Higher Learning Commission (HLC) policy indicates that all peer reviewers must “be able to render impartial and objective decisions on behalf of the Commission. Therefore, the Commission will not knowingly allow any person whose past or present activities could affect his or her ability to be impartial and objective to participate in an institutional evaluation…” (HLC Policy PEER.A.10.040: Standards of Conduct).
Likewise, when peer reviewers are serving as members of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC), and for public members of the IAC, HLC “expects that all IAC members will act with objectivity and without conflict of interest when participating in IAC activities. The Commission will not knowingly allow any IAC member to participate in discussions, recommendations, or actions where the IAC member has a conflict of interest that may cause the IAC member to lack objectivity, that may result in the appearance of bias, or that may otherwise call into question the integrity, fairness, or credibility of the IAC processes. ” (HLC Policy INST.D.20.010: Institutional Actions Council).
Information about determining whether a peer reviewer may have a Conflict of Interest is below. For purposes of this information, the term "peer reviewer" is used to include peer reviewers who are serving as members of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) and public members of the IAC.
Conflict of Interest Definition
A Conflict of Interest is a situation in which a peer reviewer, because of an Education Relationship, Financial Relationship, or other circumstances cannot fulfill their obligations as a peer reviewer in an objective and independent manner or as otherwise required in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. For purpose of this procedure, the term Conflict of Interest also includes:
- A potential conflict of interest, in which a peer reviewer, because of an Education Relationship, Financial Relationship, or other circumstances may not be able to fulfill their obligations as a peer reviewer in an objective and independent manner or as otherwise required in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- An apparent conflict of interest, in which a peer reviewer, because of an Education Relationship, Financial Relationship, or other circumstances may not appear to be able to fulfill their obligations as a peer reviewer in an objective and independent manner or as otherwise required in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Peer reviewers will disclose all of their Education Relationships and Financial Relationships at the start of their term on the Peer Corps and/or on the Institutional Actions Council and confirm or update these relationships annually.
At the time peer reviewers or IAC members accept evaluative assignments, they will also affirm none of the following types of conflicts of interest or relationships are present:
Please review the information below carefully prior to providing information or affirming your commitment to these expectations.