Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Contact Info

Todd Schenk, Chair
Dept phone: 540.231.1803
tschenk@vt.edu
https://www.spia.vt.edu/uap/murp/
Public Information

Accreditation Actions

Accreditation through December 31, 2026
Last Accreditation Cycle: 2018 – 2019
Next Accreditation Cycle: 2025 – 2026
Progress Report: Not Applicable

Summary of Recent Actions

August 2022: Program granted a 2-year extension of accreditation based on a satisfactory Progress Report that addressed issues identified in the previous accreditation review.

October 2019: Program granted 5-year accreditation with a progress report due July 1, 2022. Subject to a satisfactory Progress Report, the accreditation period may be extended by two years.

PAB accreditation indicates that the Program has undergone an external review and substantially meets the PAB standards and criteria. Programs granted accreditation demonstrated conformity with PAB Standards after a thorough review from the Board. PAB bases its decisions on the overall quality of the program, its performance relative to its mission and strategic plan, and its performance relative to PAB’s 5 standards, which encompass a total of 29 criteria and 18 curriculum sub-criteria. When PAB determines that a Program does not fully meet a criterion or curriculum sub-criterion, the Program is encouraged to take steps to improve in that area and provide information to PAB on its efforts, either during the next accreditation review or in an interim progress report.

The Planning Accreditation Board has required the Program to address issues in the following areas:

• Criterion 1E / Strategic Issues for the Next 5 – 7 Years determined to be partially-met due to ongoing strategic planning efforts, during which the program should identify strategic initiatives for advancing its program.
• Criterion 3B / Faculty Diversity determined to be partially-met. The Program has a clear objective to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of its faculty, but has not provided evidence in support of this goal.

This information is a summary only. Please consult the school directly for in-depth information regarding programs, course offerings, and compliance with PAB standards. Programs should also be consulted directly for additional information on issues and areas of improvement identified during an accreditation review, and the actions that the school is taking to address these areas. If the Program has provided a response to any of the issues cited above, please see below for a link to the response.

June 2016: The Board accepted Progress Report as fulfillment of the reporting requirement, extension not granted.

October 2014: Program granted 5-year accreditation. The 5-year decision is based on PAB’s findings that multiple minor deficiencies exist and/or deficiencies have been recently corrected. Progress Report by May 1, 2016 to be submitted by the Program for possible extension of accreditation of 2 years.

PAB accreditation indicates that the Program has undergone an external review and substantially meets the PAB standards and criteria. Programs granted accreditation demonstrated conformity with PAB Standards after a thorough review from the Board. PAB bases its decisions on the overall quality of the program, its performance relative to its mission and strategic plan, and its performance relative to PAB’s 7 standards, which encompass a total of 35 criteria and 17 curriculum sub-criteria. When PAB determines that a Program does not fully meet a criterion or curriculum sub-criterion, the Program is encouraged to take steps to improve in that area and provide information to PAB on its efforts, either during the next accreditation review or in an interim progress report.

This information is a summary only. Please consult the school directly for in-depth information regarding programs, course offerings, and compliance with PAB standards. Programs should also be consulted directly for additional information on issues and areas of improvement identified during an accreditation review, and the actions that the school is taking to address these areas.