Staff Reporter
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMUQ) hosted a visit from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a higher education accrediting agency based in the US, it was announced yesterday.
CMUQ has been accredited by the MSCHE since opening in 2004 and the purpose of this visit was to ensure that the institution is adhering to the accrediting standards and regulations.
The MSCHE evaluates performance based on 14 standards for accreditation, including educational effectiveness in terms of faculty, student support services, educational offerings and administrative plans.
MSCHE representative Dr Michael Kiphart spent several days at CMUQ and met with faculty, staff and students. "The education being delivered is on par with that in Pittsburgh," he said. Dr Kiphart observed that CMUQ pays close attention to its students and their development, and to the quality of learning and intellectual inquiry.
“I'm very pleased to see that our accrediting standards are being met in Qatar,” he stated.
Institutions choose to apply for accredited status and once accredited agree to abide by the standards of the accrediting organisation and regulate themselves by taking responsibility for their own improvement.
MSCHE is one of many American accrediting boards that govern standards of academic excellence. These boards were established to ensure American colleges offered consistent education across key areas of learning.
“When we came to Qatar, our accreditation from Pittsburgh was carried over, so our programmes in Qatar have always been accredited,” pointed out CMUQ Dean Dr Chuck Thorpe.
He explained that Dr Kiphart was very impressed that CMUQ is adhering to Carnegie Mellon's high academic standards and exceeding what it set out to do.
Carnegie Mellon first received accreditation for its home campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1921. |
