The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), established in 1885, is recognized as an institutional accreditor by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and serves as a reliable authority and independent voice on the quality of higher education. The Commission is a voluntary, peer-based, non-governmental membership association which promotes educational excellence and quality assurance to its over 200 member institutions both inside and outside the United States, all of which are degree granting post-secondary educational institutions offering higher education. NECHE, through its membership, has established Standards for Accreditation to ensure quality, innovation, and student success across the ever-evolving landscape of higher education. The Commission itself consists of faculty and administrators from affiliated institutions as well as public members who have no institutional affiliation. The Commission is served by a staff led by Dr. Lawrence Schall.