Accreditation
Bowdoin is a not-for-profit, independent, nonsectarian institution.
Between comprehensive evaluations, NECHE requires that institutions prepare an interim report to demonstrate their continued improvement. Bowdoin submitted its Fall 2022 Interim Report in August, which NECHE accepted in its February 2023 letter.
Bowdoin's most recent comprehensive evaluation was in 2017-18. In advance of the evaluation, Bowdoin underwent a self-study, which began in March 2016 and was completed in September 2017 with the publication of the self-study report.
A team of evaluators visited campus in November 2017. After reading the report from the Evaluation Team and Bowdoin's response, the Commission decided to continue Bowdoin's accreditation. The Commission's letter to President Rose states that Bowdoin is substantially in compliance with the Standards for Accreditation and will have its next comprehensive review in Fall 2026.
In preparation for the Fall 2026 evaluation, we will begin the process of assessing our institutional learning goals. These institutional learning goals, which were requested by NECHE, make explicit our aspirations and are informed by consultations with several individuals and groups, including faculty, the Curriculum and Educational Policy Committee (CEP), student affairs leadership, senior officers, and several institutional documents and statements, including:
- the Mission of the College;
- the 2004 statement on A Liberal Education at Bowdoin College;
- Bowdoin’s Environmental Mission Statement;
- the Division of Student Affairs’ vision, mission, and values statements, and
- the 2018 Report of the President’s Working Group on Knowledge, Skills, and Creative Dispositions.
Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
New England Commission of Higher Education3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514
(781) 425-7785
info@neche.org