Statement of Accreditation Status
as of March 20, 2023
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
6301 South Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60621
(773) 602-5000
http://kennedyking.ccc.edu/
*Previous names: Institution name changed from Chicago City Junior College-Wilson Campus to City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College. (1968)
The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission. General information about the Commission and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document. In addition, links to definitions are provided for many of the terms used.
Accreditation Information
Current status: Accredited
• Action Letter - Reaffirmation of Accreditation
| Accreditation granted: |
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Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2015 - 2016
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2025 - 2026
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
| Date | Event | Description |
| 2025 - 2026: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History With HLC
| Date | Event | Description |
| 12/12/2022: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | |
| 03/05/2022: | Interim Report | Accepted |
| 02/23/2022: | Interim Report | Accepted with Continued Monitoring |
| 11/15/2021: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Accepted with Monitoring |
| 10/29/2021: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | |
| 11/17/2020: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | |
| 01/28/2020: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Continue Accreditation with Monitoring - The visiting team expressed concerns about Core Component 5A, team reported that "there are concerns regarding the fiscal health of the institution." According to the report the District reduced the fund balance based upon a variety of factors beyond the District's control including: 1. State budget revenue was reduced from 21% of the budget in 2015 to 6% in 2016, returning to "normal" in 2018. 2. Declining enrollments: down 21% for the District from 2014-2018 and 42% for City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy- King College in the same time frame (with 10% in 2017-2018 alone), according to state reporting. 3. Declining tax base: reduction of 26% from 2009 to 2013 according to the S&P report. As a result, the District did not follow their own policy of contributing 3% to the reserve from 2015 to 2018. In light of the difficult financial challenges, the District took bold, positive steps to stabilize City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's financial situation including the sale of buildings, offering early retirement incentives, and retaining unfilled positions in the budget. However, conversations with union stewards revealed that budget cuts have resulted in eliminating or reducing resources that may have impacted enrollment for the population the institution serves (e.g., weekend and evening courses and targeted programs). Since the institution is within a larger system, it is difficult to discern from the evidence provided how the revenue is determined based upon the budget. According to the team's report in conversations with District and campus personnel, budget allocations are determined based upon needs submitted through the budget process. With 84% of its budget going to personnel and 500 employees to support 6,061 students, it is concerning that the institution can sustain itself with evidence of declining enrollments. All of the actions, taken by the District have had an impact on the institution. The institution's leadership is taking the enrollment matter seriously and has led the way in the system in developing a comprehensive Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan. Although the enrollment efforts outlined in the SEM plan should increase the institution's enrollment outcomes, only the actual fall enrollment results in 2020 will reveal the plan's effectiveness. Since there are a number of significant unknowns regarding future enrollment and district budget support and given the visiting team's expressed concerns, the IAC approved a monitoring report on enrollment and finances. |
| 01/04/2019: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | |
| 12/05/2018: | Interim Report | Accepted |
| 08/08/2018: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Waived - Since institution either recently submitted a report or hosted a visit related to finances, or will be submitting a report or hosting a visit related to finances, no further review is required at this time. |
| 03/26/2018: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Accepted with Monitoring |
| 03/06/2018: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | |
| 09/28/2016: | Interim Report | Accepted |
| 08/15/2016: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Reaffirm Accreditation with Monitoring |
| 07/25/2014: | Interim Report | |
General Institutional Information
This section provides brief, general information about the institution’s organization and scope as self-reported by the institution through its annual Institutional Update to HLC.
The U.S. Department of Education publishes a College Scorecard (available at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/), which allows students to search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more. Additional information can also be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/.
Please note: All institutions are required to represent themselves accurately and consistently to multiple agencies. However, some information about institutions may appear differently among agencies depending on the timing of the institution's updates to those agencies or those agencies' definitions or standards. Such agencies should be consulted directly for further information. For example, an institution's "Control" (or "Type") may be categorized differently by the U.S. Department of Education for other purposes under its standards.
Control: Public
Degree programs (number in each category): Associates (24)
Certificate programs (number offered): 50
Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 02/24/2022.) The institution’s accreditation includes courses and programs at these approved sites. (This includes sites that are active and inactive (meaning approved but currently without students):
| In-State: | Campuses: | None. |
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| Additional Locations: | Dawson Technical Institute - Chicago, Illinois |
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| Out-of-State: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Out-of-U.S.: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Location | Campuses | Additional Locations |
| In-State: | None. | Dawson Technical Institute - Chicago, Illinois |
| Out-of-State: | None. | None. |
| Out-of-U.S.: | None. | None. |
About HLC and Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in the United States.
Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC’s accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online course delivery. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through specialized or programmatic accreditation agencies, which accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.
Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status. HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation reflect a set of Guiding Values.
The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Approximately 2,000 educators from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. They make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies, which take final action on institutional evaluations and are made up of both peer reviewers and public members.
Evaluation Process
HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets threshold requirements and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to data annually in the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices, including Assumed Practices and Obligations of Membership.
Decision Making
HLC’s decision-making bodies evaluate and make decisions, called actions, on recommendations from peer review teams that review institutions for their compliance with HLC's Criteria for Accreditation and other requirements. The decision-making bodies are comprised of institutional representatives and public members. See Decision-Making Bodies and Processes for more information.
Public Information
HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.
Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution’s accreditation status are disclosed to the public. In cases of reaffirming continued accreditation, placing an institution on or reviewing a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing on the institution’s Statement of Accreditation Status, found by searching the institution’s name through HLC’s online directory. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued and posted in the directory in cases of sanction, assigning or removing an institutional designation, resignation of accreditation or candidacy, institutional closing or withdrawal of accreditation by HLC. The PDN provides the public with the most applicable information from the posted Action Letter. HLC decision-making outcomes also are summarized on the HLC Institutional Actions page.
Complaints Against Institutions
HLC has a formal complaint process, consisting of an online complaint form on the HLC website, for faculty, students and other parties to submit information regarding a member institution’s potential non-compliance with HLC requirements. HLC does not accept complaints through mail, email or over the phone. As stated in HLC policy, the complaints process is designed to enable HLC to review, in a timely and fair manner, information that suggests potential substantive non-compliance with an institution’s ability to meet HLC requirements.
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