Substantive Requirements for Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Each institution shall have its accreditation reaffirmed by formal action of HLC according to its decision-making policies. The basis for reaffirmation shall be evidence HLC’s determination that the institution may retain its accreditation and has legal authority to operate as an institution of higher education. Generally, reaffirmation shall occur not more than ten years from the date of the last formal HLC action reaffirming accreditation. For an institution that received initial accreditation after its most recent comprehensive evaluation, reaffirmation shall occur not more than four years after the initial accreditation action. For an institution that was removed from Probation or Show-Cause, reaffirmation shall occur no more than four years after Probation or Show-Cause is removed, except that institutions that should have been reaffirmed in year ten of their cycle but were found out of compliance instead will first be reaffirmed upon removal of Probation or Show-Cause. Should the reaffirmation action take place in the spring or fall following the required date for reaffirmation, such action shall be considered to have met the requirements of this policy provided that the evaluation visit takes place no later than ten, or, where applicable, four, years from the date of the last reaffirmation action.

The cycle for reaffirmation may be fewer than ten years for institutions that are required by HLC to participate in more frequent comprehensive evaluations for reaffirmation of accreditation.

An institution may file a formal request for an extension of its reaffirmation process, provided that it articulates a compelling reason for seeking such extension and it is not on sanction, under a Show-Cause Order with, or pending withdrawal by, HLC or any other recognized accreditor.

An institution must file such an extension request with sufficient time for a decision to be made prior to the conclusion of the academic year in which the reaffirmation was scheduled. The extension shall be no more than one year beyond the institution’s regular cycle as established by the terms of the reaffirmation process in which it participates. The maximum cycle permitted under this policy is thirteen (13) years.

Policy History

Last Revised: February 2022
First Adopted: June 2012
Revision History: November 2012, November 2018, February 2022
Notes: Policies combined November 2012 – 1A.1.1, 1A1.2, IA.1.3, 1A.1.4, 1A.1.5, 1A.1.6, 1A.1.7. In February 2021, references to the Higher Learning Commission as “the Commission” were replaced with the term “HLC.”