“认证是一种同行评议的过程，自20世纪初以来，教育界一直采用这种方式进行自我监管. 这是一个自愿的过程，旨在加强和维持高等教育的质量和完整性, 使其值得公众信任. Institutions choose to apply for accredited status, 一旦获得认证, 他们同意遵守其认证组织的标准，并通过对自己的改进负责来规范自己.” (2010, Middle States Commission of Higher Education)

认证 means that standards of quality and excellence have been met. 中部州高等教育委员会(MSCHE)认可的大学的核心原则包括机构的多样性, 关注学生的学习体验, emphasis on institutional assessment and assessment of student learning, and continuous institutional 改进 and innovation.

认证要求校园有资格参加第四章联邦财政援助计划.

的 Self-Study can also provide important recommendations for 改进 and innovation, 他们都是由机构自我认定的, and recommended by the visiting peer-review Team.

With the success of students being our highest priority, 杰纳西社区学院致力于不断改进其教育项目, 资源, 设施, 和服务. Reaccreditation includes an extensive evaluation of how well the college’s programs, 资源, 设施 和服务 fulfill its mission to foster student success.

的 reaccreditation process takes place every 8 years, and involves two stages of evaluation: a campus-wide Self Study, and an on-site evaluation by a team of experts from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). 重新认证过程是评估我们在多大程度上实现了我们机构的共同愿景的一个机会，也是规划海湾合作委员会和海湾合作委员会未来发展方向的一个起点 建立对 更美好的校园社区.

GCC的 战略计划 outlines the institutions mission, vision, values, promise and goals.

的 Middle States Commission on Higher Education(MSCHE) is a voluntary membership association that “defines, 维护, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, 学生的数量, 和资源.” As a participating institution, GCC engages in a self-study process every 8 years.

Representatives from MSCHE will hold a series of informational meetings with faculty, staff and students to get their feedback about GCC的 performance in a variety of areas. GCC的 five campus centers will also participate.

MCHE团队评估了自学报告中的分析，并借鉴了从访问访谈中获得的见解. 由于自学报告和现场评估访问是经过仔细分析的结果，并纳入了多个利益相关者的反馈, 该报告有可能在数年内影响机构决策.

根据MSCHE, “的 Commission’s accreditation process ensures institutional accountability, 自我评估, 改进, 在机构使命的背景下，通过同行评议和严格应用标准进行创新.”

的 Self-Study should be an honest appraisal of the institution, 这是证据驱动的, and consistently demonstrates the use of assessment (throughout each standard or chapter). 它提供了一个机会，让多个利益相关者参与对学院的优势和改进和创新领域的广泛分析.

证据清单, a cataloged and referenced inventory of documents, 流程, 和程序, 为机构提供了开发可持续资源的机会，学院应不断更新这些资源，以记录持续的合规性.