Middle States at Atlantic Cape
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is an internationally recognized organization whose offices are located in Philadelphia, PA. MSCHE evaluates degree-granting institutions of higher education and helps these institutions improve their programs and services. The degrees we grant at Atlantic Cape would have little meaning without the stamp of approval from the Middle States. Many of our students transfer to four-year schools and go on to graduate degrees, and because our college is accredited by Middle States, those other colleges and universities do not question the validity of our graduates' credits.
The academic programs and services provided at Atlantic Cape are reviewed every eight years to ensure they meet the standards set by the Middle States for all degree-granting institutions in their geographic region. Middle States reaffirmed Atlantic Cape’s accreditation in June 2018 after the College submitted a Self-Study and underwent an Evaluation Team Visit conducted by representatives from peer institutions. The Middle States standards are outlined in their publication, Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation Fourteenth Edition.
Atlantic Cape is now preparing for our next reaccreditation process. The president and leadership identified co-chairs for the Steering Committee to coordinate the self-study efforts. Additionally, Atlantic Cape’s President requested volunteers, among faculty and staff, to serve on the steering committee and working groups. Working groups will begin convening in the spring of 2025.
The steering committee comprises steering committee co-chairs, co-chairs of each working group, and cabinet members.
Middle States Updates
On Wednesday, April 2nd, Atlantic Cape Community College hosted Dr. Tiffany Lee, Vice President of Institutional Field Relations for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) at the Mays Landing campus for a Self-Study Preparation Visit.
Dr. Lee met with President Dr. Barbara Gaba, members of the Board of Trustees, our Middle States Steering Committee, and students, faculty, and staff to offer guidance and feedback on our plans for completing the self-study process for reaccreditation.
Under the leadership of Dr. Vanessa O’Brien-McMasters, and with the support of Co-Chairs Dr. Gwen Setley and Sherwood Taylor, a Steering Committee and Working Groups comprised of faculty and staff from across the college have begun compiling evidence that aligns to the MSCHE Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. Dr. Lee praised our efforts thus far and provided concrete feedback on our planned approach to addressing our institutional priorities through self-study. We are honored that Dr. Lee also indicated her intent to recommend our Self-Study Design as an example for the next cohort of institutions going through the self-study institute!
Stay tuned for updates on the MSCHE reaccreditation process in upcoming issues of The Communicator or by visiting https://www.atlanticcape.edu/about/middle-states.
Atlantic Cape Community College kicked off its nearly three-year-long Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) reaccreditation process on January 31 with a gathering in the nursing lecture hall. College leadership, staff and faculty who have volunteered for this effort convened as President Dr. Barbara Gaba began the day by speaking to the tremendous importance of the work that lies ahead. “This is us telling our story to Middle States, by looking in the mirror and saying this is what we have accomplished these past eight years, how we have evolved, what issues have we faced, etc?”
Over the next two years, Atlantic Cape’s Reaccreditation Self-Study Team, comprised of a Steering Committee led by Dr. Vanessa O’Brien-McMasters, Dr. Gwen Setley and Sherwood Taylor, will lead seven working groups, which are led by two co-chairs and a cabinet liaison, responsible for assessing and demonstrating the College’s compliance, through the accumulation of documented evidence, with MSCHE’s Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. Stay tuned for updates on the MSCHE reaccreditation process in upcoming issues of The Communicator.
Middle States Steering Committee
Dr. Vanessa O'Brien-McMasters, Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness & Chief Strategy Officer
Dr. Gwen Setley, Director of Academic Program Effectiveness
Sherwood L. Taylor, Senior Director, Workforce Development
(Pictured left to right: Dr. Christopher Carbone, Nicole Thompson, Janet Marler, Crista Golden, Richard Russell, and Joseph Sheridan; not pictured: Laura Batchelor and Connor McHugh)
Standard I: Mission & Goals
- Co-Chair: Janet Marler, Assistant Professor, English
- Co-Chair: Richard Russell, Associate Professor, English
- Cabinet Liaison: Laura Batchelor, Chief Marketing Officer
- Dr. Christopher Carbone, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Crista Golden, Bursar
- Connor McHugh, College Recruiter
- Chef Joseph Sheridan, Director, Academic of Culinary Arts and Hospitality
- Nicole Thompson, Advertising & Marketing Manager
Standard II: Ethics & Integrity
- Co-Chair: Nancy Porfido, Judicial Officer and Student Advocacy Coordinator
- Co-Chair: David Zuba, Public Relations Manager and Copywriter
- Cabinet Liaison: Laura Batchelor, Chief Marketing Officer
- Dr. Hana Bajes, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Carol A. Fraone, College Recruiter
- Danielle Nelson, Assistant Bursar
- Kayla Scannell, Interim Registrar
- Dominic Tullio, Assistant Director, Financial Aid
(Pictured left to right, standing: Jerome Ingram, Dr. Jolie Master, Melissa Hatty, seated: Susan DePhilippis, Dr. Francis Toriello, Michelle Perkins, Nicholas Alexander; not pictured: Dr. Josette Katz)
Standard III: Design & Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
- Co-Chair: Jerome Ingram, Assistant Director, First-Year Experience
- Co-Chair: Dr. Jolie Master, Interim Dean STEM & Associate Professor, Biology
- Cabinet Liaison: Dr. Josette Katz, Sr. Vice President, Academic Affairs
- Nicholas Alexander, Senior Manager, Digital Accessibility CFA
- Susan DePhilippis, Professor, World Languages; Chair of the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence
- Melissa Hatty, Assistant Director, Workforce Development Operations
- Michelle Perkins, Director, Instructional Technology
- Dr. Francis Toriello, Assistant Professor, Physics and Chemistry
(Pictured left to right, front row: Janet Hauge, Stacey Zacharoff, Madeline Barrows; back row: Jamal Edwards, Gwen McIntyre, Dr. Terri-Lynn Hamby; not pictured: Dr. Natalie Devonish, Tonya Cooper, and Tasha Rivera)
Standard IV: Support of the Student Learning Experience
- Co-Chair: Janet Hauge, Director of Academic Support Services
- Co-Chair: Stacey Zacharoff, Dean of Students
- Cabinet Liaison: Dr. Natalie Devonish, Vice President, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
- Madeline Barrows, Assistant Professor, Psychology
- Tonya Cooper, Manager, Foundation and Restricted Accounting
- Jamal Edwards, Director, Athletics
- Dr. Terri-Lynn Hamby, Director, Science Labs
- Gwen McIntyre, Professor, World Languages
- Tasha Rivera, Director, One-Stop Enrollment and Recruitment
(Pictured left to right, standing: Myrna Morales-Keklak, Jennifer Martucci, Dr. Denise-Marie Coulter, Janice Burg-Levi (on screen,) Dr. Raymond Keller, Wallace Maines; seated: Dr. Beth Sanders-Rabinowitz; not pictured: Dr. Josette Katz)
Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
- Co-Chair: Dr. Denise-Marie Coulter, Sr. Dean, Liberal Studies & Culinary Arts
- Co-Chair: Dr. Beth Sanders-Rabinowitz, Department Chair & Associate Professor, Social Sciences
- Cabinet Liaison: Dr. Josette Katz, Sr. Vice President, Academic Affairs
- Janice Burg-Levi, Adjunct Instructor
- Dr. Raymond Keller, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Wallace Maines, Director, Paramedic Sciences & EMT Training
- Jennifer Martucci, Senior Manager, Institutional Research
- Myrna Morales-Keklak, Dean, Nursing & Health Sciences
(Pictured left to right, standing: Michael Bolicki, Dr. Augustine Nigro, Matthew Miller, Krista McConnell, Sandi Greco, John Piazza; seated: Sondra Ritondo, Emily Smykla; not pictured: Dominic Sambucci)
Standard VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
- Co-Chair: Dr. Augustine Nigro, Department Chair & Professor, Arts & Humanities
- Co-Chair: Matthew Miller, Senior Manager, Institutional Research and Assessment
- Cabinet Liaisons: John Piazza, Chief Information Officer; Dominic Sambucci, Chief Business Officer
- Michael Bolicki, Professor, Social Science
- Sandi Greco, Senior Director, Project Management
- Krista McConnell, Director, Cape May County Campus and Community Outreach
- Sondra Ritondo, Budget Analyst
- Emily Smykla, Senior Manager, Grants
(Pictured left to right, standing: Christopher Mularz, Dr. Karl Giulian, Luis Montefusco, Stephanie Davies, Dr. Laurie Lemons; seated: Rosemary Reidy, Joy Little; not pictured: Jean McAlister)
Standard VII: Governance, Leadership, & Administration
- Co-Chair: Dr. Karl Giulian, Area Coordinator and Associate Professor, Business
- Co-Chair: Luis Montefusco, Senior Director, Institutional Research, Assessment, & Planning
- Cabinet Liaison: Jean McAlister, Chief of Staff & Chief Advancement Officer
- Stephanie Davies, Supervisor, Custodial & Building Services Operations
- Dr. Laurie Lemons, Associate Professor, Chemistry
- Joy Little, Controller
- Christopher Mularz, Advancement Officer/Associate Director, Foundation
- Rosemary Reidy, Executive Assistant, Office of the President and Board of Trustees
(Pictured left to right: Dr. Vanessa O’Brien-McMasters, Victoria DeLaurentis, Sandra Criscione, Jeffrey Wenzel, Leslie Jamison)
Verification of Compliance
- Co-Chair: Sandra Criscione, Executive Director, Innovation & Academic Resources
- Co-Chair: Jeffrey Wenzel, Director, Restricted Accounting
- Cabinet Liaison: Leslie Jamison, Chief Financial Officer
- Victoria DeLaurentis, Director, Financial Aid
Contact Information
E-mail your Steering Committee Co-Chairs at middlestates@atlanticcape.edu