Bermuda College celebrates reaccreditation
College receives continued accreditation with no conditions following comprehensive independent review
Bermuda College is celebrating after securing full reaccreditation - with no conditions - following a comprehensive independent review.
The decision from the New England Commission of Higher Education means the College’s next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled in a decade.
It also means NECHE has not required Bermuda College to undertake any special monitoring, corrective action or additional reporting as a condition of maintaining its accreditation, beyond the Commission’s normal ongoing review requirements.
The confirmation of reaccreditation also comes after the College announced that student enrolment numbers had increased for the third year running this year.
Dr David Sam, president of Bermuda College, said the outcome provided important independent assurance of the quality of a Bermuda College education for students, families, employees, partners and the wider community.
He said: “Securing reaccreditation affirms the quality of a Bermuda College education and reinforces the vital role we play in supporting our students and our island.
“It also gives us momentum as we advance the priorities of our Strategic Plan 2025–2030, Innovate, Inspire, Impact.”
NECHE is an independent, non-profit institutional accreditor recognised by the US Department of Education. It evaluates colleges and universities as whole institutions against standards designed to assess their educational quality and institutional capacity.
Its more than 200 member institutions include Harvard University, Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University and Dartmouth College, alongside public and private universities, liberal arts colleges and community colleges.
Accredited institutions undergo comprehensive evaluation at least once every 10 years. The process includes an extensive institutional self-study, an on-site evaluation by peer reviewers and consideration of the findings by the Commission.
NECHE may require an institution to undergo its next comprehensive evaluation earlier than 10 years where closer monitoring is considered necessary, making a full 10-year interval a significant outcome of the review process.
Dr Sam said the achievement reflected the work of employees and the Board of Governors across the College throughout the lengthy accreditation process.
He said: “This achievement reflects the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and collective effort of our faculty, staff, and Board of Governors.
“Reaccreditation is never the work of one person or a single department; it requires deep reflection, rigorous documentation, open engagement, and a shared commitment to excellence in higher education.”
Dr Sam paid particular tribute to Nikkita Scott, vice-president of student affairs and the College’s Accreditation Liaison Officer, for her leadership of the process.
He also thanked employees who served on committees, assembled and reviewed evidence, participated in site interviews, responded to requests and supported the accreditation work behind the scenes.
The decision continues Bermuda College’s accreditation history stretching back more than 15 years. The College first gained institutional accreditation in 2010, a milestone announced publicly the following year.
Following a comprehensive review in 2015, Bermuda College was continued in accreditation and its next comprehensive evaluation was scheduled for 10 years later, according to NECHE’s institutional record.
The latest evaluation included a College-wide self-study completed ahead of the review and a visit by an external evaluation team in February 2026.
NECHE accreditation applies to Bermuda College as an institution rather than to individual academic programmes and provides external assurance that the College continues to meet the Commission’s institutional standards.
Dr Sam said the outcome would provide a strong foundation as Bermuda College implements its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and continues responding to Bermuda’s changing educational and workforce needs.
He said: “I want to thank not just those at Bermuda College, but the whole of Bermuda for your commitment, your contributions, and your continued belief in the work we do together every day.”