Accreditation Procedure Resources for Institutions
Assurance Review Process Overview
Open Pathway Mid-cycle Assurance Review ProcedureÂ
Criteria for Accreditation Resources
For Assurance Filings submitted in Canopy:
For Assurance Filings submitted in the Assurance System:
Coming in 2026: Sample Assurance Arguments. HLC will publish new sample Assurance Arguments written to the Criteria that went into effect September 1, 2025, after the first evaluations conducted under the revised Criteria are complete.
Comprehensive Evaluation Process Overview
See Assurance Review for more information.
Comprehensive Evaluation Components
For all comprehensive evaluations:
Required for certain comprehensive evaluations, as applicable:
See Assurance Review, Comprehensive Evaluation and Quality Initiative for more information.
Student Success Quality Initiative Templates
Open Quality Initiative Templates
Eligibility Process and Candidacy
Eligibility Process and Candidacy: Process Overview
Milestone Planner: Eligibility Process and Candidacy
Forms
See Comprehensive Evaluation for more information.
Accelerated Process for Initial Accreditation
Accelerated Process for Initial Accreditation: Process Overview
Milestone Planner: Accelerated Process for Initial Accreditation
Forms
See Comprehensive Evaluation for more information.
Provisional Plans and Teach-Out Agreements: Overview of HLC’s Teach-Out Requirements
Change of Control, Structure or Organization
Change of Control, Structure or Organization Procedure
Evaluating Institutions on Accredited Change of Control Status
Screening Forms
Pell-Eligible Prison Education Program
Changes to Existing Educational Programs
Change Request Applications
Educational Programs
- Change in Length of Term Affecting Allocation of Credit
- Change in Program Content
- Clock/Credit Hour Conversion or Substantial Increase or Decrease in Clock or Credit Hours Required for a Program
- New Certificate Program
- New Educational Program
- Pell-Eligible Prison Education Program
- Programs Offered Through Contractual Arrangements
- Reduced-Credit Bachelor’s Degree Program
Locations and Campuses
Modalities
- Competency-Based Education (CBE) Program
- Correspondence Education
- Distance-Delivered Courses
- Distance Education
Mission or Structure
Teach-Out Arrangements
Review Processes
Substantive Change Review Processes Overview
Change Visit: Information for Institutions and Peer Reviewers
Change Visit: Required Materials and Submission Procedures
Additional Location Confirmation Visit Procedure
