Voluntary Resignation of Accreditation or Candidacy

An accredited institution or candidate institution may voluntarily resign its membership with HLC at any time. The resignation must be initiated by the legally designated governing body of the institution and conveyed to HLC according to procedures provided by HLC. The effective date for such resignation may not exceed one year from the date of submission to HLC and such effective date may not be more than eleven (11) years (the maximum interval for reaffirmation of accreditation) from the date of the last reaffirmation of accreditation or four (4) years from the date candidacy was awarded.

HLC will provide the institution with written acceptance of the institution’s resignation. Once accepted, an institution’s resignation is generally irrevocable.

Within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of voluntary resignation, HLC issues a public disclosure notice that describes the resignation, including the effective date of the resignation, which is available to the public on HLC’s website. Within ten (10) days HLC also notifies the U.S. Department of Education and the appropriate state agency and other recognized accreditors regarding the resignation.

The institution must meet all Obligations of Membership until the resignation becomes effective. Voluntary resignation does not release an institution from past and current financial obligations to HLC.

After resignation, an institution is ineligible for membership for a period of one year. If an institution seeks accredited status with HLC following a resignation, it must reapply through the Eligibility Process.

Policy History

Last Revised: February 2022
First Adopted: August 1987 and October 1988
Revision History: revised May 2002, February 2002, renumbered November 2010, April 2013, November 2016, February 2020, November 2020, February 2022
Notes: Policies combined November 2012 – 1.5, 3.8. In February 2021, references to the Higher Learning Commission as “the Commission” were replaced with the term “HLC.”