Self-Study Design

Self-Study Design

MVCC Middle States Self-Study 2027 Logo

The self-study design serves as a blueprint for the accreditation process that outlines how MVCC will approach the self-study. It includes our intended goals, organizational structure, timeline, and how we will gather and analyze evidence. This design is reviewed and approved by MSCHE early in the process to ensure our approach is clear, focused, and aligned with accreditation standards.  MVCC submitted its SSD document in February 2025. 

Click here to View the Self-Study Design Document

Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) is the first community college established in New York State, founded in 1946. With campuses in Utica and Rome, MVCC serves over 19,000 credit and non-credit students annually through more than 80 academic programs and hundreds of workforce training opportunities. The College is deeply committed to accessibility, equity, and student success, offering pathways to careers or further education.

MVCC is a proud member of the SUNY system and supports its community through partnerships, cultural events, athletics, and programs like Guided Pathways, FastTrack, and College-Community-Connection (C3). The College also offers innovative initiatives in entrepreneurship, leadership development, correctional education, and support for students with disabilities.

Self-Study Priorities

MVCC's Strategic Planning Process involves a futurist council called HawkVision, an Annual Planning Council, a Diversity Council, a Strategic Enrollment Management Task Force, and an Institutional Effectiveness Council. MVCC’s Mission and Strategic Framework are measured through 10 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). MVCC's Strategic Framework has five pillars with related metrics that drive the annual plan. These are the College’s strategic goals, which will be used as institutional priorities for the MSCHE self-study process.

  • Priority 1: Increase Student Completion
  • Priority 2: Strengthen The Educational Pipeline
  • Priority 3: Advance Diversity and Inclusiveness
  • Priority 4: Develop The Workforce and Community
  • Priority 5: Improve Operational Excellence

Intended Outcomes and Approach

The major outcomes expected from the Self-Study are as follows:

  1. Demonstrate how MVCC meets and exceeds the revised MSCHE Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation and verify MVCC compliance with Accreditation-Relevant Federal Regulations.
  2. Identify areas of institutional strength and areas of institutional improvement to enable MVCC to better meet and exceed its five strategic goals.
  3. Identify both strengths and weaknesses within College initiatives that are specifically designed to meet the five strategic goals and share findings with the teams overseeing these initiatives.
  4. Provide opportunities for members of the College community to participate in the Self-Study process, making it as inclusive and transparent as possible so that stakeholders are better equipped to contribute to meeting the strategic goals.

Self-Study Approach

MVCC has chosen to adopt the comprehensive Self-Study review model and will utilize the lens of the College Mission Statement and Strategic Framework to focus the work to examine compliance with the Middle States Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation.

In fall 2023, MVCC formed a workgroup to review and organize documentation required for MSCHE accreditation. This team identified key resources aligned with the updated (July 2023) MSCHE Evidence Inventory. Their work will guide the Steering Committee and Working Groups, ensuring that evidence is collected, stored, and reported consistently. This collaborative effort supports a strong foundation for the self-study process and helps demonstrate compliance with accreditation standards.