Statement of Accreditation Status
as of October 27, 2021
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
3200 Broadway Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64111-2429
(816) 604-1000
http://www.mcckc.edu
*Previous names: NAME CHANGE: Kansas City Polytechnic Institute to Junior College of Kansas City (1921) merged with Lincoln Junior College in 1954) name changed to Metropolitan Junior College-Kansas City (1965) to Metropolitan Junior College District (1969) to Junior College of Metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri (1974) to Metropolitan Community Colleges (1976) to Metropolitan Community College District (1990) to Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City (2006)
The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission. General information about the Commission and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document. In addition, links to definitions are provided for many of the terms used.
Accreditation Information
Current status: Accredited
| Accreditation granted: | 08/22/1986 |
| Historical note: | * Note on date of accreditation: Accredited as a single entity in 1986. Institution includes the formerly separately-accredited campuses: Longview Community College at Lee's Summit, first accredited in 1972 Maple Woods Community College, first accredited in 1972 Penn Valley Community College, first accredited in 1972 and Pioneer Community College at Kansas City, first accredited in 1980. |
Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2015 - 2016
• Action Letter (PDF)
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2025 - 2026
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
| Date | Event | Description |
| 10/03/2022: | Focused Visit | |
| 2025 - 2026: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History With HLC
| Date | Event | Description |
| 05/04/2020: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Focused Visit Requested |
| 03/21/2016: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Continue Accreditation |
General Institutional Information
This section provides brief, general information about the institution’s organization and scope. The information is self-reported by the institution through the annual Institutional Update to HLC. Additional information can be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ or on the institution’s website noted above.
Control: Public
Degree programs (number in each category): Associates (81)
Certificate programs (number offered): 60
Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 10/13/2021; the information may not be current.) The institution’s accreditation includes courses and programs at:
| In-State: | Campuses: | MCC - Blue River - Independence, MO; MCC - Penn Valley - Kansas City, MO; MCC - Maple Woods - Kansas City, MO; MCC - Business & Technology - Kansas City, MO; MCC - Longview - Lee's Summit, MO;
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| Additional Locations: | Blue River East Campus - Independence, MO; Health Sciences Institute - Kansas City, MO; Advanced Technical Skills Institute - Kansas City, MO; Hillyard Technical Center - Saint Joseph, MO; Tyson Foods - St. Joseph, MO; | |||
| Out-of-State: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Out-of-U.S.: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Location | Campuses | Additional Locations |
| In-State: | MCC - Blue River - Independence, MO; MCC - Penn Valley - Kansas City, MO; MCC - Maple Woods - Kansas City, MO; MCC - Business & Technology - Kansas City, MO; MCC - Longview - Lee's Summit, MO; | Blue River East Campus - Independence, MO; Health Sciences Institute - Kansas City, MO; Advanced Technical Skills Institute - Kansas City, MO; Hillyard Technical Center - Saint Joseph, MO; Tyson Foods - St. Joseph, MO; |
| Out-of-State: | None. | None. |
| Out-of-U.S.: | None. | None. |
About HLC and Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in the United States.
Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC’s accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online course delivery. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through specialized or programmatic accreditation agencies, which accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.
Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status. HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation reflect a set of Guiding Values.
The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Approximately 2,000 educators from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. They make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies, which take final action on institutional evaluations and are made up of both peer reviewers and public members.
Evaluation Process
HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets threshold requirements and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to data annually in the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices, including Assumed Practices and Obligations of Membership.
Decision Making
HLC’s decision-making bodies evaluate and make decisions, called actions, on recommendations from peer review teams that review institutions for their compliance with HLC's Criteria for Accreditation and other requirements. The decision-making bodies are comprised of institutional representatives and public members. See Decision-Making Bodies and Processes for more information.
Public Information
HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.
Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution’s accreditation status are disclosed to the public. In cases of reaffirming continued accreditation, placing an institution on or reviewing a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing on the institution’s Statement of Accreditation Status, found by searching the institution’s name through HLC’s online directory. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued and posted in the directory in cases of sanction, assigning or removing an institutional designation, resignation of accreditation or candidacy, institutional closing or withdrawal of accreditation by HLC. The PDN provides the public with the most applicable information from the posted Action Letter. HLC decision-making outcomes also are summarized on the HLC Institutional Actions page.
Complaints Against Institutions
HLC has a formal complaint process, consisting of an online complaint form on the HLC website, for faculty, students and other parties to submit information regarding a member institution’s potential non-compliance with HLC requirements. HLC does not accept complaints through mail, email or over the phone. As stated in HLC policy, the complaints process is designed to enable HLC to review, in a timely and fair manner, information that suggests potential substantive non-compliance with an institution’s ability to meet HLC requirements.
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