Dear Members of the SUNY Oswego Community–
SUNY Oswego is beginning an important three-year self-study as we prepare for our reaffirmation of institutional accreditation review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The reaffirmation of institutional accreditation process is expected to conclude in fall 2029.
Every eight years, colleges and universities undertake this comprehensive self-renewal process, culminating in a review by a team of peer evaluators and an on-site visit. While reaffirmation of institutional accreditation is our goal, the process of getting there offers an important opportunity for self-reflection and renewal - to reflect on who we are as a university, recognize our strengths, and identify where we can continue to improve.
As an early step in this work, members of our team participated in this year’s MSCHE Self-Study Institute, which took place on September 17, 2026, to help guide our approach and prepare us for the work ahead. Our team at the Institute included Rebecca Mushtare, Accreditation Liaison Officer and Deputy Dean of Graduate Studies; Peter Ghazarian, Associate Professor of Education; Kate Pechenkina, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Murat Yasar, Deputy to the President for Strategy and Planning; Jamal Coleman, Director of Operations, Office of the President; and me.
In the coming months, we will establish our MSCHE Self-Study Steering Committee and working groups to guide this important work. I am pleased to announce that the Steering Committee will be co-chaired by Dr. Peter Ghazarian, associate professor of education in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services, and Dr. Nicole Wise, director of Institutional Research and Assessment.
Dr. Ghazarian, who joined the university in fall 2023, brings extensive experience in higher education in the U.S. and abroad, with scholarship focused on higher education leadership, public policy, and human migration. Dr. Wise, who joined SUNY Oswego in 2015, brings significant experience in institutional research, assessment, program review, and accreditation, including work supporting several successful specialized accreditation efforts across the university.
In the coming months, Provost Pechenkina will announce the members of the MSCHE Steering Committee, while Drs. Ghazarian and Wise will begin forming the working groups that will guide this important effort. I encourage everyone in our campus community to consider how you can contribute. A strong self-study depends on broad participation, thoughtful engagement, and an honest assessment of our strengths and opportunities for improvement.
This is an important undertaking, and we will move forward together. I will continue to keep our campus community informed as we progress through this process of reaffirmation of institutional accreditation.
Remain well,
Peter O. Nwosu, Ph.D.
President