Accreditation Process
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a process in which institutions of learning engage with a recognized accrediting organization to assess its educational quality and realization of its mission. Accreditation allows institutions to perform self-evaluation, demonstrating that they are in compliance with a set of quality measures and standards.
Information on Ocean County College’s accrediting body can be found on the College Facts and Policies page.
View our statement of accreditation status
For more information about Middle States visit the Middle States website.
The Self-Study is a transparent, inclusive, college-wide process of self-reflection that occurs over 24-36 months. The main outcomes of the self-study are:
- to demonstrate how the college meets the Commission’s Standards of Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation.
- to focus on continuous improvement in the attainment of the institution’s mission and its institutional priorities.
According to the Middle States website, “Self-study will require that the institution engage in an in-depth, comprehensive, and reflective assessment process to assess the institution’s educational quality and success in meeting its mission, as well as identify opportunities for improvement and innovation. Through this process, the institution must provide evidence and document compliance with the Commissions’ standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies, and procedures, and applicable federal compliance regulatory requirements.”
For detailed information on the self-study process, please review the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s self-study guide.
Middle States has seven (7) standards for accreditation and fifteen (15) Requirements of Affiliation. For an institution to gain accreditation, it must demonstrate that it meets these standards within the context of its mission as well as the requirements of affiliation.
View the Middle States standards and requirements of affiliation.
Priority 1– Empower Students to learn, engage, and achieve
Priority 2– Optimize and expand enrollment of all learners
Priority 3– Elevate organizational effectiveness
Priority 4– Expand relationships with external stakeholders
Ocean County College’s Institutional Priorities are identical to the four goals of the college’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan.
View the college’s Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan.
The process includes the below phases:
Pre-Planning: September 2019-Fall 2020
Self-Study Design: Fall 2020-March 2021
Self-Study Process: March 2021- Fall 2022
Evaluation Team Site Visit: Spring 2023
The MSCHE reaffirmation decision will be available in Summer 2023
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Core Leadership Team |
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| Alexa Beshara-Blauth, ALO and Executive Director for Institutional Planning, Effectiveness, & Compliance | Co-Chair |
| Heidi Sheridan, Dean of Arts and Humanities | Co-Chair |
| James Marshall, Assistant Director for Assessment | Co-Chair*, Evidence Coordinator and Team Lead for Standard V |
| Rosann Bar, Dean of Business & Social Sciences | Chief Editor |
| Connie Bello, Executive Assistant to the President & Secretary to Board of Trustees | Team Visit Schedule Coordinator |
| Jodi Heitmann, Executive Assistant to the President | Team Visit Schedule Coordinator |
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Steering Committee |
Additional Role |
| Maureen Conlon, Associate Director of Web Services |
Liaison |
| Mary Troy, Director of Institutional Research |
Liaison |
| Susan O’Connor, Program Director Perkins & Curriculum Compliance |
Liaison |
| Jennifer Fazio, Director of Student Life |
Liaison |
| Beth Brierley, Associate Professor, Speech and Theater |
Liaison |
| Heather Sciarappa, College Lecturer II, English |
Liaison |
| Linda Novak, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees |
Liaison |
| Heidi Sheridan, Dean of Arts and Humanities |
Co-Chair |
| Alexa Beshara-Blauth, ALO and Executive Director for Institutional Planning, Effectiveness, & Compliance |
Co-Chair |
| Jason Molloy, College Lecturer II, English | |
| Connie Bello, Executive Assistant to the President & Secretary to Board of Trustees | |
| Sara Winchester, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration | |
| Jerry Racioppi, Vice President of Student Affairs | |
| Joe Konopka, Vice President of Academic Affairs | |
| Henry Jackson, Executive Director of Academic Success | |
| Thomas Gialanella, Executive Director of School Relations | |
|
Standard I: Mission and Goals |
Additional Role |
| Sean O’Leary, Technical Director | |
| Janet Marler, College Lecturer II, Library | |
| John Lopez, Director of Safety & Security | |
| Maureen Conlon, Associate Director of Web Services | Liaison |
| Anthony Trump, Executive Director of Student Services | Team Lead |
| Vijay Ramdeen, College Lecturer II Chemistry | Team Lead |
| Matthew Kennedy, Associate Vice President Facilities Management & Construction | |
| Christine Healey, Director of Purchasing & Payables | |
|
Standard II, Ethics and Integrity |
Additional Role |
| Margaret Maghan, College Lecturer II, Psychology |
Team Lead |
| Christine B. Pericone (Spencer) Assistant Professor, Science |
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| Eileen Buckle, Director of Program Compliance |
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| Jan Kirsten, Executive Director of College Relations |
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| Laura F. Rickards, Director Center for Access & Equity |
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| Mary Troy, Director of Institutional Research |
Liaison |
| Rosann Bar, Dean of Business & Social Sciences |
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| Tracey Donaldson, Associate Vice President Human Resources |
Team Lead |
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Standard III, Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience |
Additional Role |
| Chad Sexton, College Lecturer II, Sociology |
Team Lead |
| Donna Rosinski, Director of Library Services |
Team Lead |
| Dr. Joe Konopka, Vice President of Academic Affairs |
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| Dr. William Rickert, Professor, Mathematics (until Spring 2021) |
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| Vandana Saini, College Lecturer II, Math |
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| Samantha Glassford, College Lecturer II, English |
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| Maysa Hayward, Associate Vice President International Programs |
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| Susan O’Connor, Program Director Perkins & Curriculum Compliance |
Liaison |
| Dr. Amir Sadrian, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs | |
| Mary Fennessy, Director of Program Services for Nursing & Health Science | |
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Standard IV, Support Student Experience |
Additional Role |
| Gary Shaffer, Assistant Professor, Digital Mass Media and Communications |
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| Nathaniel Bard, Instructor in Fine Arts |
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| Dr. Jerry Racioppi, Vice President of Student Affairs |
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| Dr. Kathryn Pandolpho, Director of Counseling & Student Development Services |
|
| Janine Emma, Registrar |
Team Lead |
| Jennifer Fazio, Director of Student Life |
Liaison |
| Sheenah Hartigan, Executive Director of Enrollment Services |
Team Lead |
| Veronica Guevara-Lovgren, Assistant Dean, Arts & Humanities |
|
| Henry Jackson, Executive Director of Academic Success | |
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Standard V, Educational Effectiveness Assessment |
Additional Role |
| Tracy Walsh, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences | |
| Rachel Doss-Block, Associate Director of E-Learning & Learning Enterprises |
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| Caterina Gibson, College Lecturer II, Anatomy |
Team Lead |
| Jason Molloy, College Lecturer II, English |
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| Dr. Elizabeth M. Brierley, Associate Professor, Speech and Theater |
Liaison |
| Eileen Schilling, Executive Director of Academic Assessment |
|
| James Marshall, Assistant Director of Assessment |
Team Lead |
| Eileen Garcia, Vice President of E-learning and Learning Enterprises | |
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Standard VI, Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement |
Additional Role |
| Catherine Pontoriero, Librarian, Reference Services |
Team Lead |
| Heather Sciarappa, College Lecturer II, English |
Liaison |
| Ben Broder, Lead Network & Information Security Administrator |
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| Mary Lancaster, Controller |
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| Sara Winchester, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration |
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| Ken Malagiere, Executive Director of Ocean County College Foundation |
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| Sylvia Rivello, Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) |
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| Yessika Garcia-Guzman, Executive Director of Financial Aid | |
| Kayci Clayton, Associate Director, Grant Administration | Team Lead |
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Standard VII, Governance, Leadership and Administration |
Additional Role |
| Marc LaBella, Associate Professor of Science |
Team Lead |
| Catherine Mancuso, College Lecturer II, Dance |
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| Lisa Gruber, Assistant Director, Employee Pensions and Benefits |
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| Carolyn Showalter, Assistant Dean Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) |
|
| Connie Bello, Executive Assistant to the President & Secretary to Board of Trustees |
|
| Linda Novak, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees |
Liaison |
| Robert Marchie, College Lecturer II, History |
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| Toni Clay, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs |
Team Lead |
* As of April 2022
The Self-Study Design Document is an official document approved by Middle States that will guide the college throughout the Self-Study process.
The January 2022 Colloquium sessions provided an opportunity for the campus to hear directly from Working Group members about the first draft of their chapters. Specifically, Working Group members:
- Presented their corresponding Middle States Standard, noting its associated criteria.
- Discussed general findings and how the College is going to demonstrate compliance with the standard.
- Highlighted any recommendations or ideas for innovation based on the Working Group’s analysis.
The sessions also allowed for feedback and discussion by attendees. View the sessions on the Faculty & Staff Portal.
We invite you to read the full draft Report and provide your feedback via this form. In addition, we will be hosting two open forums during the Fall Colloquium where we will review our next steps, highlight areas of innovation and improvement provided in the Report, and allow attendees to discuss their feedback.
View the full draft report and all of the evidence cited in the College’s Evidence Inventory.
Institutional Review will remain open through September 30.
View submitted Self-Study Report
View the Notification of Non-Compliance Action
Ocean County College has already taken immediate steps to address the Commission’s concerns and will develop further actions to demonstrate compliance. The College will submit a Monitoring Report, due January 16, 2024. A follow-up visit is anticipated in Spring 2024.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education makes available the opportunity to submit third-party comments regarding the institution’s compliance with standards for accreditation via their complaints page.
Dear Students,
I am honored to write to you as the new president of Ocean County College. My first day was July 1, and I have been spending time getting to know the people of the college and community. I look forward to getting to know all of you in the coming weeks and months.
I write to you today to make sure you are informed of some recent action by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting body for OCC. We received notice from the Commission on June 29, 2023, of what is called “Notification of Non-Compliance Action” which puts the college in a status of “Non-Compliance Warning.” What this means is that the Commission determined that we did not provide sufficient evidence that we meet the expectations of one of the seven standards. In this case, it was Standard VII, which focuses on governance, leadership, and administration. The College must submit what is called a monitoring report in January 2024 that provides documented evidence that we do meet this standard. Over the next months, you will witness the ways in which we will demonstrate that we do meet the expectations of the Commission with respect to the College administration, leadership, and governance.
Of course, no college wants to receive a warning notice from an accrediting body, but it is important for you to know several facts:
- The College remains accredited while on warning.
- This warning notice has no impact on the quality of the institution or the value of our academic endeavors. You are attending an outstanding college that is highly regarded throughout New Jersey.
- The College was found to be in compliance with six of the seven standards.
- The Commission determined that Ocean County College does an excellent job with respect to the quality of our curriculum, the support for student learning, the quality of instruction, assessment, and our financial resources.
- The College has a plan to immediately begin to address the concerns expressed about Standard VII.
I am confident in the College and extremely proud to be the president of OCC. I want you to share my confidence and pride in our institution. Please, do not hesitate to reach out to me with your questions and concerns. I can be reached at 732-255-0330 and pmonaco@ocean.edu.
Your president,
Pamela Monaco, Ph.D.