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. The Federal government and the state in which the institution is located are the other two areas. The components of the Triad operate independently, each focusing on issues within their individual scope of responsibility.

In order to assure academic quality as part of the Triad, an accreditor has requirements for institutions. To be a member of HLC, colleges and universities provide evidence that they meet these requirements. The college or university’s mission is central to HLC’s accreditation and assurance of academic quality. In determining whether institutions meet HLC requirements, HLC considers the institution’s mission. An accredited institution demonstrates how it meets HLC requirements through a mission-reflective lens.

HLC’s requirements reflect its values of academic quality. These values include academic freedom and freedom of expression in the pursuit of knowledge, as well as providing opportunities for civic engagement in a diverse, multicultural society and globally connected world, as appropriate within an institution’s mission and for the constituencies it serves.

Should any of HLC’s requirements overlap with requirements from other members of the Triad, we work with the other Triad members to identify these situations and limit the burden on the institution.

HLC does not prescribe how a member institution meets HLC’s requirements. If a requirement of another entity of the Triad may appear to limit an institution’s ability to meet HLC’s requirements in a particular manner, an institution has the flexibility within HLC’s requirements to identify other ways to demonstrate it meets HLC’s requirements.

By being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a gatekeeper agency, HLC agrees to fulfill specific federally defined responsibilities related to accreditation. Each member of the Triad has a role in quality assurance and ensuring transparency to students. For example, the U.S. Department of Education publishes the College Scorecard, which allows students to search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results and more.