NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has received its decennial accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education.

 

NECHE is a voluntary, peer-based, non-governmental membership association that promotes educational excellence and quality assurance to its more than 200 members, all of which are degree-granting, post-secondary institutions. NECHE, through its membership, has established Standards for Accreditation to ensure quality, innovation, and student success across the evolving higher education landscape. The commission itself consists of faculty and administrators from affiliated institutions as well as public members who have no institutional affiliation.

 

MCLA submitted its 10-year accreditation report (Self-Study) in October 2023, documenting its work to provide a high-quality, affordable, public liberal arts education. The content responds directly to the nine standards outlined by the Commission for all institutions undergoing reaccreditation. 

 

The Self-Study was the outcome of two years of careful, thoughtful work, with input from more than 70 members of the campus community, according to college officials. It covered everything from MCLA's mission and purpose to the academic program and student profile, to the physical plant and financial strength. Self-Study described the ways in which the college felt it meets the standards, identified areas of progress and improvement, and offered plans to continue moving the college forward in the next 10 years.

 

As part of the accreditation process, a NECHE team visited campus last November.

 

The college received a formal accreditation letter in May, which can be viewed in its entirety here.

 

MCLA remains on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Colleges at No. 7 in the U.S. News rankings and has risen to the Top College for Social Mobility in the state and No. 2 in the country for public institutions, and No. 22 for national liberal arts colleges.