Peer Review Visit

SAVE THE DATE
Peer Review Team Visit
April 6 - 9, 2025

Fordham’s reaccreditation process culminates in a site visit by a MSCHE evaluation team which is made up of peer evaluators who are higher education professionals at other institutions. The peer review team’s role is to offer a fair, unbiased assessment and provide constructive feedback that helps the institution grow and maintain its accreditation status.

What to Expect

Before their visit, the Peer Review Team will have read Fordham’s self-study and have analyzed the supporting evidence we submitted in advance including financial reports, policies, assessment data, and strategic plans.

The peer review team will visit both the Rose HIll and Lincoln Center campuses conducting evaluations, interviews, and observations. Activities will include: 

  • Meeting with the president, provost, deans, and senior administrators to discuss governance, strategy, and institutional priorities.
  • Engaging with academic and administrative staff to assess teaching quality, research, and operational effectiveness.
  • Conducting focus groups or interviews with students to gather feedback on their educational experiences, campus resources, and satisfaction.
  • Meeting with trustees to evaluate oversight, financial sustainability, and alignment with the institution’s mission.
  • Visiting classes to observe teaching practices, faculty-student interactions, and the learning environment.
  • Touring facilities such as classrooms, labs, libraries, and student spaces to ensure they meet the needs of the institution and its students.

At the end of their visit, they will provide initial verbal feedback to our Middle States steering committee before returning home and preparing a formal evaluation report detailing Fordham’s compliance with accreditation standards, highlighting our strengths and areas for improvement. The team’s report will be submitted to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education who will make the final reaccreditation decision based on the team’s findings.

Meet the Team

Gerard Rooney, President, St. John Fisher University and Chair, 2025 Middles States Peer Review Team

Gerard Rooney, president of St. John Fisher University in Rochester, NY, has been named chair of Fordham’s Peer Review Team. Learn more about Dr. Rooney.