Service Opportunities for Peer Reviewers

As a peer reviewer, there are many different types of HLC reviews you can be trained to conduct. On this page, get an overview of the qualifications and training required to participate in the various HLC activities that involve peer review.

Opportunities for All Reviewers

After completing Standard and Open Pathways Training, you are qualified to serve on teams for:

Pathway Reviews

Mid-cycle and Year 10 comprehensive evaluations and mid-cycle Assurance Reviews 

Candidacy and Initial Accreditation

Comprehensive evaluations for candidacy and (early) initial accreditation, and biennial evaluation visits 

Sanction and Show-Cause  

Notice visits and comprehensive evaluations for Probation and Show-Cause  

Other

Change visits and focused visits 

Additional Opportunities 

These reviews or roles require certain peer review or professional experience, as well as additional training. HLC offers training in these areas as needed.*  

Contact [email protected] if you are interested in any of these opportunities.

Reviews That Qualify You for Additional Opportunities 

Many opportunities require interested peer reviewers to serve on a minimum number of “qualified reviews.” These reviews include:  

  • All types of comprehensive evaluations, including those for Pathway institutions, candidacy, (early) initial accreditation, Probation or Show-Cause 
  • Open Pathway mid-cycle Assurance Reviews 
  • Notice visits  

Federal Compliance Review

Prerequisites

  • Serve on 2+ qualified reviews

How to get Involved

Complete Federal Compliance training (offered to eligible peer reviewers as needed)

Financial Indicator Panel

Prerequisites
  • Serve on 2+ qualified reviews 
  • Financial background 
How to get Involved

Complete Financial Indicator Panel training (offered to eligible peer reviewers as needed) 

Non-financial Indicator Panel

Prerequisites
  • Serve on 2+ qualified reviews 
  • Background and experience in financial aid, institutional research or enrollment management 
How to get Involved

Complete Non-financial Indicator Panel training (offered to eligible peer reviewers as needed) 

Quality Initiative Panel

Prerequisites
  • Serve on 2+ qualified reviews 
How to get Involved

Complete Quality Initiative training (offered to eligible peer reviewers as needed) 

Student Success Improvement Plan Review 

Prerequisites
  • Serve on 2+ qualified reviews 
  • Background and experience in institutional research, institutional effectiveness or retention/persistence/completion 
How to get Involved

Complete Student Success Improvement Plan training (offered to eligible peer reviewers as needed) 

Substantive Change Panel 

New Degree Program Requests  
Prerequisites

None

How to get Involved

Attend general substantive change training at the Higher Learning Peer Reviewer Updates and Training pre-conference program

Pell-Eligible Prison Education Program Requests 
Prerequisites

General substantive change training and location training

How to get Involved

Complete Pell-Eligible Prison Education Program training  

Reduced-Credit Bachelor’s Degree Program Requests
Prerequisites
  • General substantive change training
  • Serve on at least one other substantive change visit
How to get Involved

If invited, complete reduced-credit degree program training (offered as needed) 

Other Types of Change Requests  

See all of HLC’s Substantive Change processes.

Prerequisites

None

How to get Involved

Attend general substantive change training and training for the specific type of change request at the Higher Learning Peer Reviewer Updates and Training pre-conference program

Additional location confirmation visits, campus evaluation visits and multi-location visits

Prerequisites

General substantive change training 

How to get Involved

Attend training for location and branch campus visits at the Higher Learning Peer Reviewer Updates and Training pre-conference program

Prerequisites

Invitation only: Nominated by HLC staff and approved by the HLC Board of Trustees 

How to get Involved

Complete Seeking Accreditation Reviewer training (offered when new seeking accreditation reviewers are needed) 

Change of Control Visit and Advisory Visits

Prerequisites
  • Invitation only: HLC staff invite eligible peer reviewers as needed 
  • Prior experience: Serve as a team chair and have experience conducting many types of HLC reviews
How to get Involved

If invited, complete Specialized Corps training (offered as needed) 

Prerequisites
  • Invitation only: Nominated by HLC staff and approved by HLC Board of Trustees 
  • Prior experience: Serve on 5+ qualified reviews  
How to get Involved

If invited, complete Institutional Actions Council training 

Team Chair

Prerequisites
  • Invitation only: Current team chairs and HLC staff submit nominations, and HLC staff invite eligible reviewers 
  • Prior experience: Serve on 4+ qualified reviews   
How to get Involved

If invited, complete team chair training (offered virtually and in person once per year) 

Change Visit Team Chair

Prerequisites
  • Invitation only: Nominated by prior team chair and invited by HLC staff to serve as team chair 
  • Prior experience: Complete substantive change training and serve on change visits 
How to get Involved

If invited, complete change visit team chair training 

*What does “as needed” mean?   

Diversity is an essential element in the Peer Corps. This includes racial and ethnic diversity, but also institutional characteristics such as Carnegie classification, institutional control, geographic location, and mission. We also seek similar balance within team chairs and the reviewers trained for various types of reviews. Thus, “as needed” might mean that we simply do not have enough reviewers for a specific review type overall, or it can mean that we need more reviewers with a certain background or from a specific type of institution. These needs are constantly in flux, as the needs of institutions change, as new peer reviewers are trained, and as current reviewers exit the Corps due to job changes or retirement. Lastly, training may be offered when processes or regulations change. 

Questions?

[email protected]