Higher Learning Commission

At its meeting on February 29, HLC’s Board of Trustees approved on first reading proposed changes to the Criteria for Accreditation and other related policies. The Board also approved on first reading a proposed change to HLC’s bylaws, adopted other policy changes on second reading and took a number of institutional actions. 

Proposed Criteria Revisions 

HLC developed the proposed Criteria for Accreditation through collaboration with member institutions, peer reviewers, and stakeholders from the higher education ecosystem. The revisions would: 
 

1. Emphasize HLC’s mission-reflective approach. 

2. Eliminate subcomponents from each Core Component. 

3. Combine Criteria 3 and 4 into one Criterion on “Teaching and Learning for Student Success.” 

4. Clarify, simplify and streamline language throughout the policy. 

Proposed Criteria Revisions  

Submit Comments  

Please submit your feedback about the proposed Criteria by May 13, 2024. 

HLC will also hold listening sessions on the proposed Criteria at the 2024 annual conference in April. See Know Before You Go: 2024 HLC Annual Conference for details. 

Timeline 

HLC’s Board will consider the policy for adoption on second reading at its June meeting. If adopted, the revisions would go into effect on September 1, 2025. 

Proposed Bylaw Change 

The Board approved the following proposed change to HLC’s Bylaws on first reading. To submit comments on this proposal, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by May 17, 2024.  

Composition of Executive Committee 

The Executive Committee of HLC’s Board of Trustees currently consists of the Board chair, vice chair, treasurer, and the chairs of all standing Board committees. The proposed change would expand the membership of the Executive Committee to include the immediate past chair of the Board.  

Adopted Policy Changes 

The Board adopted the following policy changes on second reading: 

Multi-campus Visits (changes effective September 1, 2024) 

The adopted changes revise when HLC visits a sample of an institution’s branch campuses — a process known as a multi-campus visit — during a comprehensive evaluation. Beginning September 1, 2024, multi-campus visits will take place during comprehensive evaluations for candidacy, initial accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation. They will no longer occur during other comprehensive evaluations, including Standard Pathway Year 4 comprehensive evaluations that do not involve reaffirmation of accreditation. 

Staff Authority (changes effective immediately) 

The adopted changes clarify when HLC staff may take certain actions with respect to an institution and when staff may recommend certain actions to an HLC decision-making body. The changes also clarify when institutions have an opportunity to submit a response to a staff member’s recommendation. 

In connection with the changes made to the Routine Monitoring and Data Collection policy, HLC also updated its Monitoring Recommendations: Considerations for Peer Review document to clarify guidance for peer reviewers. 

Institutional Actions 

The Board took action on a number of institutional cases. See February 2024 Institutional Actions for details.  

Next Board Meeting 

The Board’s next meeting will be held June 27–28, 2024.