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Higher Learning Commission

Higher Learning Commission
  • About HLC

      • About Us

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

      • Who We Are

        President and Executive Leadership Team
        Board of Trustees
        Institutional Actions Council
        Staff Directory
        Staff Liaisons
        Peer Corps
  • 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
  • Peer Review
      • About the Peer Corps
        Become a Peer Reviewer
        Diversity Initiative

      • Resources

        Peer Reviewer Responsibilities
        Expectations and requirements for HLC peer reviewers
        Materials for Teams and Panels
        Documents and forms for conducting accreditation reviews
        Peer Reviewer Training Resources
        Upcoming events and recordings of past webinars

      • HLC Online Systems

        • Canopy
        • Assurance System
        • SAP Concur
  • Policies

      • June 2024 Updates

        adopted policies
        proposed policies

      • Browse Policies

        Criteria and Requirements
        Eligibility Requirements, Criteria for Accreditation, Assumed Practices, Obligations of Membership
        Compliance With Federal Regulation
        Federal Compliance, fraud and abuse, teach-out arrangements
        Institutional Processes
        Membership, reaffirmation, decision making, sanctions, monitoring, substantive change
        HLC Obligations
        Public notices, complaints, relationships with external agencies
        Commitment to Peer Review
        Peer reviewer eligibility, terms of service, standards of conduct
        Policy Adoption and Review
        Policy review and revision process requirements
  • News and Reports
      • HLC News
        The Leaflet
        EVOLVE: HLC's Strategic Plan

      • Publications

        White Papers
        Position Statements
        Resource Guide
        Guidelines on Accreditation Requirements

      • Higher Education Initiatives

        • Student Success and Outcomes
        • Leadership and Advocacy
        • Equity
        • Innovation
        • HLC's Credential Lab
  • Programs and Events

      • Process Events

        ALO training resources
        peer reviewer training
        meetings of decision making bodies

      • Elective Programs

        Standard Pathway Resources
        Seminars and webinars
        Academies
        Long-term programs on improvement
        Workshops
        Intensive topic-based programs
      • Annual Conference
        • About the Conference
        • Call for Proposals
        • Sponsors
      • Submit a Proposal, Higher Learning 2025
  • For Students and Communities
      • Find a College or University
        how accreditation works
        FAQs
      • Coming Soon! Student Guide

      • Outreach to HLC

        Submit Comments
        Provide feedback about a college or university
        File a Complaint
        Report accreditation-related issues at a college or university

      • Accreditation Reviews

        Upcoming Campus Visits
        Calendar of peer review visits to colleges and universities
        Outcomes of Reviews
        Actions taken on recent accreditation reviews

  • Find Institutions

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

    Search

  • Submit Comments

    The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) invites comments on HLC’s continued recognition.

    Learn more

  • Reduced-Credit

    HLC has released guidelines and an application process related to reduced-credit bachelor’s degree programs.

    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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