Assurance Review

Peer reviewers complete Assurance Reviews in Canopy when they are assigned to a team for the following evaluation types:

All comprehensive evaluations, including those for:
Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Standard Pathway Year 4
Candidacy
Initial Accreditation
Probation
Show-Cause
Open Pathway mid-cycle Assurance Reviews

Preliminary Peer Reviews and Biennial Evaluation Visits: Peer reviewers use the Assurance Review section of Canopy to access institutional materials for these evaluations, but the team completes its report outside the system. See instructions on reviewing the institution’s Assurance Argument and evidence.

Sunsetting HLC’s Assurance System: The Assurance Review section in Canopy replaces HLC’s stand-alone Assurance System, which was sunset in November 2025. See Assurance Filings Moving to Canopy for additional details.

Access to the Assurance Review

The peer review team will receive access to the institution’s materials shortly after the institution’s lock date. Team members will be notified via email when they can begin their review in Canopy.

Navigating to the Assurance Review

Assurance Review Sections and Instructions

Review

In this section, reviewers access the institution’s Assurance Filing, manage the review process, and write the bulk of the team report.

Writing the Review

Additional Review Components (Federal Compliance and Other Forms)

Evidence File

In the Evidence File, reviewers access documents provided by HLC from the institution’s administrative record.

Viewing Evidence File Documents

Review Context

This section provides information regarding the nature, content and scope of the review. The team also enters information here about the institutional context and, if applicable, interactions with constituencies and additional documents reviewed during the site visit.

Completing the Review Context

Addendum

If the team needs additional documents from the institution, the team chair sends those requests through the Addendum section.

Requesting Additional Files

Summary

The team chair enters the team’s overall recommendations and conclusion and finalizes the report in this section.

Summary and Recommendations

Finalizing and Submitting the Team Report

Review Team

This section provides contact information for the team chair and members of the review team. If applicable, this includes the Federal Compliance Reviewer.

Viewing the Team Roster