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Higher Learning Commission

Higher Learning Commission
  • About HLC

      • About Us

        HLC accredits colleges and universities in the United States.
        • Background
        • News
        • HLC Community
        • Strategic Plan
        • Initiatives
        • Career and Service Opportunities

      • Who We Are

        President and Executive Leadership Team
        Board of Trustees
        Institutional Actions Council
        Staff Directory
        Staff Liaisons
        Peer Corps
  • COVID-19

      • HLC's Response to COVID-19

        HLC's priorities are to protect the safety of its stakeholders and to support the efforts of institutions as they respond to this challenging situation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact HLC.
      • Accreditation Reviews During the Pandemic
        Updated January 24, 2022
        Health and Safety at HLC Events
        Updated June 29, 2022
        Requirements Regarding Changes to Educational Offerings
        Updated May 27, 2021
        FAQs and Additional Resources
        Updated June 15, 2021
  • Accreditation
      • accreditation overview
        HLC requirements
        accreditation liaison officer role
        HLC online systems
      • Seeking Accreditation
        Processes and requirements for applying for and achieving HLC membership
        Standard and Open Pathways
        Evaluation cycles for accredited institutions to reaffirm compliance with HLC requirements
        Institutional Update
        Annual survey on institutional enrollment, academic offerings, operations and finances
        Substantive Change
        Requirements regarding changes to operations or academic offerings
        Off-Campus Activities
        Evaluations of branch campuses and additional locations
        Financial and Non-financial Indicators
        Annual analysis of institutional health
        Decision Making
        Processes for taking action on institutional evaluations
        Monitoring
        Processes for following up on issues of concern at accredited institutions
        Sanctions, Show-Cause Orders and Adverse Actions
        Actions and processes related to non-compliance with HLC requirements
  • Policies

      • February 2022 Updates

        adopted policies
        proposed policies

      • Browse Policies

        Criteria and Requirements
        Criteria for Accreditation, Assumed Practices, Eligibility Requirements
        Institutional Processes
        COVID-19 response, membership, reaffirmation, decision making, sanctions, monitoring
        Commitment to Peer Review
        Peer reviewer eligibility, terms of service, standards of conduct
        Compliance With Federal Regulation
        Federal Compliance, fraud and abuse, teach-out arrangements
        HLC Obligations
        Public notices, complaints, relationships with external agencies
        Policy Adoption and Review
        Policy review and revision process requirements
  • Publications
      • Download the HLC Resource Guide
      • Publications by Topic
      • The Leaflet
      • Team Visit Guidelines, Templates and Examples
  • Peer Review
      • About the Peer Corps
      • Peer Review Team Resources
      • Canopy
      • Become a Peer Reviewer
      • Diversity Initiative
  • Programs and Events

      • Process Events

        ALO training resources
        peer reviewer training
        meetings of decision making bodies

      • Elective Programs

        Standard Pathway Resources
        Seminars, webinars and HLC feedback
        Academies
        Long-term programs on improvement
        Workshops
        Intensive topic-based programs
      • Annual Conference
        • Call for Proposals
        • Program
        • Registration
        • Sponsors and Exhibitors
        • Featured Speakers
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  • Student Resources
      • directory of institutions
        complaint process
        how accreditation works

      • Public Information

        Recent Actions
        Documentation of institutional actions by HLC decision-making bodies
        Public Disclosure Notices
        Public statements on institutional issues and summaries of recent HLC decisions

      • Institutional Review

        Upcoming Campus Visits
        View the calendar of campus visits planned for HLC member colleges and universities
        Third-Party Comment
        Submit comments about an institution with an upcoming comprehensive evaluation

  • Find Institutions

    Search HLC’s database of current and former member institutions.

    Search

  • Federal Compliance

    Materials for reviews during the 2022–23 academic year are now available.

    Learn More

  • Find Dates

    Check the HLC calendar for the date of the next Institutional Actions Council or Board meeting.

    Learn more

Find Institutions

Verify accreditation, view institutional notes, and review historical information on current and past HLC member institutions.

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Recent Actions

Find summaries of recent and historical actions, including sanctions and designations which are posted within 30 days of action taken by HLC.

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Strategic Plan

The plan to take HLC from 2020 to 2025 will concentrate on six strategic directions: Equity, Vision, Outcomes, Leadership, Value and Engagement.

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Public Comment

File a third-party comment before an institutional comprehensive evaluation, and HLC will forward that public input to the evaluation team and the institution.

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Pathways for Reaffirmation

Learn about procedures and requirements in the Standard and Open Pathways.

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Substantive Change

Apply for prior approval or notify HLC of substantive changes at your institution.

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Federal Compliance

Stay informed about the Federal Compliance requirements for institutions.

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Peer Reviewer Resources

Download report templates and procedural documents for institutional evaluations.

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Become a Peer Reviewer

Assure and advance the quality of higher learning as a member of HLC’s Peer Corps.

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Sign In

Access the Assurance System, Canopy, SparQ and other systems.

Programs and Events

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Annual Conference

Held annually in the spring in Chicago, the conference offers learning, professional development and networking opportunities for HLC members.
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HLC Academies

HLC’s Academies are programs aimed at helping institutions to define, develop and implement comprehensive strategies for institutional improvement.
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HLC Workshops

HLC’s intensive, hands-on workshops accelerate professional development and institutional improvement efforts. 

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The Higher Learning Commission word mark is a registered trademark owned by the Higher Learning Commission.

© Higher Learning Commission

230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604

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800.621.7440 / 312.263.0456

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