Providing you tools to excel.

Training Resources

Whether you’re a representative of a member institution or an HLC peer reviewer, you need tools to engage with HLC accreditation processes and procedures. Browse upcoming programs and events as well as a library of training resources that will help you be successful in your role.

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Demonstrating Quality: An Assurance Argument Virtual Workshop

Institutions Training Workshop

Apr 22, 2026

Institutions with an Assurance Review scheduled from September 2026 – March 2027, as part of a Year 4 or Year 10 evaluation are invited to this workshop that provides guidance for finalizing the Assurance Argument.
Collaborating on Quality: Preparation for the Comprehensive Evaluation

Institutions Training Workshop

June 9 & June 16

Institutions 18 to 24 months away from a comprehensive evaluation are invited to this workshop that will help you make a plan for the best use of your preparation time.
Demonstrating Quality: An Assurance Argument Virtual Workshop

Institutions Training Workshop

May 22, 2026

Institutions with an Assurance Review scheduled from September 2026 – March 2027, as part of a Year 4 or Year 10 evaluation are invited to this workshop that provides guidance for finalizing the Assurance Argument.

Accreditation Cycles and Processes

Criteria for Accreditation

The videos below walk through the revised Criteria that went into effect on September 1, 2025. They address each Criterion in detail, discussing their content, context and intent. Recorded February 2025.

Additional resources on the revised Criteria for Accreditation

Criterion 1

Criterion 2

Criterion 3

Criterion 4

Assurance Argument Samples

These samples are meant to help institutions understand how to write to HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation and link to evidence that supports their narrative.

Each institution is responsible for independently developing its own Assurance Arguments based on the institution and using evidence applicable to the institution. Providing evidence similar to the evidence provided in a sample Assurance Argument is not required, nor does it guarantee any particular outcome as to an accreditation process.

Doane University

Standard Pathway Mid-cycle Comprehensive Evaluation

November 2025

Saint Louis University

Open Pathway Mid-cycle Assurance Review

November 2025

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

Standard Pathway Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation of Accreditation

October 2025

Metropolitan Community College – Kansas City

Standard Pathway Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation of Accreditation

October 2025

Substantive Change for Institutions

Initiating Substantive Change: Screening Forms and Applications

Take a deeper look at HLC’s substantive change screening forms, including those for changes to existing programs, new degree programs and contractual arrangements. Recorded January 2025.

Overview of Substantive Change

Understand the process of substantive change with HLC staff members. This webinar will cover various aspects of substantive change, including review processes, screening forms, applications, official letter requests and more. Recorded November 2023.

Managing Your Institution’s Substantive Change Activity

Learn about HLC’s different substantive change applications, documents required to submit a complete application, how to navigate the decision process and tracking your substantive change information through Canopy. Recorded December 2023.

Managing Your Institution’s Off Campus Activities

Learn about expectations regarding additional locations and branch campuses and how to use HLC’s many resources to declare and monitor your off-campus activities. Recorded March 2024.

More Resources for Institutions and Peer Reviewers

Navigating the New Degree Program Screening Form
Thinking about launching a new degree program? Learn how to use HLC’s Degree Program Screening Form. Learn how to complete the form, avoid common mistakes and determine whether notification or an application is needed. Recorded February 2026.
HLC’s Institutional Update (Slides)
Learn about the Institutional Update from HLC staff members, including what data is collected and how we use it to assess institutional health and identify trends. Recorded February 2026.
Instructional Modalities and Related Substantive Change Processes
Learn about the instructional modalities that HLC currently reviews from staff liaisons Anthea Sweeney and Tom Bordenkircher. Recorded January 2026.
Building and Maintaining Quality Distance Education Programs
Hear about recent initiatives in distance education and how HLC determines quality and compliance when evaluating distance education programs. Recorded November 2025.
Introduction to the Standard and Open Pathways
Get an overview of activities involved in the Standard and Open Pathways throughout the 10-year accreditation cycle. Explore similarities and differences between the pathways, and how quality improvement is conducted and demonstrated in each. Recorded September 2025.
Benchmarking and Review of Student Success Outcome Measures
Get an update on our Evaluating Student Success Outcomes initiative with a focus on HLC’s student success indicators. Hear about how HLC will evaluate three institutional measures of student success, including assigning institutions to peer groups and setting benchmarks for each measure. Recorded September 2025.
Beyond the Criteria for Accreditation: Understanding HLC Requirements
In this webinar, get an overview of HLC requirements beyond the Criteria including the Assumed Practices, Federal Compliance Requirements, Eligibility Requirements, and the Obligations of Membership. Recorded June 2025.
Federal Compliance Overview
This webinar introduces HLC institutional representatives to recent changes to HLC’s Federal Compliance process, forms and technology. Recorded September 2024.
Pell Eligible Prison Education Programs: An Overview
This webinar covers HLC’s Pell-eligible Prison Education Program (PEP) process including policy, substantive change application, additional location confirmation visit for PEP, screening form and PEP stipulation. Recorded November 2023.