Understanding Your Accreditation Status

Colleges and universities become members of HLC in one of two ways: by gaining and maintaining accredited status or by gaining candidate status. Currently, HLC has approximately 1,000 member institutions.

Become an Accredited Institution

Through its Eligibility Process, HLC determines whether an institution considering membership with HLC is ready to begin an Assurance Argument in preparation for a comprehensive evaluation by a peer review team.

Maintaining Accredited Status: Pathways for Reaffirmation of Accreditation

HLC offers two pathways for maintaining accredited status: Standard and Open. Eligible institutions may choose to change pathways only upon completion of an institution’s current cycle, which is after Reaffirmation of Accreditation in Year 10.

Criteria for Accreditation

The Criteria for Accreditation are organized under five major headings. Each criterion consists of a Criterion Statement, Core Components, and, in some cases, sub-components.

Policies

HLC has a number of institutional policies. The policy book is updated four times a year. 

Dues and Fees Schedule

HLC bills member institutions for annual dues; payment is due on receipt of the billing and is not refundable. HLC also bills institutions additional fees for some evaluation processes. View the current dues and fees schedule.

Accreditation Personnel

Peer Reviewers

HLC relies on a cadre of carefully selected and trained professionals who serve HLC in its accreditation processes. This group of approximately 1,600 individuals is called the Peer Corps. These volunteers share their knowledge of and direct experience with higher education, their dedication to educational excellence, and their commitment to the principles underlying voluntary accreditation.

HLC Staff Liaison

HLC assigns a staff liaison to each member institution. This staff liaison serves as the primary resource person to that institution. The staff liaison explains HLC policies and procedures and draws on the skills of other staff members to provide effective assistance and service to colleges and universities.

Accreditation Liaison Officer

Each member institution is asked to identify an Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), who will serve as a contact point between the institution and HLC. While the chief executive officer continues to be the primary contact, the ALO is a second line of communication about HLC policies, practices and other matters related to accreditation. The chief executive officer of the institution appoints the ALO.

Publishing Accreditation Status Information

Accredited and candidate institutions are required to display HLC's Mark of Accreditation Status to identify their status with HLC on their websites. HLC also provides guidelines for how institutions should communicate their status with HLC in other materials. HLC's logos and images are not to be used on materials or websites presented by member institutions.

HLC Terminology

The Glossary of HLC Terminology offers definitions for words and phrases that are most commonly used in HLC’s policy, procedures and communications.

Assurance System

Institutions use HLC's online Assurance System to create and submit materials for comprehensive evaluations and Assurance Reviews. See Using the Assurance System for information about gaining access to the system and training resources.

Relationship With HLC

HLC relies on constant contact with member institutions to ensure quality higher education. HLC’s relationship with an institution may come under review in whole or in part as the institution’s circumstances change.

An institution attends to its status between comprehensive evaluations by honoring the stipulations of its accreditation and completing the following requirements, when applicable:

• Fulfilling the Obligations of Membership, including displaying the Mark of Accreditation Status on the institution's website.
• Filing an annual Institutional Update.
• Submitting any required interim reports.
• Notifying HLC of substantive change.
• Hosting any necessary focused visits.
• Hosting any necessary visits to monitor the institution's off-campus activities.

Institutional Status and Requirements Report

An institution’s CEO or Accreditation Liaison Officer may request an Institutional Status and Requirements Report to review and manage information regarding the institution’s accreditation relationship. The report includes a complete history of the institution’s relationship with HLC, information on the status of current or upcoming accreditation events, and information on the institution’s designated pathway and related events.

Requests for Official Letters From HLC

Representatives from HLC-accredited institutions may request an official letter from HLC to verify the institution’s accredited status, document HLC's approval of a particular program or location, or provide other information confirming aspects of the institution’s scope of accreditation.HLC staff will review the request for information against the institution’s file and relevant HLC policy, and will send a letter to the individual or entity that the institution identifies.