Northeastern will undergo a routine external evaluation this fall as part of the university’s 10-year reaccreditation, an important benchmark in higher education that helps ensure that schools meet certain quality standards.

Accreditation is voluntary, applies to the institution as a whole, and requires both a rigorous self-evaluation and an objective outside assessment conducted by an accrediting agency. The New England Commission of Higher Education will conduct Northeastern’s evaluation.

The university has been accredited since 1940, and was most recently reviewed in 2008.

In preparation for its evaluation for reaccreditation, Northeastern developed a comprehensive self-study focusing on nine standards. These standards include the university’s mission, students, organization and governance, institutional resources, educational effectiveness, and integrity and transparency.

Northeastern’s self-study was informed by a range of university data as well as feedback from the university-wide community. The university launched a website to provide more information about the process, the self-study, and how members of the Northeastern community and public can submit comments by mail or email for review by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Public comments submitted as part of the re-accreditation process should address substantive matters related to the university, and comments are not treated as confidential. The commission does not settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups.

The deadline to submit comments is Oct. 31, 2018.

Comments can be sent by mail or email to the following addresses:

Public Comment on Northeastern University

New England Commission of Higher Education

3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100

Burlington, MA 01803-4514

E-mail: cihe@neasc.org

The New England Commission of Higher Education is one of the seven regional accrediting commissions across the United States that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The commission accredits approximately 240 institutions in the six-state New England region.

Northeastern had previously been accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The New England Commission of Higher Education was formed as part of a recent restructuring, and is now the federally recognized regional accreditor for the region.

The evaluation culminates with campus visits by a team comprised of faculty and administrators from peer institutions. The team will visit Northeastern’s Seattle campus from Sept. 20 to 21, and the Boston campus from Oct. 28 to Oct. 31.