Keystone College has confirmed that it submitted a Notice of Intent to Appeal to its accreditor, Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), to move forward with the College’s appeal of the Adverse Action taken by MSCHE on November 21. That action announced withdrawal of accreditation effective December 31. On November 26 the College filed an Acknowledgement of Adverse Action and Option to Exercise the Right to an Appeal with MSCHE, as an initial notification of its intent to appeal. The submission of the appeal notice, including a deposit against expenses, was done on time on December 12 and is the final step required by the College to move forward with its appeal.
Earlier today, Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) posted on their website the acknowledgment of their receipt of the Notice of Intent to Appeal that Keystone submitted on time on December 12. MSCHE also noted that Keystone “retains its Accredited status until the completion of the appeal” and that the December 31, 2024, accreditation cease date of is no longer in effect.
“As I have previously stated, we strongly disagree with and are extremely disappointed by the Commission’s adverse action, but we are grateful for the opportunity to pursue our appeal of this decision,” said President John F. Pullo, Sr. “We were all well aware that the process of rebuilding Keystone and changing our trajectory will not be easy. But it remains a process worthy of every pursuit. We feel the adverse action taken by MSCHE significantly undervalues the progress the College has made over the last year to strengthen our financial situation, rectify our weaknesses, and move forward.”
Keystone remains an accredited institution until the completion of the appeal as long as it continues to meet the conditions as outlined in the November 21 adverse action notification. Included among those conditions are that the College must implement its teach-out plan with signed teach-out agreements, must maintain a clear and accurate statement about its accreditation on its website, and is not permitted to market to, recruit, or enroll new students. Keystone is awaiting the date of the appeal hearing, but initial indications from MSCHE suggested that it could be in mid- to late-March. The College has retained the services of Saul Ewing LLP, a full-service, national law firm with experience in higher education accreditation areas, to provide legal counsel as it prepares for the appeal hearing.
The College will start the Spring 2025 semester on January 13.
Keystone was also notified by MSCHE that with accreditation retained during the appeal process, the College can request reconsideration of the Complex Substantive Change for ownership given the signed merger agreement that is still in place with the Washington Institute for Education and Research (WIER). Pullo noted that this request was also submitted to MSCHE and that WIER remains committed to the merger and is frequently updated on all developments at the College.
“The beauty of American private higher education has always been its diversity,” said Tim Pryle, Keystone’s Vice President of Enrollment, Institutional Advancement, and Marketing. “That diversity and affordable access to it are being challenged as all students are expected to assimilate into institutions in the top half of the pyramid. Declining enrollment and retention percentages nationally suggest this assimilation may not be working, especially for the most vulnerable students in the system. Keystone has a unique and innovative merger opportunity, and we want to make every effort for that to be explained and considered as we rebuild the College and continue our mission of meeting students individually where they are and offering them all the benefits of a college education. Our appeal of the adverse action gives us that opportunity.”
Throughout its history, Keystone has been well-known and often recognized for its service to the most vulnerable students entering higher education. The College is one of the top private colleges in Pennsylvania for the percentage of students who are Pell Grant recipients and is repeatedly recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 performer on social mobility among the regional colleges in the north.
