Statement of Accreditation Status
as of October 26, 2020
Park University
8700 N.W. River Park Dr.
Parkville, MO 64152
(816) 741-2000
www.park.edu
*Previous names: Park College to Park University (2000)
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: | 01/01/1913 |
Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2013 - 2014
• Action Letter (PDF)
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2023 - 2024
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
| Date | Event | Description |
| 03/01/2021: | Interim Report | Federal Compliance |
| 2023 - 2024: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History with the Commission
| Date | Event | Description |
| 04/30/2018: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Interim Report Requested |
| 02/24/2014: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Interim Report Requested - IAC accepted the reviewer's report with a minor modification of the date. The original read 1/1/16 for the second interim report and the panel recommends 1/5/16. |
| 02/21/2011: | Focused Evaluations | |
| 04/20/2009: | Focused Evaluations - Commission Mandated | |
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 the Commission. Additional information can be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ or on the institution’s web site noted above.
Control: Private NFP
Degree programs (number in each category): Associates (8), Bachelors (54), Masters (14), Specialist (1)
Certificate programs (number offered): 31
Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 10/22/2020; the information may not be current.) The institution’s accreditation includes courses and programs at:
| In-State: | Campuses: | None.
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| Additional Locations: | Fort Leonard Wood (Truman Education Center) - Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Park University Independence Campus - Independence, MO; Park University Downtown Campus - Kansas City, MO; Oak Park High School - Kansas City, MO; Southwest Early College Campus - Kansas City, MO; Whiteman AFB MO - Knob Noster, MO; OnLine Learning - Parkville, MO; | |||
| Out-of-State: | Campuses: | Gilbert - Gilbert, AZ; Camp Pendleton - MCB Camp Pendleton, CA; | ||
| Additional Locations: | Holloman AFB NM - Alamogordo, NM; Henderson Hall - Arlington, VA; Austin Campus - Austin, TX; Barstow Community College - Barstow, CA; MCAS Beaufort - Beaufort, SC; Hanscom AFB MA - Bedford, MA; F.E. Warren AFB WY - Cheyenne, WY; DSCC - Columbus, OH; Wright-Patterson AFB OH - Dayton, OH; El Paso - El Paso, TX; Fort Bliss - Fort Bliss, TX; United States Army Sergeants Major Academy - Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Irwin - Fort Irwin, CA; Fort Myer - Fort Myer, VA; Gilbert - Gilbert, AZ; Goodfellow AFB - Goodfellow AFB, TX; Grand Forks AFB - Grand Forks, ND; Malmstrom AFB MT - Great Falls, MT; MCAS Cherry Point NC - Havelock, NC; Hill AFB UT - Hill Air Force Base , UT; Little Rock AFB - Jacksonville, AR; Charleston - Joint Base Charleston, SC; Laughlin AFB - Laughlin AFB, TX; Lenexa - Lenexa, KS; Millington NSA (Essex Street) - Millington, TN; Minot AFB - Minot, ND; Mountain Home AFG - Mountain Home, ID; Tinker AFB OK - Oklahoma City, OK; Luke AFB AZ - Phoenix, AZ; Quantico - Quantico, VA; Lackland AFB TX - San Antonio, TX; Scott AFB - Scott Air Force Base, IL; Fairchild AFB WA - Spokane, WA; Davis-Monthan AFB AZ - Tucson, AZ; Randolph AFB TX - Universal City, TX; Moody AFB GA - Valdosta, GA; Victor Valley College - Victorville, CA; | |||
| Out-of-U.S.: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Location | Campuses | Additional Locations |
| In-State: | None. | Fort Leonard Wood (Truman Education Center) - Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Park University Independence Campus - Independence, MO; Park University Downtown Campus - Kansas City, MO; Oak Park High School - Kansas City, MO; Southwest Early College Campus - Kansas City, MO; Whiteman AFB MO - Knob Noster, MO; OnLine Learning - Parkville, MO; |
| Out-of-State: | Gilbert - Gilbert, AZ; Camp Pendleton - MCB Camp Pendleton, CA; | Holloman AFB NM - Alamogordo, NM; Henderson Hall - Arlington, VA; Austin Campus - Austin, TX; Barstow Community College - Barstow, CA; MCAS Beaufort - Beaufort, SC; Hanscom AFB MA - Bedford, MA; F.E. Warren AFB WY - Cheyenne, WY; DSCC - Columbus, OH; Wright-Patterson AFB OH - Dayton, OH; El Paso - El Paso, TX; Fort Bliss - Fort Bliss, TX; United States Army Sergeants Major Academy - Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Irwin - Fort Irwin, CA; Fort Myer - Fort Myer, VA; Gilbert - Gilbert, AZ; Goodfellow AFB - Goodfellow AFB, TX; Grand Forks AFB - Grand Forks, ND; Malmstrom AFB MT - Great Falls, MT; MCAS Cherry Point NC - Havelock, NC; Hill AFB UT - Hill Air Force Base , UT; Little Rock AFB - Jacksonville, AR; Charleston - Joint Base Charleston, SC; Laughlin AFB - Laughlin AFB, TX; Lenexa - Lenexa, KS; Millington NSA (Essex Street) - Millington, TN; Minot AFB - Minot, ND; Mountain Home AFG - Mountain Home, ID; Tinker AFB OK - Oklahoma City, OK; Luke AFB AZ - Phoenix, AZ; Quantico - Quantico, VA; Lackland AFB TX - San Antonio, TX; Scott AFB - Scott Air Force Base, IL; Fairchild AFB WA - Spokane, WA; Davis-Monthan AFB AZ - Tucson, AZ; Randolph AFB TX - Universal City, TX; Moody AFB GA - Valdosta, GA; Victor Valley College - Victorville, CA; |
| Out-of-U.S.: | None. | None. |
About HLC and Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is a regional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in a 19-state region of the United States.
Regional 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 institutional accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online offerings. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through national or specialized accreditation agencies. National accreditation associations, like regional accreditors, accredit the institution as a whole. Specialized accreditation agencies accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.
Regional accreditation agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities. There are six regions of the United States which regional agencies oversee. The regional accreditation agencies have similar standards for accrediting colleges and universities.
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 1,600 educators from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. Peer reviewers also serve on committees that make up the decision-making bodies of the accreditation process.
Evaluation Process
HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets standards and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to complete an annual filing of the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices on institutional change.
Peer reviewers trained in HLC’s standards evaluate institutions’ demonstration of whether they meet the Criteria for Accreditation and make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies.
Institutional Actions Council (Decision-Making Body)
The Board of Trustees appoints and authorizes members of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) to conduct reviews and take actions on the majority of accreditation recommendations. IAC members consist of representatives of academic institutions accredited by HLC, as well as members of the public. Detailed information on IAC processes is found in HLC’s policies on decision-making.
Public Information
In the interest of being transparent, 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. Since July 2013, in all cases of issuing continued accreditation, placing an institution on or resolving a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing and the institution’s status in HLC’s online directory is updated. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued in cases of sanction and other HLC actions to provide the public insight into the issues regarding that institution.
Complaints Against HLC-Accredited Institutions
HLC allows faculty, students, and other parties to submit formal complaints regarding an HLC-affiliated institution through its complaints process. 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 the Criteria for Accreditation or other HLC requirements.