Statement of Accreditation Status
as of December 11, 2023
Flint Hills Technical College
3301 W. 18th Ave.
Emporia, KS 66801
(620) 343-4600
www.fhtc.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 - Continued Accreditation
| Accreditation granted: |
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Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2021 - 2022
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2031 - 2032
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
| Date | Event | Description |
| 12/29/2023: | Interim Report | Assessment, Program Review, Strategic Planning |
| 03/02/2026: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
| 2031 - 2032: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History With HLC
| Date | Event | Description |
| 01/10/2022: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Reaffirm Accreditation with Monitoring - IAC did not change the requirements for federal compliance and Core Component 5.C. The following are modified monitoring requirements from the team report: Core Component 3.A The discrepancies of contact hours per credit hour in some course offerings, the inconsistency of learning outcomes between sections of the same course, and has led the Review Team to judge the Core Component 3.A Met With Concerns and to recommend monitoring in which FHTC can provide evidence on the development of a process for ensuring that course learning outcomes remain the same no matter the instructor, the location, or the modality. Perhaps a common course syllabus template for courses might resolve this issue. (See Federal Compliance.) Core Component 4.A Maintaining a regular program review process and acting on findings is a requirement for accreditation. While FHTC has a plan for completing and continuing program reviews and acting on findings, the institution has demonstrated that this has not been completely accomplished at an institutional level. IAC recommends monitoring of the Program Review process. Through the monitoring process, FHTC should clearly show that a) the Program Review process is ongoing, b) that programs which were leaders in following the process have completed the program review process and acted on their action plans, and 3) programs later in instituting the process are on time completing yearly steps. Programs should also have detailed evidence of action plans being implemented. Evidence should link plans to processes for assessment of student learning, evaluation of operations, planning and budgeting. Related to Core Component 5.C, documentation should link institutional budgeting with the improvement of student learning. Core Component 4.B Remove the monitoring requirement related to "curricular assessment." The institution will provide a monitoring report by Fall of 2023 in which it demonstrates outcomes for co-curricular assessment, data from the evaluative process, and changes made as the result of the assessment. |
| 04/15/2020: | Interim Report | Accepted |
| 06/27/2018: | Interim Report | Accepted with Continued Monitoring |
| 06/27/2016: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Continue Accreditation with Monitoring |
| 07/16/2012: | Reaffirmation of Accreditation (PEAQ) | |
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 (16)
Certificate programs (number offered): 19
Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 04/06/2023.) 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: | Downtown Campus - Emporia, Kansas Flint Hills Technical College South Campus - Emporia, Kansas Regional Rural Technical Center - LaHarpe, Kansas The Garnett Automotive Training Center (GATC) - Garnett, Kansas |
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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. | Downtown Campus - Emporia, Kansas Flint Hills Technical College South Campus - Emporia, Kansas Regional Rural Technical Center - LaHarpe, Kansas The Garnett Automotive Training Center (GATC) - Garnett, Kansas |
| 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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