Off-Campus Activities
New locations for institutions are established through HLC’s Substantive Change Process. Once approved and established, these locations are monitored through peer review visits and are subject to a decision-making process depending on the location type.
Definitions of additional location and branch campus
Location and Campus Update System
Institutions use the Location and Campus Update System to update HLC’s records about their existing additional locations and existing branch campuses. In addition, institutions that are in the Notification Program for Additional Locations may use this system to request new additional locations. Learn more about using the system >>
Types of Location Visits
Follow-Up Reviews of Approved Off-Campus Activities
After a new additional location or branch campus has been approved by HLC through its institutional change process, HLC conducts a follow-up review—known as an additional location confirmation visit or campus evaluation visit—within six months of the matriculation of students and the initiation of instruction at the location or campus. Both types of reviews involve an on-site visit by HLC peer reviewers.
Additional Location Confirmation Visit
An additional location confirmation visit is conducted for each of the first three active additional locations opened by an institution. The visit is meant to confirm the accuracy of the information provided to HLC concerning the quality and oversight of the education at the additional location when HLC originally approved it. Further monitoring of an institution’s additional locations through HLC’s established monitoring processes may be recommended. Such recommendations will be reviewed and acted upon by an HLC decision-making body.
Additional Location Confirmation Visit: Information for Institutions and Peer Reviewers
Campus Evaluation Visit
A campus evaluation visit is conducted for each new campus or branch campus opened by an institution. The visit is meant to (1) assure the quality of the campus and its educational programs in meeting the needs of its defined constituencies and (2) assure the institution’s capacity to sustain that quality. Further monitoring of a campus or closure of a campus may be recommended. Such recommendation will be reviewed and acted upon by an HLC decision-making body.
Campus Evaluation Visit: Information for Institutions and Peer Reviewers
Ongoing Reviews
HLC also evaluates an institution’s off-campus activities at various points during the Standard and Open Pathway cycles. These reviews are known as multi-location and multi-campus visits.
Multi-location Visits
If an institution has at least three active additional locations, HLC will conduct on-site visits of a representative sample of the additional locations in Years 3 and 8 for institutions in the Open or Standard Pathways. The visit is made by one HLC peer reviewer and is meant to confirm the continuing effective oversight by the institution of its additional locations. Further monitoring of an institution’s additional locations through HLC’s established monitoring processes may be recommended. Such recommendations will be reviewed and acted upon by an HLC decision-making body.
Multi-location Visits: Information for Institutions and Peer Reviewers
Multi-location Visit Institutional Report Template
Multi-campus Visit
A multi-campus visit is included as part of the comprehensive evaluation for institutions with one or more branch campuses. Members of the peer review team conducting the comprehensive evaluation will visit a sampling of the institution’s branch campuses to ensure (1) the quality of the institution’s extended operations and its educational offerings in meeting the needs of its defined constituencies and (2) the capacity to sustain that quality. Further monitoring of an institution’s branch campuses through HLC’s established monitoring processes may be recommended. Such recommendations will be reviewed and acted upon by an HLC decision-making body.