Substantive Change: Distance or Correspondence Education

Prior HLC approval may be required for the initiation or expansion of an institution’s distance or correspondence education courses and programs. See HLC’s Glossary for definitions of distance education, correspondence education and related terms.

Approval of New Programs: Programs new to the institution may require separate approval from HLC regardless of the method of delivery.

2023 Changes to Federal Distance Education Requirements

On May 18, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) published a Dear Colleague Letter clarifying previously issued guidance on distance education. Current guidance now provides the following: 

After an institution has been approved to offer distance education by its accrediting agency, an institution may offer distance education programs without further accreditor approval – unless and until an institution, during an award year, offers at least 50 percent of a program through distance education, enrolls at least 50 percent of its students through distance education, or offers at least 50 percent of its courses through distance education (“50 percent threshold”). For purposes of these calculations, a student is “enrolled in distance education” if the student enrolls in at least one course offered through distance education. (Dear Colleague Letter Gen-23-09).

This guidance reintroduces the “50% rule” that higher education had been familiar with in the context of distance education prior to the USDE rescinding the Dear Colleague Letter that established those rules in 2021. However, the guidance also includes additional thresholds that will result in accreditor review.   

This guidance does not apply to correspondence education.

Check Your Institution’s Distance Education Stipulation

Given the new USDE guidance, HLC strongly encourages institutions to ensure they have the necessary HLC approvals for their distance education offerings. Accreditation Liaison Officers and chief executive officers can view their institution’s HLC distance education stipulation in their Institutional Status and Requirements Report or Institution Profile in Canopy.

Types of Requests

The following information is provided for general guidance. Institutions planning a change related to distance or correspondence education offerings should contact their HLC staff liaison to confirm that prior HLC approval or notification is required.

Distance Education

Prior HLC Approval Required

Prior HLC approval is required when an institution plans to initiate or expand its distance education offerings to reach any of the following thresholds. Once an institution has received approval for one of these thresholds, additional approval for the other thresholds is not required.

Students: Enrolling at least 50% of students in one or more distance education courses. Note: The U.S. Department of Education considers a student “enrolled in distance education if the student enrolls in at least one course offered through distance education.” (See Dear Colleague Letter Gen-23-09)
Courses: Offering at least 50% of courses through distance education.
Programs: Offering at least 50% of an educational credential (degree or certificate) through distance education.

How to Apply

Submit the Distance Education Change Application.

Review Process

Change Visit

Review and Decision-Making Timeline

Approximately eight months from submission of complete application

Note: If the request is approved, the institution will be approved to offer distance education courses and programs. It will not be required to apply for additional distance education approval, even if it expands its offerings to reach any of the other 50% thresholds not included in its original application.

Prior HLC Approval Required

Prior HLC approval is required when an institution offers distance education courses for the first time, and its enrollment level and number of courses do not reach any of the thresholds listed above.