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Institutional Accreditation

Bentley maintains accreditations with the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). In the spring of 2013, Bentley was re-accredited by NECHE for a 10-year period.  AACSB accreditation was attained initially in 1989 and reaffirmed in 1995, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020.  Bentley also holds AACSB accreditation for its accounting program. 

As part of the re-accreditation process, Bentley University completed its most recent NECHE Self-Study process in February 2022. A copy of the institutional self-study report can be accessed here. To review the formal document sent to NECHE, a request can be made to Erin Kelley, associate dean of assurance of learning and accreditation.

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) is the regional accreditation agency for colleges and universities in the six New England states.  The Commission is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority on the quality of education for the institutions it accredits. The Commission is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), affirming that its Standards and processes are consistent with the quality, improvement, and accountability expectations that CHEA has established.

NECHE

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Bentley holds both AACSB Business and Accounting Accreditations. AACSB business accreditation signals to the world that an institution has met the most rigorous standards of excellence in business education. Institutions that have earned the AACSB accreditation seal demonstrate that they are committed to upholding and advancing the quality of their programs, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Accounting Accreditation is a supplemental accreditation for schools with an elevated quality assurance system for their accounting program.

AACSB

Invitation for Public Comment

Bentley University will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit March 20-23, 2022 by a team representing the New England Commission of Higher Education (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.

Bentley University has been accredited by the Commission since 1966 and was last reviewed in 2013. Its accreditation by the Commission encompasses the entire institution.  

For the past year and a half, Bentley University 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.  

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

Public Comment on Bentley 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 March 23, 2022. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.