HLC Criteria
Criterion 1
1A: The institution’s mission is articulated publicly and operationalized throughout the institution.
1B: The institution’s mission demonstrates commitment to the public good.
1C: The institution provides opportunities for civic engagement in a diverse, multicultural society and globally connected world, as appropriate within its mission and for the constituencies it serves.
Criterion 2
2A: The institution operates with integrity in its financial, academic, personnel, and auxiliary functions; it establishes and follows policies and processes for fair and ethical behavior on the part of its governing board, administration, faculty and staff.
2B: The institution presents itself clearly and completely to its students and to the public.
2C: The governing board of the institution is autonomous to make decisions in the best interest of the institution in compliance with board policies and to ensure the institution’s integrity.
2D: The institution is committed to freedom of expression and the freedom of expression in the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning.
2E: The institutions policies and procedures call for responsible acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge by its faculty, students and staff.
Criterion 3
3A: The rigor of the institution’s academic offerings is appropriate to higher education.
3B: The institution offers programs that engage students in collecting, analyzing and communicating information; in mastering modes of intellectual inquiry or creative work; and in developing skills adaptable to changing environments.
3C: The institution has the faculty and staff needed for effective, high-quality programs and student services.
3D: The institution provides support for student learning and resources for effective teaching.
Criterion 4
4A: The institution ensures the quality of its educational offerings.
4B: The institution engages in ongoing assessment in student learning as part of its commitment to the educational outcomes of its students.
4C: The institution pursues educational improvement through goals and strategies that improve retention, persistence and completion rates in its degree and certification programs.
Criterion 5
5A: Through its administrative structures and collaborative process, the institution’s leadership demonstrates that it is effective and enables the institution to fulfill its mission.
5B: The institutions’ resource base supports its educational offerings and its plans for maintaining and strengthening their quality in the future.
5C: The institution engages in systematic and integrated planning and improvement.