HLC assesses assurance and improvement efforts at institutions on the Standard Pathway during the comprehensive evaluations conducted in Year 4 and Year 10 of the pathway cycle. Institutions may also be required to address improvement through interim monitoring.

As part of the comprehensive evaluation, institutions demonstrate their improvement efforts in an expanded Assurance Filing. Institutions should focus on improvements related to HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. Institutions on the Standard Pathway are expected to demonstrate improvement addressing concerns from past evaluations. Institutions without previously identified improvement requirements, or those that have selected the Standard Pathway, may identify and showcase improvement in areas of their choice.

Resources for Institutions on the Standard Pathway

HLC offers institutions on the Standard Pathway assistance in formulating improvement plans and feedback on plans that have been drafted. Although participation is not required, HLC encourages institutions to take advantage of the offerings.

HLC’s assistance to institutions does not guarantee approval or successful completion of the institution’s improvement component on the Standard Pathway. Instead, institutions will gain an understanding of how to draft strong Assurance Arguments that highlight the strides institutions have made in improvement.

Standard Pathway Seminars

Institutions on the Standard Pathway that are preparing for a comprehensive evaluation in the next two academic years will receive invitations to attend a two-day virtual seminar on addressing improvement in the Assurance Argument. Invitations are sent to the Accreditation Liaison Officer, Assurance System Coordinator and Chief Academic Officer of eligible institutions. At the seminars, institutional teams develop strategies to demonstrate improvement within the Criteria for Accreditation. 

Upcoming seminars are listed on the Calendar. Institutions that are eligible to participate receive invitations by email.

Standard Pathway Q&A Webinars

HLC hosts a series of one-hour webinars where participants have the opportunity to ask questions about any topic related to the Standard Pathway, including the Assurance System, embedded monitoring, and related matters. This is not a formal presentation, and attendees are encouraged to bring questions and participate in an open exchange. Representatives from all institutions on the Standard Pathway are welcome to participate.

Upcoming webinars are listed on the Calendar, along with links to register.