SC Receives NEASC Re-accreditation

In his letter announcing the accreditation, Jay Stroud, Director of the Commission of Independent Schools for the NEASC, commended the school for its diligence and enthusiasm in completing the process, which included a self-study by the school involving all faculty and staff. This was followed by a Visiting Committee on-site review and a final report.

The commission commended the school for its fairness and inclusiveness and its success in growing and providing an excellent program for a genuinely diverse student body at a time of enrollment challenges.

"The overall message of the Self-Study and Visiting Committee Report were clear: Stanstead College is an exceptional, thoughtful and strong school," wrote Mr. Stroud.

The commission outlined three major recommendations:

• Develop a more structured process for recruitment and evaluation of senior administrators that engages the broader Stanstead community. This would include establishing an evaluation process for the Head of School and strengthening diversity on the Board of Trustees.
• Establish a committee to complete a second self-study based on the Visiting Committee's report.
• Study and reflect on the needs and concerns of faculty and students and incorporate their voices in determining the best way forward to meet the challenges of growth, facility issues (e.g. residences) and other issues such as food and technology.

These major recommendations were accompanied by other recommendations in the Visiting Committee report that will be assessed and taken into consideration by the school.

This accreditation is valid until 2027, with a two-year evaluation and a five-year report due in the interim.

NEASC accreditation not only opens doors for our graduates to US colleges but has also been instrumental in granting direct access for our Grade 12s to Quebec universities. Being the sole Canadian school with NEASC accreditation is something that truly sets Stanstead College apart.