Review of Federal Compliance Requirements

HLC member institutions must be in compliance with each of HLC’s Federal Compliance Requirements at all times.

Federal Compliance Requirements apply to an institution regardless of whether the institution is participating in Title IV programs. However, an institution that does not participate in Title IV programs shall be exempted from the Federal Compliance Requirement related to demonstrating that the institution is meeting its Title IV program responsibilities.

An institution shall provide evidence of meeting the Federal Compliance Requirements as part of a comprehensive evaluation for Candidacy, Initial Accreditation, Probation, Show-Cause and Reaffirmation of Accreditation, and as otherwise requested by HLC, for example through the Institutional Update or as part of substantive change processes.

An institution determined not to be in compliance with any Federal Compliance Requirement, even if in compliance with all other HLC requirements, may be subject to routine monitoring, Probation, Show-Cause, or an adverse action, as provided in HLC policy, based on the gravity of the finding as measured by (a) in the case of Probation, the extent to which a substantial remediation period is necessary to address such non-compliance or; (b) in the case of Show-Cause or an adverse action, the extent to which the finding suggests that the institution should not remain accredited.

HLC may require special monitoring related to an institution’s status with regard to the Federal Compliance Requirements and any resulting implications for its compliance with other HLC requirements, as appropriate, when findings by the U.S. Department of Education, a state or another recognized accreditor indicate there may be significant noncompliance with applicable laws or regulations, including the Higher Education Act, as amended, or that the integrity of the institution and its educational programs might be in jeopardy.

Policy History

Last Revised or Edited: November 2025, effective September 2026
First Adopted: February 1996, effective September 1996
History:* revised February 1998; edited October 2003; renumbered November 2010 (former policy number 1.7); revised June 2012; renumbered November 2012 (former policy number 4.0); revised June 2019 (effective September 2019); revised June 2020; revised November 2020; edited February 2021; revised February 2022; revised November 2025 (effective September 2026)
Notes:

* In the history, “revised” indicates that the HLC Board of Trustees adopted changes to the policy, and “edited” indicates that HLC staff made technical amendments or minor editorial revisions that did not require formal Board approval.