Students walk across Bristol campus

Invitation for Public Comments for NECHE Accreditation

As part of RWU's upcoming accreditation evaluation, NECHE wants to hear from you.

Roger Williams University (RWU) will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit on Sept. 28 to 30, 2026 by a team representing the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, NEASC). 

The New England Commission of Higher Education is one of seven accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 220 institutions in the six-state New England region as well as several American-style institutions overseas. 

RWU has been accredited by the Commission since 1972 and was last reviewed in 2016. Its accreditation by the Commission encompasses the entire institution. 

For the past year and a half, RWU has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the institution. Following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action. 

Submit Public Comments

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution to:

Public Comment on Roger Williams University
New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100 
Burlington, MA 01803-4514

E-mail:info@neche.org 

Public Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments. Public Comments must be received by Sept. 30, 2026. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.

Criteria for Consideration of Public Comments 

Public Comments consist of general remarks typically related to an individual’s experience or judgments about the quality of the institution’s programs or services at an institution deemed eligible to apply for Candidacy through NECHE, at an institution granted Candidacy status through NECHE, or at a NECHE accredited institution. 

Public Comments must meet the four criteria below to be considered:

  1. Be in writing. Public Comments may be submitted electronically or by U.S. mail. 
  2. Address matters of institutional quality regarding programs or services. The Commission does not intervene in the internal procedures of institutions, consider allegations concerning the personal lives of individuals, or settle disputes. 
  3. Include contact information. The Commission does not accept anonymous comments. 
  4. Include permission for the comment to be forwarded to the Chief Executive Officer of the institution in question.
  5. Be submitted by Sept, 30, 2026.