Dear York College Community:

Recently, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education began asking institutes of higher education under its supervision to provide Supplemental Information Reports (SIR) as a way to identify and focus on areas of concern for schools otherwise in good standing. As the York College Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, I am writing to inform you that the Commission has requested that York College prepare and submit a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) regarding its graduation rates. The following is an excerpt from the notification:

For the 2024 collection year, the Commission has analyzed the results for student achievement and annual reporting – FTE. The data collected from your institution suggests concerns with the following:

·     Student Achievement: Graduation Rates calculated at the institutional level by credential level.

o   Four-Year Institution: The Graduation Rate at 150% of the normal time (6-year graduation rate) available through the most recent AIU report is below 40%.

Therefore, the institution should respond to this request for information in a supplemental information report (SIR) by February 14, 2025, providing (1) graduation rates for the last two years (Standard IV) and (2) narrative analysis and evidence of the actions the institution has planned or has taken to address these concerns (Standard IV).

As a result, my office will begin preparing this report with input from key stakeholder groups. For some context related to this request, please note the following:

·          A supplemental information report does not denote non-compliance. The College remains fully accredited.

·          MSCHE also required a SIR for the 2023 reporting year, which we provided. Following submission of the SIR, no further action was required.

·          Below are trends in 6-year graduation rates at York College:

The College has launched several initiatives to support student success, including but not limited to an Academic Recovery Program, implementation of several initiatives from the National Institute of Student Success, and the addition of Tutor.com. We are confident that MSCHE will be satisfied with the work we are currently doing to elevate our graduation rates, and we look forward to working with our community to continue to identify and implement new and better strategies to further improve our graduation rates; we also look forward to continuing to work with MSCHE in coming years as the College might be expected to continue to report on its efforts on an annual basis, to demonstrate that our efforts are maintained and consistent in the coming years, until we have reached the threshold sought by MSCHE.

As per MSCHE guidelines, please note that the Commission makes available the opportunity to submit third party comments regarding the institution’s compliance with standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements in accordance with the Commission’s Third Party Comments Policy.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you.

Lori Hoeffner, PhD

MSCHE Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO)

Vice President, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning

CUNY York College

lhoeffner@PROTECTED

718.262.3806