Academic Degree Program Inquiry Form | Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission

About HLC
- - About Us
    
    HLC accredits colleges and universities in a 19-state region of the United States.
    
    Background
    
    Strategic Plan
    
    HLC 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 March 10, 2021
    
    Virtual Events
    
    Updated November 19, 2020
    
    Requirements Regarding Changes to Educational Offerings
    
    Updated November 19, 2020
    
    FAQs and Additional Resources
    
    Updated September 17, 2020
Accreditation
- - Standard Pathway
    
    Overview
    
    10-Year Cycle
    
    Assurance Review
    
    Comprehensive Evaluation
    
    Standard Pathway Resources
  - Open Pathway
    
    Overview
    
    10-Year Cycle
    
    Assurance Review
    
    Quality Initiative
    
    Comprehensive Evaluation
  - Maintenance & Monitoring
    
    Substantive Change
    
    Off-Campus Activities
    
    Federal Compliance
    
    Institutional Update
    
    Non-financial and Financial Indicators
    
    Interim Report
    
    Focused Visit
    
    Special Conditions
Policies
- - February 2021 Updates
  - 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
Peer Review
Programs and Events
- - Process Events
  - 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
Student Resources
- - Commentary on Institutions
    
    Third-Party Comment
    
    Submit comments about an institution with an upcoming comprehensive evaluation
    
    Complaint Process
    
    File a complaint about an HLC member institution
  - Public Information
    
    Recent Actions
    
    Documentation of institutional actions by HLC decision-making bodies
    
    Public Disclosure Notices
    
    Public statements on issues and summaries of HLC decisions

Academic Degree Program Inquiry Form

Institutions should complete this form for any new degree program to determine if prior HLC approval is required. If the institution is planning a new certificate or diploma program, it should complete HLC’s certificate program screening form. Contact changerequests@hlcommission.org with any questions.

First name:(*)

First name required

Last name:(*)

Last name required

Title:(*)

Title required

Email address:(*)

Email address required

Institution name:(*)

Select your institution from the list provided

Are you the Chief Executive Officer or Accreditation Liaison Officer of your institution?(*)

Yes
No

Selection required

Details of the Proposed Program

Full program name:(*)

Full program name required

Six-digit CIP code:(*)

CIP code required

Degree or nearest instructional level: (*)
(e.g., A.A., B.A., B.S., Ph.D., Master of Social Work, etc.)(*)

Degree or nearest instructional level required

Select all categories that are appropriate:(*)

Major
Concentration (specialization, track)
Other

Selection required

Please specify:

Invalid Input

Does the institution currently offer programs at the same instructional level as the proposed program?(*)

Yes
No

Selection required

Does the institution currently offer a program with the same 4-digit CIP code (XX.XX) as the proposed program?(*)

Yes
No

Selection required

Provide a list of the program(s) and CIP code(s):

Invalid Input

Does the institution currently offer a program with the same 2-digit CIP code (XX.) as the proposed program?(*)

Yes
No

Selection required

Provide a list of the program(s) and CIP code(s):

Invalid Input

Will the proposed program replace a program currently offered with the same CIP code?(*)

Yes
No

Selection required

Name of program being replaced:

Invalid Input

Total number of credit hours required for the program:(*)

Total number of credits required

Please indicate the number of credit hours in each of the following categories. (Note: calculated total must equal the total number of credit hours required for the program.) (*)

Category	Number of Credit Hours	Percent of Total
Existing or repackaged curricula: Courses from existing inventory of courses at the institution	Number of credit hours required
Revised or redesigned curricula: Courses for which content has been revised for the new program	Number of credit hours required
New curricula: Courses developed for the new program that haven't been offered at the institution	Number of credit hours required
TOTAL: Must match the total number of credit hours required for the program		Total percent must equal 100.00%. Please confirm that the credit hours reported by category add up to the total number of credit hours required for the program.

Will new faculty expertise or new faculty members be needed to launch this program?(*)

Yes
No

Selection required

Please explain new needs:

Note: Indicate whether the institution will need to hire new faculty members for this program in order to secure appropriately credentialed people or to have enough faculty members to appropriately support the program.

Invalid Input

Please explain existing coverage:

Invalid Input

Will the proposed program require a large outlay of additional funds by the institution?(*)

Yes
No

Selection required

Please explain institutional funding for proposed program:

Invalid Input

Please explain institutional funding for proposed program:

Invalid Input

Higher Learning Commission

About Us

HLC accredits colleges and universities in a 19-state region of the United States.

Who We Are

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.

Standard Pathway

Open Pathway

Maintenance & Monitoring

February 2021 Updates

Browse Policies

Process Events

Elective Programs

Commentary on Institutions

Public Information

Details of the Proposed Program