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Accreditation
Springfield Technical Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). (Prior to August 2018, the College was accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.) Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514
781-425- 7785
E-Mail: info@neche.org
The College is approved by the Board of Collegiate Authority, Massachusetts Department of Education; by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission; by the United States Office of Education for listing in the Directory of Higher Education; for the National Defense Student Loan Program; for federal assistance from any unit of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; by the United States Veterans Administration for the admission of veterans and war orphans; by the United States Department of Justice as a place of study for non-immigrant students; and by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit organization. Please contact the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (755-4440), located in Room 223-Garvey Hall (B16), for procedures for obtaining or reviewing documents describing accreditation, approval, or licensing.
NECHE Accreditation Self-Study
For the past year and a half, Springfield Technical Community College has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the NECHE Standards for Accreditation. Please see the following links regarding the self-study process.
- Standards Committee Members and Contributors
- STCC NECHE Accreditation Self-Study - February 2021
- NEASC Interim Study March 2016
Invitation for Public Comments
Springfield Technical Community College will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit (April 11-14, 2021), by a team representing the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, NEASC).
The New England Commission of Higher Education is one of seven accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 220 institutions in the six-state New England region as well as several American-style institutions overseas.
Springfield Technical Community College has been accredited by the Commission since 1971 and was last reviewed in 2011. Its accreditation by the Commission encompasses the entire institution.
For the past year and a half, Springfield Technical Community College has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the institution. Following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action.
The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution to: Public Comment on Springfield Technical Community College
New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100
Burlington, MA 01803-4514
E-mail: info@neche.org
Public Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments.
Public Comments must be received by April 14, 2021. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.
Calculation of Credit Hours
Springfield Technical Community College defines its credit hour in accordance with Federal Regulation 34 CFR 600.2 published in the US Department of Education final regulations of October 29, 2010.
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
All courses are constructed to allow students to achieve the stated outcomes/objectives. Lecture courses meet for 50 minutes per credit hour (one contact hour) each week of the semester. A typical onsite 3-credit lecture course would meet for a total of 150 minutes per week, either as three 50-minute class sessions, two 75-minute class sessions, or another configuration adding up to 150 minutes. For each hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction, students should assume a minimum of two hours of additional work outside of class. For online courses, students are expected to devote the same amount of time as with onsite courses, and engage regularly with the instructor, such that course outcomes/objectives are achieved.
Individual Program Accreditations
Individual programs in the School of Health and Patient Simulation are accredited as follows:
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American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation |
2019-2026 |
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Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS) |
2015-2026 |
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CAHIIM CAHIIM Accreditation is not time limited. Once achieving accreditation, the program's |
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Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) |
2017-2025 |
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National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) |
2015-2023 | |
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ACEN© Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. |
2014-2022 |
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The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) |
2020-2030 |
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Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA/CAPTE) |
2020-2028 |
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Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) |
2017-2025 |
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Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC) |
2016-2026 |
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Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) |
2015-2025 |