Thursday, October 1, 2026
Nassau Community College has secured reaffirmation of its accreditation for another eight years from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, following a multi-year effort to address concerns around leadership and campus climate.
The reaccreditation, announced jointly by the Commission and the college, comes despite a recent review that flagged the institution’s lack of a permanent president and issues related to the internal atmosphere on campus.
Still, college officials said the decision validates years of focused institutional work.
“We weren’t surprised by the outcome because we’ve been working really hard for the last three years,” Jerry Kornbluth, vice president of community and governmental relations at NCC said. “We met all seven standards, and we were really happy with the outcome.”
Middle States accreditation affirms that an institution meets rigorous standards of academic quality, governance, assessment, and financial stewardship. Nassau Community College, part of the State University of New York system, has been accredited by Middle States since 1967.
“The faculty, administration and staff at NCC have worked very hard to have the institution’s accreditation reaffirmed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as part of our ongoing efforts to provide students with a comprehensive education and outstanding supportive atmosphere,” Maria Conzatti, the college’s chief administrative officer stated in a news release. “We look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence in higher education and transforming lives.”
Kornbluth pointed to several financial and institutional improvements made in recent years, including eliminating a \$14 million deficit, growing a fund balance, and increasing student enrollment by an average of 2.5 to 3 percent per semester.
He said the college has also prioritized capital upgrades on its decades-old campus, formerly part of the Mitchell Air Force Base.
“The reaffirmation moves us to the next level,” Kornbluth said. “It enables us to create more resources, and people will have more confidence in the college.”
However, the faculty union sees the outcome differently.
“Nassau Community College has retained its accreditation from Middle States, but only under serious conditions — a clear warning that the college remains in crisis,” David Stern, president of the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, wrote to the Herald. “The Commission found continued failures in ethics, governance, campus climate, and financial accountability, issues first raised nearly a decade ago and now cited in two consecutive reviews.
“By early 2026, NCC must demonstrate concrete reform — under close supervision by Middle States — or risk losing its accreditation entirely,” he added.
“The NCCFT’s comments are absolutely false and irresponsible," Kornbluth said. "It appears that he wants to see the college fail. NCC met all the rigorous standards set by Middle States."
One of the Commission’s noted recommendations was that the college must appoint a permanent president. Conzatti has served as the college’s top leader since 2021, first as interim, then as acting president. In 2023, she was granted a five-year contract by the Board of Trustees with the title of “Chief Administrative Officer.”
Kornbluth said SUNY has not formally recognized her as permanent president, but that Conzatti is for all intents and purposes the college’s leader.
“She’s the first female president in the college’s history, a graduate of NCC, and has been here for over 30 years,” he said. “She’s the right person at the right time to lead the college.”
Looking ahead, Kornbluth said the college aims to expand vocational training in trades like HVAC, welding and electrical work to meet growing regional workforce demand.
“This was a team effort between faculty, staff, trustees, and administration,” he said. “We’re proud of where we are, and we’re moving the college forward.”
