Jordanville, NY, July 3, 2025
Photo: wikimedia.org
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia’s Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary has been granted Candidate Status by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s accreditation journey following the voluntary withdrawal of its previous accreditor.
The seminary received official notification of its new status, which represents formal recognition that the institution has demonstrated compliance with the Commission’s standards at a level meriting accreditation. Under Candidate Status, Holy Trinity will work toward permanent accreditation over the next three to five years while meeting additional goals set by the Commission, the seminary reports.
Holy Trinity’s path to Middle States began in 2023 when the New York State Board of Regents voluntarily allowed its federal certification as an accrediting body to lapse in May of that year. The state board’s decision to exit the accreditation business affected all institutions under its oversight, including Holy Trinity, which had been in good standing with no adverse actions pending.
The transition proved challenging due to timing constraints and administrative delays related to COVID-19 policies. The period between notification of the state board’s withdrawal and the expiration of its federal certification was insufficient for most institutions to complete the typically lengthy process of securing new accreditation.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is widely regarded as one of the premier accrediting agencies in the United States. Previously operating as a regional accreditor before 2020, when the U.S. Department of Education eliminated regional exclusivity, Middle States now competes nationally with other accrediting bodies while maintaining its strong reputation among colleges, universities, and professional programs.
Several former regional accreditors reached out to Holy Trinity during its transition period, with some offering expedited review processes based on the seminary's established record of compliance and good standing with its previous accreditor.
While accreditation does not affect an institution’s legal authority to award degrees—which comes from state education departments—it significantly impacts how those degrees are recognized by other institutions, graduate programs, and professional organizations including chaplaincy programs. The Middle States affiliation strengthens Holy Trinity’s position in the competitive landscape of theological education and provides students with enhanced transferability of credits and broader recognition of their academic achievements.
Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary will continue working toward full accreditation status while maintaining its commitment to academic excellence and Orthodox theological education. The institution expects to complete the full accreditation process within the timeline established by the Middle States Commission.
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