interest with the proposed team roster within 10 calendar days.
• The entire application review may take up to one year. A delay of up to one year may be requested if additional evidence is unavailable.
• Institutions with current DEAC accreditation may qualify for an expedited process under the Addition or Change of Accreditor to MSCHE Procedures — confirm with MSCHE staff liaison.

• 1
  4-Year Minimum

  All trend data, samples, audits, and assessments must cover at least four years. This applies to student achievement, complaint records, board meeting minutes samples, financial audits, and assessment results.
• 2
  Disaggregation Required

  Student achievement data must be broken down by relevant populations: race/ethnicity, gender, first-gen, Pell, full/part-time, online vs. on-campus. For graduate-only institutions like UMF, use SAM, completion, earnings, and placement rates.
• 3
  Concise & Cross-Referenced Evidence

  MSCHE requires concise evidence — use appropriate excerpts or isolate specific pages rather than submitting lengthy documents. A single document may be assigned to multiple standards in the Evidence Inventory. Each exhibit must be cited and explained in the narrative.
• 4
  IPEDS Alignment / Non-IPEDS Alternative

  Use IPEDS definitions wherever specified. Non-IPEDS institutions (UMF) must explain alternative metrics — Student Achievement Measure (SAM), Outcomes Measures (OM), placement rates, earnings data — and document the methodology in the narrative.
• 5
  FERPA / Privacy

  Redact all PII before uploading. Follow small-numbers standards when disaggregating data (privacy protection when enrollment is less than 20 students). All accreditation materials are treated as confidential by Commission representatives.
• 6
  Narrative vs. Evidence

  Evidence supports the self-study narrative but does not replace it. UMF must write a brief narrative describing compliance with each standard requirement. Supporting evidence clearly and concisely documents the narrative — all evidence must be explicitly cross-referenced.
• 7
  Federal Regulations

  Items marked with federal regulation citations (34 CFR) have specific compliance verification requirements. Key regulations: §602.16 (compliance standards), §602.19 (monitoring/reevaluation), §668.8 (credit hours), §668.43 (disclosures), §602.28 (good standing).
• 8
  No Implied Status During Pre-Application

  UMF may not imply it is a candidate or accredited member of MSCHE during the pre-application phase. Any public notification must use the approved MSCHE language (from Pre-Application Eligibility Procedures §II.M.3) and must note that UMF is only "in the process of determining eligibility to apply."

• 1
  Open the Checklist

  Open MSCHE_Accreditation_Checklist.xlsx. Start with the Dashboard tab to see overall readiness, then work through each Std tab (I through VII).
• 2
  Update Status Dropdowns

  Work through each row and update the Status column (column H). The Dashboard updates live via COUNTIF formulas as you mark items.

  Not Started In Progress Missing Ready N/A
• 3
  Assign Owners and Target Dates

  Fill in the Responsible Party (column I) and Date Verified (column J) for each compliance item. One owner per row — accountability drives completion.
• 4
  File Documents in Exhibit Folders

  Save completed evidence in MSCHE Exhibits / [Standard] / using the exact file name shown in column G. Update the Exhibits Index tab status to Ready once filed.
• 5
  Upload to MSCHE Portal

  Upload exhibits to the MSCHE Evidence Inventory portal, organized by standard, criterion, and requirement number. If one document covers multiple standards, note all in the Notes column and upload once.
• 6
  Prepare ARR Narrative

  Write a brief narrative for each standard describing compliance. Use the Suggested Response Guide column in each Std tab to draft responses. Replace all [BRACKETED PLACEHOLDERS] with UMF-specific data before submission. All supporting evidence must be explicitly cross-referenced in the narrative.
• 7
  Log Evaluator Notes During the Visit

  Use the Evaluator Notes tab during the evaluation visit to capture questions, responses, and follow-up items in real time. The Team Chair conducts an oral exit report — this report must not differ materially from the draft Team Report.