Relations With Other Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Notification of Actions and Other Institutional Information. HLC will notify other recognized accreditors of accreditation actions taken by HLC’s Board of Trustees in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Notice of Accreditation Actions, Public Notices, and Public Statements policy. 

Other Information Provided to Recognized Accreditors. If another recognized accreditor seeks written or other information about a current or previous member institution, or about an institution that has previously sought status with HLC, HLC may, in its discretion, forward that information to the other recognized accreditor after receiving a written request. HLC may, but is not required to, consult with or otherwise inform the member institution regarding the request. 

Consideration for the Accreditation Decisions of and Information Provided by Other Recognized Accreditors. HLC will base its accreditation decisions on its own requirements, policies and procedures.

However, in determining whether an institution meets HLC requirements, HLC may consider the reports, action letters and information of other recognized accreditors previously or currently associated with the institution, with specific attention to any adverse, probationary or show-cause actions. HLC also requires that institutions disclose such information to HLC as required by the Obligations of Membership. HLC may request information directly from a recognized accreditor and include such information for review by an evaluation team considering an accrediting action.

In considering a substantive change HLC may request information from an institution regarding its other accreditations or may request it directly from the recognized accreditor and take it into account in the accrediting action.

If another accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education has denied or withdrawn accreditation or pre-accreditation or placed the institution on sanction, HLC, through its decision-making processes and subject to its requirements, will carefully weigh these matters in reaching its own decision to grant or reaffirm accredited or candidate status. If it chooses to grant or reaffirm accredited or candidate status to such an institution, it will provide the U.S. Secretary of Education a written explanation within thirty (30) days of taking action of why the issues that led to the action by the other accreditor did not preclude HLC from reaching its decision.

Concurrent Visits With Other Recognized Accreditors. If initiated by a member institution, HLC may conduct a visit concurrently with another recognized accreditor. While the teams of the participating agencies may coordinate their activities on campus, including information gathering, representatives of other recognized accreditors shall not participate in HLC team deliberations, and any production of a team report will be done separately by each accreditor.

Policy History

Last Revised: February 2022
First Adopted: January 1983, February 1986, June 2000
Revision History: February 1996, February 1998, June 2001, February 2008, June 2008, February 2009, June 2012, April 2013, November 2020, February 2021, February 2022
Notes: Former policy number – 9.1. In February 2021, references to the Higher Learning Commission as “the Commission” were replaced with the term “HLC.”