CUE Hosts MSCHE Virtual Visit for Institutional Accreditation Preparation

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) held virtual visits with CUE to conduct a pre-applicant review with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and to demonstrate CUE’s institutional readiness for accreditation on February 10^th and 11^th, 2026.

The two-day virtual pre-applicant visit with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education included interactive forums and discussion sessions with university stakeholders. The first day focused on institutional governance, financial sustainability, and academic quality, with sessions led by senior leadership, board representatives, and academic administrators. The second day focused on student support services, institutional planning and assessment, and scholarship management. The visit included open forums for faculty, staff, and students, allowing direct dialogue with reviewers.

CUE members who attended the virtual visit included CUE President – Dr. Nazar Shabila; Institutional Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) and Provost Fr. Dr. Karam Shamasha; Chief of Planning and Effectiveness Mrs. Vida Hanna; as well as Board Representatives: Board Chair Archbishop Bashar Warda and Board Members Dr. Tim Collins and Dr. Daniel Kempton. As well, representatives of university staff, faculty members, and students also participated in the visit.

Moreover, members from MSCHE are Dr. Christopher Mayer, Team Chair; and Dr. Ryan Hartnett, Vice President for membership.

This visit was particularly important as it supports CUE’s ongoing efforts to advance through the accreditation process. It allowed the university to receive preliminary feedback, clarify institutional practices, and strengthen documentation and evidence-based reporting in preparation for future accreditation evaluation stages.

CUE is one of the early universities in Iraq to take steps toward international accreditation. As part of the pre-application stage, the university prepared and submitted around 75 supporting documents covering its policies, procedures, and evidence across key areas of operation.

This was not a small task—it required a coordinated effort from faculty and staff across both academic and administrative units. Together, they worked to gather, organize, and present the materials in a way that aligns with accreditation standards, reflecting a strong institutional commitment to quality and continuous improvement.