HLC and the Triad
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Relationship Within the Triad
As an accreditor, HLC is one member of the program integrity Triad, which consists of three areas of oversight for higher education in the United States: institutional and programmatic accreditors, the Federal government, and the state or sovereign nation in which an institution is located. The parts of the Triad operate independently, each focusing on issues within their individual scope of responsibility.
HLC Recognition by External Agencies
U.S. Department of Education
HLC is recognized as an institutional accreditor by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).
By law, ED relies in part on accrediting agencies to determine eligibility for U.S. government programs under certain legislation. ED oversees a recognition process by which it identifies reliable authorities on the quality of educational organizations and programs.
For details about HLC’s recognition with ED, see the ED Institutional Accrediting Agencies list.
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
HLC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA, a private nonprofit organization that coordinates accreditation activities in the United States, represents degree-granting colleges and universities as well as institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations.
For details about HLC’s recognition with CHEA, see the Public Statement of CHEA Recognition.
Advocacy Agenda
HLC’s Advocacy Agenda addresses higher education issues at the federal and state levels. HLC advocates on legislative, executive and judicial branch issues as they pertain to HLC, accreditation and higher education.
HLC is recognized by and operates under regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Education from the Higher Education Act (HEA), which is authorized by Congress. Therefore, HLC has an interest in addressing HEA issues and the resulting federal regulations for accreditors and the institutions HLC accredits.
To support the improvement and sustainability of a strong system of higher education in the United States, HLC advocates for:
State Partner Events
State Partners Annual Meeting
Each November, HLC hosts a State Partners Annual Meeting in Chicago to bring together representatives of state higher education agencies to hear updates regarding HLC initiatives and interact with colleagues. Typically, a maximum of three representatives per state are invited to attend. The event is by invitation only.
Federal Policy Updates Webinar
HLC hosts a Federal Policy Updates for State Partners webinar each October. The event is by invitation only.
Higher Learning: HLC’s Annual Conference
State partners are invited to attend HLC’s annual conference, where they can connect with HLC staff and leading thinkers, researchers and advocates in higher ed.
Resources for State Partners
Webinar on HLC Resources for You
This webinar covers topics including upcoming campus visits, institutional comments and complaints, meetings for HLC decision-making bodies, the substantive change process, and other HLC processes and resources. Recorded December 2023
Observation of HLC Visits
If initiated by a member institution, HLC may conduct a visit concurrently with a state higher education agency. If an institution would like to have a representative of another agency observe an HLC visit, the institution must initiate and administer the request, as well as coordinate the logistics of the observation.
Agency representatives, institutions and peer reviewers are expected to follow HLC’s guidelines to preserve the integrity of the review process, ensuring that the visit unfolds as it would regardless of the presence of observers.
Directory of Institutions
The directory provides information on all HLC member institutions, including each institution’s:
- Accreditation status;
- Accreditation history;
- Upcoming or in-progress reviews;
- Recent history with HLC, including substantive change requests, comprehensive evaluations, special monitoring, and sanctions;
- Student success outcomes; and
- Institutional characteristics, including institutional control, educational programs offered, and approved campuses and additional locations.
Recent Accreditation Actions
To be transparent to students and other stakeholders, HLC publishes information regarding actions our decision-making bodies and staff members take on institutional evaluations, requests from institutions for approval of substantive changes, and other aspects of the accreditation relationship. HLC posts all institutional actions within 30 days after the action is taken.
Accreditation actions are posted in the Accreditation Actions section and/or on the institution’s Statement of Accreditation Status in the HLC Directory of Institutions.
Upcoming Campus Visits
HLC publishes its schedule of accreditation visits to colleges and universities for the coming year. The visits will be conducted by teams of HLC peer reviewers as part of comprehensive evaluations, including evaluations related to candidacy and initial accreditation and evaluations related to sanctions or Show-Cause Orders.
Related Resources
