Public Disclosure Statement MSCHE UPR PONCE

Public Disclosure Statement
UPR - Ponce
June 24, 2010
By the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
This statement has been developed for use in responding to public inquiries, consistent with the
Commission’s policy on Public Communication in the Accrediting Process. It should be read in
conjunction with the Statement of Accreditation Status for UPR-Ponce, a copy of which is
attached.
UPR-Ponce, located in Ponce, Puerto Rico, is a unit of the University of Puerto Rico. It has been
accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1970. UPR-Ponce is a
public institution offering programs leading to the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees. A
summary of the most recent Commission actions relative to the institution’s accreditation
follows.
Current Accreditation Status
On June 24, 2010, the Commission acted to place UPR-Ponce on probation because of a lack of
evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with Standard 4 (Leadership and
Governance) and Standard 11 (Educational Offerings). The full text of the Commission’s action
is provided below. The full text of the Commission’s standards is available online at
http://www.msche.org/publications/CHX06_Aug08REVMarch09.pdf
UPR-Ponce remains accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education while
on probation.
The Commission places an institution on Probation when, in the Commission’s judgment, the
institution is not in compliance with one or more Commission standards and that the non-
compliance is sufficiently serious, extensive, or acute that it raises concerns about one or more of
the following: the adequacy of the education provided by the institution; the institution’s
capacity to make appropriate improvements in a timely fashion; or the institution’s capacity to
sustain itself in the long term. Probation is often, but need not always be, preceded by an action
of Warning or Postponement. For details on the Commission’s complete range of actions, read
the MSCHE policy on Range of Commission Actions on Accreditation. A follow-up report,
called a monitoring report, is required to demonstrate that the institution has made appropriate
improvements to bring itself into compliance. A small team visit also is conducted to verify
institutional status and progress.
Summary of Recent Commission Actions
The University of Puerto Rico System (UPR), the principle public system for the
Commonwealth, consists of eleven campuses, each holding separate accreditation. On April 21,
the students at one campus of the University of Puerto Rico system declared a 48-hour strike,
protesting actions taken by the UPR system central administration and closed down the gates of
the campus. Students at other campuses, including, UPR - Ponce, voted to join the strike and
closed ten of the eleven campuses of the UPR system. On May 17, 2010, Commission staff met
with senior University system officials and board members concerning the ongoing strike. At
the time, the University system agreed to provide a voluntary report, received by the
Commission on June 1, 2010, responding to the Commission’s concerns regarding compliance
with:
1. Requirement of Affiliation 3: that requires the institution to be operational, with

students actively pursuing their degree programs.
2. Standard 3, Resources: that requires the availability and accessibility of the necessary
resources to achieve the institution’s mission and goals.
3. Standard 4 (Leadership and Governance): that requires a system of governance that
clearly defines the roles of institutional constituencies in policy development and
decision making, with sufficient autonomy to assure institutional integrity and to fulfill
its responsibilities of policy and resource development, consistent with the institution’s
mission.
4. Standard 11: to provide the appropriate program length required for the granting of
credits and degrees.
The report was received and reviewed by the Commission. On June 21, 2010 the Commission
was informed that the students and central administration offices had reached an agreement and
campuses would reopen administratively, with classes resuming in July in order to allow the
campuses to complete the spring semester.
On June 24, 2010 the Middle States Commission on Higher Education acted as follows:
To note receipt of the voluntary information report. To place the

institution on probation because of a lack of evidence that the institution is
in compliance with Standard 4 (Leadership and Governance) and Standard
11 (Educational Offerings). To request a monitoring report due by
September 1, 2010, documenting evidence that the institution has achieved
and can sustain ongoing compliance with (1) Standard 4 (Leadership and
Governance), including but not limited to the development and
implementation of clear institutional policies specifying the respective
authority of the different governance bodies and their respective roles and
responsibilities in shared governance; and (2) Standard 11 (Educational
Offerings), including but not limited to a plan for assuring the rigor,
continuity, and length of courses affected by the institution’s closure. In
addition, the report should document evidence of the development and/or
implementation of a long-term financial plan, including steps taken to
improve the institution’s finances and the development of alternative
funding sources (Standard 3). An on-site evaluation will follow
submission of the report. The purpose of the on-site evaluation is to verify
the information provided in the monitoring report and the institution's
ongoing and sustainable compliance with the Commission's accreditation
standards. To further direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit
to discuss the Commission's expectations for reporting. To note that the
institution remains accredited while on probation. To note that the
Periodic Review Report due June 1, 2010 was received and will be acted
upon by the Commission in November.
Current Status and Expected Activities
UPR-Ponce remains accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education while
on probation.
Following submission of a monitoring report on September 1, 2010, the Commission will

conduct an on-site visit to assess the institution’s compliance with the Commission’s standards.
Following the on-site visit, a report by the visiting team will be completed. The monitoring
report, the on-site visit report and the institutional response to the on-site visit report will be
considered by the Committee on Follow-Up Activities, and then by the Commission at its
November 2010 meeting.
At its November 2010 session, the Commission will take further action, in accordance with the
Commission’s policy, Range of Commission Actions on Accreditation (available at
http://www.msche.org/documents/P2.3-RangeofActions.doc. If, based on the monitoring report
and on-site visit report, the Commission determines that UPR-Ponce has made appropriate
progress in addressing the cited concerns, the Commission may act to remove the probation and
reaffirm accreditation. If the Commission determines that progress sufficient to demonstrate
compliance with its accreditation standards has not been made, the Commission may take further
action as allowed under the Range of Commission Actions on Accreditation.
For More Information
The following resources provide additional information that may be helpful in understanding the
Commission’s actions and UPR-Ponce’s accreditation status:
Statement of Accreditation Status for UPR-Ponce (www.msche.org/institutions_directory.asp)

provides factual information about UPR-Ponce and the full text of the Commission’s recent
actions regarding the institution.
Characteristics of Excellence
(http://www.msche.org/publications/CHX06_Aug08REVMarch09.pdf) provides the
Commission’s accreditation standards and requirements for affiliation.
Media Backgrounder (http://msche.org/documents/Media-Backgrounder-2010.doc) answers

questions about accreditation such as “What is accreditation?” and “What is the Middle States
Commission on Higher Education?”
Informing the Public about Accreditation (www.chea.org/public_info/index.asp), published by
the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, provides additional information on the nature
and value of accreditation.
Public Communication in the Accrediting Process (www.msche.org/documents/P4.1-

PublicCommunication.doc) explains what information the Commission makes public regarding
its member institutions and what information remains confidential.
Range of Commission Actions on Accreditation (www.msche.org/documents/P2.3-

RangeofActions.doc) and Standardized Language for Commission Actions on Accreditation
(www.msche.org/documents/P2.4-StandardizedLanguage_031308.doc) explain the terms used in
the Commission’s actions.

Public Disclosure Statement MSCHE UPR PONCE

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Public Disclosure Statement

June 24, 2010

By the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Current Accreditation Status

Summary of Recent Commission Actions

1. Requirement of Affiliation 3: that requires the institution to be operational, with

To note receipt of the voluntary information report. To place the

Current Status and Expected Activities

Following submission of a monitoring report on September 1, 2010, the Commission will

For More Information

Statement of Accreditation Status for UPR-Ponce (www.msche.org/institutions_directory.asp)

Media Backgrounder (http://msche.org/documents/Media-Backgrounder-2010.doc) answers

Public Communication in the Accrediting Process (www.msche.org/documents/P4.1-

Range of Commission Actions on Accreditation (www.msche.org/documents/P2.3-

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