The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) has had its accreditation reaffirmed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) until 2028. Photo: VINO/File

The announcement of HLSCC's reaffirmed accreditation was made by Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) during the Sixth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola on July 21, 2022. Photo: VINO/File

The reaffirmation indicates that HLSCC has met the Requirements of Affiliation and Standards of Accreditation of MSCHE. This enables its students to continue to transfer easily to institutions in the United States and elsewhere. 

The announcement was made by Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) during the Sixth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola on July 21, 2022.

The College was first accredited by MSCHE in June 2015, and as a newly accredited institution, was required to seek reaffirmation of its accreditation within 5 years.

‘We Will Rise’

According to Hon de Castro, the Self-Study Report, entitled We Will Rise represented the College’s plans to recover from the impacts of the 2017 hurricanes and financial challenges, and provided evidence for the assessment of HLSCC’s compliance with MSCHE’s Requirements of Affiliation and Standards of Accreditation.

She explained that the Self-Study Report addressed areas such as Mission and Goals; Ethics and Integrity; Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience; Support of the Student Experience; Educational Effectiveness Assessment; Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement; and Governance, Leadership, and Administration.

The Report was submitted in Spring 2020 and due to COVID-19 restrictions, a virtual site visit was conducted in December 2020. The College received commendations in 6 of 7 standards and was required to submit a Supplemental Information Report pertaining to Standard VI – Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement. 

“Madam Speaker, following the submission of that supplemental report in September 2021, another virtual site visit was conducted in April 2022, where the College was found in compliance with Standard VI and reaffirmation was recommended to the Commission.”

Hon de Castro said the decision was made by the Middle States Commission on June 23, 2022, to reaffirm the College’s accreditation until 2028.