The Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Dr. Jorge I. Vélez Arocho, called for a meeting on January 24, 2003 of potential members who would likely constitute the Institutional Steering Team. The Team composition would be representative of all colleges and be responsible to develop the Self-Study Design for the Self-Study Report in preparation for the Middle States Commission of Higher Education visit during Spring 2005.

The Steering Team, which would consist of multiple Task Forces to address the fourteen (14) standards as outlined in The Characteristics of Excellence, would be responsible for the development of relevant Charge Questions to assist in the self-study process. This would further require that a mechanism for the campus-wide self-study be developed, especially with regard to the two areas of special emphasis, namely (1) the development and implementation of a comprehensive institutional strategic plan, and (2) the development and implementation of a comprehensive outcomes assessment plan including student learning outcomes. It is expected that in the course of months to come, especially during summer, proper data collection instruments would be developed where necessary, modified if they already exist, or re-adapted for use from the ones developed and implemented in the College of Engineering.

The UPRM-MSCHE Institutional Steering Team consists of the following eleven (11) Task Forces with their respective Coordinators, along with two (2) ex officio members and two (2) others who would serve as advisors by virtue of their  past involvement in Middle States accreditation-related activities.   see Task Forces