Marietta College

« Back to Recent News

Marietta College's Department of Music receives 10-year reaccreditation

by Jennifer Folwell

Marietta, Ohio (02/25/2020) — Marietta College's Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music recently learned it had achieved a 10-year reaccreditation of its programs, which include bachelor's degrees in Music, Music Education, Music Therapy and Vocal Performance.

"It is quite an honor," said Andrew Francis, Marietta College Professor of Music and Chair of the Department. "Through the reaccreditation process, we had to complete a self-study of our department. Through that process, we were able to assess our strengths, along with areas of improvement."

That lead to the development of a five-year plan to address weaknesses in the program and efforts to expand it. Implementation of the plan is already underway and gleaning positive results.

"The National Association of Schools of Music is a national accreditation body that accredits over 600 colleges and universities. To receive a 10-year deferment means that Marietta College is meeting all of their accreditation standards to the best of our ability," Francis said.

Marshall C. Kimball, retired Professor of Music and music consultant, agreed that although the process is intense, it is time and effort well spent.

"It's a relief to have this completed," he said of the accreditation. "Although incredibly useful, it's still a great deal of pressure."

Founded in 1924, the NASM establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for music and music-related disciplines. The re-accreditation process for MC took two years and included a detailed evaluation of all the parts of the music degrees and offerings on campus. The next accreditation visit from NASM is scheduled for the 2028-29 academic year.

The Department of Music offers four music degree programs as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. In addition to the degree programs, opportunities to perform are available to all students, including participation in band and choir.

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers more than 50 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major. Marietta College has also been named a Great College to Work For two consecutive years (2018 and 2019).

###

Media Attachments

Copyright © 2025 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out