Substantive Requirements for Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Each institution shall have its accreditation reaffirmed by action of HLC according to its decision-making policies. Reaffirmation of accreditation shall signify HLC’s determination that the institution may retain its accreditation.

Generally, reaffirmation of accreditation shall occur not more than 10 years from the date of the last HLC action reaffirming accreditation.

An institution may also have its accreditation reaffirmed more frequently if required by HLC. This includes, but is not limited to, in the following circumstances:

1. For an institution that received initial accreditation, reaffirmation of accreditation shall occur not more than four years after initial accreditation.
2. For an institution that was removed from Probation or Show-Cause, reaffirmation of accreditation shall occur at the time that Probation or Show-Cause is removed and then reaffirmation of accreditation shall also occur no more than four years after Probation or Show-Cause was removed.

Should the reaffirmation action take place in the academic year following the required date for reaffirmation, such action shall be considered to have met the requirements of this policy provided that the comprehensive evaluation visit takes place in the required academic year.

The cycle for reaffirmation may be fewer than 10 years for institutions that are required by HLC to participate in more frequent comprehensive evaluations for reaffirmation of accreditation.

An institution may file a formal request for an extension of its reaffirmation of accreditation, provided that it articulates a compelling reason for seeking such extension.

An institution must file such a request for an extension with sufficient time for a decision regarding the request to be made prior to the conclusion of the academic year in which the reaffirmation of accreditation was scheduled.

HLC will review the request for an extension and make a determination about whether to grant the request. When considering whether to grant a request for an extension of an institution’s reaffirmation of accreditation, HLC will consider any relevant circumstances including, but not limited to, the outcomes of the institution’s recent evaluations with HLC; any recent or ongoing monitoring, sanctions, or procedural orders; any significant changes at the institution that may affect compliance with HLC requirements; and any specific issues that are scheduled to be reviewed as part of the comprehensive evaluation for reaffirmation of accreditation.

If an extension is granted, it shall be no more than one year beyond the institution’s scheduled reaffirmation of accreditation, bringing the maximum interval for reaffirmation of accreditation on the Open Pathway or Standard Pathway to 11 years. Ultimately, the maximum time period between reaffirmations of accreditation permitted under HLC policy is 13 years.

Policy History

Last Revised: October 2024
First Adopted: June 2012
Revision History: November 2012, November 2018, February 2022, October 2024
Notes: Policies combined November 2012 – 1A.1.1, 1A1.2, IA.1.3, 1A.1.4, 1A.1.5, 1A.1.6, 1A.1.7. In February 2021, references to the Higher Learning Commission as “the Commission” were replaced with the term “HLC.”