Statement of Accreditation Status
as of March 21, 2023
Valparaiso University
1700 Chapel Drive
Kretzmann Hall
Valparaiso, IN 46383-6493
(219) 464-5000
http://www.valpo.edu
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: 2017 - 2018
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2027 - 2028
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
| Date | Event | Description |
| 2027 - 2028: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History With HLC
| Date | Event | Description |
| 07/19/2022: | Assurance Review | Review Completed |
| 06/05/2020: | Interim Report | Accepted |
| 02/13/2018: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Reaffirm Accreditation with Monitoring - IAC reviewed the team's report and the institution's response to the team recommendation that Criterion 4B is "Met with Concerns." The team report presents a mixed view on the quality and comprehensiveness of the institution's assessment of student learning outcomes. For example, the team noted that the institution had participated in the HLC Assessment Academy and that during the Fall 2017 visit "descriptions were provided that demonstrate good practice and a continually maturing culture of assessment." The team went on to identify a number of practices, but then the team noted "However, during the review, a number of weaknesses were identified which suggest that the assessment process is not as effective as it should be." The team noted that the bulletin and program web-site's program-level learning objectives are not explicitly communicated and that, while "for the most part, programs are articulating measurable student learning objectives," there are still some objectives that are not measurable or that include more than a single student behavior, action, or disposition." The team further acknowledged that many programs use both direct and indirect measures to assess achievement, yet asserts that "many programs" have an over-reliance on indirect measures. The team noted there is a Committee on Assessment but had mixed views on the effectiveness of the Committee. The team was both critical about the lack of documentation about the Committee taking on a more proactive role in reviewing annual assessment reports and at the same time noted November 2017 Committee minutes and the webpage indicate a more proactive approach is being implemented. IAC believes the President has provided a compelling argument that the team recommendation that Criterion 4B is "met with concerns" is stronger than is appropriate. Valparaiso University has a faculty-driven, bottoms up assessment process that takes place within a broad institutional assessment framework. A neat, uniform compilation of assessment results and reports is antithetical to this bottoms-up approach. While Valparaiso University's assessment program is not perfect and will benefit from further refinements, IAC concurs with the institutional response that the institution meets Criterion 4B. |
| 09/04/2008: | Comprehensive Evaluations - Approved for Continued Accreditation | |
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: Private NFP
Degree programs (number in each category): Associates (3), Bachelors (85), Masters (20), Specialist (1), Doctoral (2)
Certificate programs (number offered): 33
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: | None. | |||
| Out-of-State: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Out-of-U.S.: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Location | Campuses | Additional Locations |
| In-State: | None. | None. |
| 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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