ACCREDITATION & STATE AUTHORIZATION
NECHE Accreditation 2026
Accreditation & State Authorization
New England Commission for Higher Education (NECHE) Accreditation 2026
In fall 2026, the University of Connecticut will undergo a comprehensive review by a visiting team from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The review will evaluate the University’s compliance with the NECHE Standards for Accreditation and ensure that UConn continues to provide a high-quality education to all students across all campuses and instructional modalities.
UConn’s institutional accreditation applies to all University locations, including Storrs, Avery Point, Hartford, the Health Center, the School of Law (Hartford), Stamford, and Waterbury.
The review process centers on a University-wide self-study that will be submitted in early summer 2026. The self-study reflects the revised NECHE Standards for Accreditation, demonstrates institutional compliance with key standards, and documents UConn’s ongoing processes for continuous improvement.
Campus Engagement and Participation
Members of the University community will have opportunities to participate in the accreditation process. Public workshops planned for Spring 2026 will provide opportunities to review and comment on drafts of the self-study.
During the Fall 2026 site visit, the NECHE visiting team will also meet with representatives from across the University community and multiple campus locations.
Self-Study Organization
Additional information about the self-study process, including the Standards committees and opportunities for participation, is available on the UConn NECHE 2026 community SharePoint site.
The Steering Committee includes the co-chairs of the overall committee, University leadership, and the co-chairs of the five Standards committees.
Steering Committee Co-Chairs
Sarah Croucher, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Office of the Provost
Philip Hunt, Chief of Staff, Office of the President
Shinae Jang, Professor in Residence, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Leslie Shor, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School
Standard One: Mission, Organization, Governance, and Planning
Co-Chairs
Sarah Croucher, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Office of the Provost
Philip Hunt, Chief of Staff, Office of the President
Shinae Jang, Professor in Residence, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Leslie Shor, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School
Committee Members
Jennifer Dineen, Associate Professor In-Residence (CLAS)
Joseph McDougald, Professor In-Residence (Law)
Maureen Armstrong, Associate Dean of Student
Manuela Wagner, Associate Dean for Humanities and Faculty Inclusion and Success (CLAS)
Mansour Ndiaye, Assistant Dean (CLAS)
Standard Two: Academic and Co-Curricular Programs and Students
Co-Chairs
Philip Hritcko, Dean, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Tadarrayl Starke, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Student Success
Standard Three: Institutional Resources
Co-Chairs
Dan Schwartz, Vice Provost for Academic Operations
Reka Wrynn, Interim Vice President for Finance
Committee Members
Heather Ryan, Associate Director for Capital Budget and Special Projects, BPIR
Jeff Gagnon, Executive Advisor for Enrollment Analytics & Fiscal Officer, SLE
Renee Boggis, Associate Vice President, HR
Haleh Ghaemolsabahi, Interim Associate Vice President for Information Technology, ITS
Eric Kruger, Vice President for Facility Services and University Planning, Facilities/UPDC
Gwen Tarbox, Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Darshana Sonpal, University Safety
Marc Hatfield, Assistant Registrar, Office of the Registrar
Anne Langley, Dean, UConn Library
Jason Irizarry, Dean and Professor, NEAG
Jennifer Orlikoff, Campus Dean & Chief Administrative Officer, RCs/Stamford
Standard Four: Educational Effectiveness and the Success of All Students
Co-Chairs
Lauren Schlesselman, Executive Director, Academic Program Assessment
Daniel Burkey, Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, and Castleman Term Professor in Engineering Innovation
Committee Members
Liza Boritz, Director of Planning, Assessment, and Evaluation, Student Life and Enrollment
Craig Calvert, Assistant Professor in Residence, Director of Management & Engineering for Manufacturing, Business
Jamie Kleinman, Associate Professor in Residence, Psychological Sciences/CCC
Laura Yahn, Senior Institutional Research Analyst-Student Data and Enrollment, SERU, BPIR
Sally Chamberland, Assistant Director, Academic Program Assessment, Office of Academic Program Assessment
Standard Five: Integrity, Transparency, and Public Disclosure
Co-Chairs
Jeff Hines, Vice President of Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Cyndi Costanzo, Assistant Vice President for Student Life