Federal Compliance Requirements

An institution accredited by HLC or seeking accreditation or candidate status shall demonstrate that it is in compliance with each of HLC’s Federal Compliance Requirements. This expectation shall apply to an institution regardless of whether the institution is participating in the Title IV program. However, an institution that does not participate in the Title IV program shall be exempted from that Federal Compliance Requirement related to demonstrating that the institution is meeting its Title IV program responsibilities.

An institution shall provide evidence of meeting these requirements in preparation for a comprehensive evaluation for Candidacy, Initial Accreditation and Reaffirmation of Accreditation and upon demand by HLC. An institution determined not to be in compliance with any Federal Compliance Requirement, even if in compliance with all other HLC requirements, may be subject to monitoring, Probation, a Show-Cause Order, or an adverse action, as defined by HLC policy based on the gravity of the finding as measured by (a) in the case of Probation, the extent to which a substantial remediation period is necessary to address such non-compliance or; (b) in the case of a Show-Cause Order or adverse action, the extent to which the very existence of the finding suggests that the institution should not remain accredited.

HLC reserves the right to call for special monitoring related to an institution’s status with regard to these requirements and any implications for its compliance with other HLC requirements, as appropriate, when findings by the U.S. Department of Education or by another recognized accreditor indicate there may be significant noncompliance with the Higher Education Act, as amended, or that the integrity of the institution and its educational programs might be in jeopardy.

Policy History

Last Revised: February 2022
First Adopted: February 1996
Revision History: Adopted February 1996, effective September 1996; revised February 199;, edited October 2003; renumbered November 2010; revised and split between policies 4.0 and 4.0(d) June 2012; revised June 2019, effective September 1, 2019; June 2020, November 2020, February 2022
Notes: Former policy: 1.7 “Institutional Compliance with the Higher Education Reauthorization Act”; see also new Policy 4.5 “Institutional Compliance with Title IV Program Responsibilities.” In February 2021, references to the Higher Learning Commission as “the Commission” were replaced with the term “HLC.”