NECHE Accreditation: Call for Public Comment

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit March 29-April 1, 2026, 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.

RISD has been accredited by the Commission since 1949 and was last reviewed in 2016.

For the past year and a half, RISD 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 to support the self-study’s thoroughness and accuracy. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the institution. Then, 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 Rhode Island School of Design
New England Commission of Higher Education
301 Edgewater Place, Suite 210
Wakefield, MA 01880
Or via email: 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 April 1, 2026. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.