Federal Compliance Program
As a federally recognized accrediting agency, HLC is responsible for verifying that our member institutions are complying with certain federal regulations.
Documents and Forms
Effective September 1, 2025–August 31, 2026
Federal Compliance Filing by Institutions
Instructions for Federal Compliance Reviewers and Evaluation Teams
Effective September 1, 2024–August 31, 2025
Federal Compliance Filing by Institutions
Instructions for Federal Compliance Reviewers and Evaluation Teams
When Federal Compliance Is Reviewed
HLC reviews an institution’s compliance with federal requirements at multiple points in the accreditation relationship. Federal Compliance Reviews are conducted as part of the following evaluations:
- Comprehensive evaluations for:
- Reaffirmation of Accreditation (regardless of when the evaluation occurs, including the first comprehensive evaluation that occurs after a grant of initial accreditation or after the removal of Probation or Show-Cause)
- Candidacy
- Initial accreditation
- Probation
- Show-Cause
- As required by HLC, special monitoring arising from questions of compliance with federal compliance
- As part of assigned monitoring or any other appropriate evaluation, as determined by HLC, to verify compliance with federal requirements
Review Process
The Federal Compliance Overview provides all the information pertaining to the preparation of institutional and team materials to address the Federal Compliance requirements. Institutions must submit the Federal Compliance Filing by Institutions form and other supporting documentation before their on-site visit by a team of HLC peer reviewers. These materials should be uploaded to the Assurance System or Canopy prior to the institution’s lock date.
Note: HLC will make the Federal Compliance documents available six months before the institution’s lock date. HLC recommends that institutions begin compiling the necessary documentation at that point.
When the institution’s Assurance Filing is locked and released to the peer review team, a dedicated Federal Compliance reviewer evaluates the materials in advance of the visit and refers any issues to the visit team for further exploration and confirmation.
While conducting the visit, the peer review team determines whether the preliminary findings made by the Federal Compliance reviewer accurately represent the institution’s compliance with all applicable requirements and requests additional documentation from the institution, if needed. If the team has concerns about the institution’s compliance with federal requirements, they may recommend follow-up monitoring or other action in accordance with HLC policy. This recommendation would go to an HLC decision-making body for review and final action.
Related Policies
