Crosswalk Between Revised and Current Criteria

In June 2024, HLC‘s Board of Trustees adopted revisions to the Criteria for Accreditation and related policies that will go into effect on September 1, 2025. The revision include some reorganization of Criteria and Core Components, as well as the elimination of subcomponents. The charts below map these changes between the revised and current Criteria.

From the Current to the Revised Criteria

2020 CriteriaLocation in Revised Criteria & Assumed Practices
Criterion 1. MissionCriterion 1. Mission
1.A.1.A. Mission Alignment
1.B.1.B. Mission and Public Good
1.C.1.C. Mission and Diversity of Society
Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible ConductCriterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
2.A.2.A. Integrity
2.B.2.B. Transparency
2.C.2.C. Board Governance & Assumed Practices A.11–121
2.D.2.D. Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression
2.E.2.E. Knowledge Acquisition, Discovery and Application
Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and SupportCriterion 3. Teaching and Learning for Student Success
3.A.3.A. Educational Programs
3.B.3.B. Exercise of Intellectual Inquiry
3.C.3.C. Sufficiency of Faculty and Staff & Assumed Practice B.42
3.D.3.D. Support for Student Learning and Resources for Teaching3
Criterion 4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and ImprovementCriterion 3. Teaching and Learning for Student Success
4.A.3.F Program Review & Assumed Practice C.24
4.B.3.E Assessment of Student Learning
4.C.3.G. Student Success Outcomes
Criterion 5. Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and PlanningCriterion 4. Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning 
5.A.4.A Effective Administrative Structures
5.B.4.B Resource Base and Sustainability & Assumed Practice D.25
5.C.4.C Planning for Quality Improvement

From the Revised to the Current Criteria

Revised CriteriaLocation in 2020 Criteria
Criterion 1. MissionCriterion 1. Mission
1.A. Mission Alignment1.A.
1.B. Mission and Public Good1.B.
1.C. Mission and Diversity of Society1.C.
Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible ConductCriterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
2.A. Integrity2.A.
2.B. Transparency2.B.
2.C. Board Governance2.C.
2.D. Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression2.D.
2.E. Knowledge Acquisition, Discovery and Application2.E.
Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning for Student SuccessCriterion 3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support, & Criterion 4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
3.A. Educational Programs3.A.
3.B. Exercise of Intellectual Inquiry3.B.
3.C. Sufficiency of Faculty and Staff3.C.
3.D. Support for Student Learning and Resources for Teaching3.D.
3.E Assessment of Student Learning4.B.
3.F Program Review4.A.
3.G. Student Success Outcomes4.C.
Criterion 4. Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning Criterion 5. Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning
4.A Effective Administrative Structures5.A.
4.B Resource Base and Sustainability5.B.
4.C Planning for Quality Improvement5.C.

1 Revised Assumed Practices A.11–12 include concepts from subcomponents 2.C.1 and 2.C.5.

2 Revised Assumed Practice B.4 includes concepts from subcomponent 3.C.1

3 Revised Core Component 3.D includes concepts from subcomponent 3.D.1.

4 Revised Assumed Practice C.2 includes concepts from 4.A.2.

5 Revised Assumed Practice D.2 includes concepts from subcomponent 5.B.3.