American University is engaging in a process to reaffirm accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This process began in Fall 2021 when a small group from AU attended a Middle States Self-Study Institute.  

Central to the re-accreditation process is the completion of a self-study. As of fall 2022, over 90 faculty, staff and students are involved in the self-study process. This process will culminate in a visit of Middle States peer representatives in spring 2024. Re-accreditation provides AU with an opportunity to reflect on its many accomplishments and to identify areas where further process is needed. This will be done within the context of Middle States standards and our own standards for excellence. 

The intended outcomes of the self-study are as follows: 

1. Demonstrate how the institution meets the commission’s standards for accreditation and requirements of affiliation
2. Demonstrate best practices in institutional assessment by analyzing how well the institution is meeting key institutional priorities related to its mission and strategic plan. Focus on continuous improvement by demonstrating how assessment has driven institutional change
3. Engage the AU community in a transparent and inclusive self-study process that enables the university to communicate its accomplishments as well as the areas where further work may be needed to better fulfill its mission. Advance the culture of continuous improvement by making recommendations based on the self-study findings
4. Coordinate and collaborate with those implementing the strategic plan and others in order to advance strategic priorities

This webpage provides information on AU’s self-study and on the overall re-accreditation process. We invite the entire AU community to learn more about the self-study and to contribute thoughts and suggestions.

You can access the Self-Study Draft Report here (pdf, accessble to AU community members only.)