New Proposed and Adopted Policy Changes

HLC’s Board of Trustees adopted a number of policy changes and took action on institutional cases during its meeting on November 2–3. The Board also considered proposed policy changes about multi-campus visits and staff authority to take action on certain institutional cases. See below to submit your feedback about these proposals. 

Adopted Policy Changes 

Faculty Qualifications 

Revises the faculty qualifications provision in HLC’s Assumed Practices to emphasize that an institution is responsible for establishing and maintaining reasonable processes for determining that its instructors are qualified.  

An institution could deem instructors qualified based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, academic credentials, progress toward academic credentials, equivalent experience, or some combination thereof. 

To help clarify the new policy, HLC has developed updated guidelines on faculty qualifications and dual credit. 

Faculty Qualifications Policy Change (effective immediately) 

Guidelines on Determining Qualified Faculty 

Dual Credit Guidelines 

As needed, HLC will offer additional education and training opportunities for institutions and peer reviewers on this topic, beginning with training for chairs of peer review teams that will be conducting reviews in early 2024. (These chairs will receive information about the training later this week.)

Pell-Eligible Prison Education Programs 

Amends HLC policies related to substantive change to include requirements for Pell-eligible prison education programs and additional locations where Pell-eligible prison education programs are offered. The requirements align with guidance from the U.S. Department of Education related to the reinstatement of Pell Grant eligibility for students enrolled in such programs. 

Prison Education Program Policy Change (effective immediately) 

Accelerated Process for Initial Accreditation 

Revises the accreditation history requirements that would potentially qualify an institution to participate in HLC’s Accelerated Process for Initial Accreditation. 

Accelerated Process Policy Change (effective immediately) 

Distance Education 

Aligns HLC’s substantive change policy with recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. It revises the requirements related to when an institution must seek approval from HLC for its distance education offerings. An institution must do so when it initially offers distance education and when it does any one of the following: 

1. Offers at least 50% of a program through distance education. 
2. Enrolls at least 50% of its students in at least one distance education course. 
3. Offers at least 50% of its courses through distance education. 

Once an institution has received HLC approval for one of these thresholds, additional approval for the other thresholds is not required. 

Because this policy change is required by federal regulatory guidance, it was adopted by the Board on single reading.  

Distance Education Policy Change (effective immediately) 

Proposed Policy Changes: Share Your Feedback with HLC 

The Board approved the following proposed policy changes on first reading. HLC invites feedback on these proposals before the Board considers them for adoption in February 2024. Send your comments to [email protected] by January 15, 2024. 

Multi-Campus Visits 

The proposal would revise when HLC visits a sample of an institution’s branch campuses — a process known as a multi-campus visit — during a comprehensive evaluation. Under the proposal, multi-campus visits would take place during comprehensive evaluations for candidacy, initial accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation. They would no longer occur during Standard Pathway Year 4 comprehensive evaluations that did not involve reaffirmation of accreditation. 

Proposed Multi-campus Visit Policy Change 

Staff Authority 

The proposal would clarify when HLC staff may take certain actions with respect to an institution and when staff may recommend certain actions to an HLC decision-making body. The changes would also clarify when institutions have an opportunity to submit a response to a staff member’s recommendation.  

Proposed Staff Authority Policy Change 

EVOLVE 2025 Progress Report 

Staff presented the latest update on HLC’s EVOLVE 2025 strategic plan. One highlight is the launch of HLC’s Credential Lab, an initiative to provide resources to our members and to provide reassurance to learners about content providers outside of higher education. See HLC Fielding Questions, Taking Steps with new Credential Lab for more information. 

HLC Audit 

The Board received and accepted the independent auditor’s report for fiscal year 2023. A copy of the audit may be requested by contacting [email protected]. 

Institutional Actions 

Actions taken by the Board on institutional cases are listed at November 2023 Institutional Actions. 

Next Meeting 

The Board’s next meeting will be held February 29, 2024.