Statement of Accreditation Status
as of July 27, 2024
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
6301 South Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60621
(773) 602-5000
https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/kennedy/pages/default.aspx
*Previous names: Institution name changed from Chicago City Junior College-Wilson Campus to City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College. (1968)
The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). General information about HLC and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document.
Accreditation Information
Current status: Accredited
• Action Letter - Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Accreditation granted: |
|
Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2015 - 2016
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2025 - 2026
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
Date | Event | Description |
12/01/2025: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History With HLC
Date | Event | Description |
12/12/2022: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | Accepted |
03/05/2022: | Interim Report | Accepted |
02/23/2022: | Interim Report | Accepted with Continued Monitoring |
11/15/2021: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Accepted with Monitoring |
10/29/2021: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | Accepted |
11/17/2020: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | Accepted |
01/28/2020: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Continue Accreditation with Monitoring - The visiting team expressed concerns about Core Component 5A, team reported that "there are concerns regarding the fiscal health of the institution." According to the report the District reduced the fund balance based upon a variety of factors beyond the District's control including: 1. State budget revenue was reduced from 21% of the budget in 2015 to 6% in 2016, returning to "normal" in 2018. 2. Declining enrollments: down 21% for the District from 2014-2018 and 42% for City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy- King College in the same time frame (with 10% in 2017-2018 alone), according to state reporting. 3. Declining tax base: reduction of 26% from 2009 to 2013 according to the S&P report. As a result, the District did not follow their own policy of contributing 3% to the reserve from 2015 to 2018. In light of the difficult financial challenges, the District took bold, positive steps to stabilize City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's financial situation including the sale of buildings, offering early retirement incentives, and retaining unfilled positions in the budget. However, conversations with union stewards revealed that budget cuts have resulted in eliminating or reducing resources that may have impacted enrollment for the population the institution serves (e.g., weekend and evening courses and targeted programs). Since the institution is within a larger system, it is difficult to discern from the evidence provided how the revenue is determined based upon the budget. According to the team's report in conversations with District and campus personnel, budget allocations are determined based upon needs submitted through the budget process. With 84% of its budget going to personnel and 500 employees to support 6,061 students, it is concerning that the institution can sustain itself with evidence of declining enrollments. All of the actions, taken by the District have had an impact on the institution. The institution's leadership is taking the enrollment matter seriously and has led the way in the system in developing a comprehensive Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan. Although the enrollment efforts outlined in the SEM plan should increase the institution's enrollment outcomes, only the actual fall enrollment results in 2020 will reveal the plan's effectiveness. Since there are a number of significant unknowns regarding future enrollment and district budget support and given the visiting team's expressed concerns, the IAC approved a monitoring report on enrollment and finances. |
01/04/2019: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | Accepted |
12/05/2018: | Interim Report | Accepted |
08/08/2018: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Waived - Since institution either recently submitted a report or hosted a visit related to finances, or will be submitting a report or hosting a visit related to finances, no further review is required at this time. |
03/26/2018: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Accepted with Monitoring |
03/06/2018: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | Accepted |
09/28/2016: | Interim Report | Accepted |
08/15/2016: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Reaffirm Accreditation with Monitoring |
07/25/2014: | Interim Report | |
Student Success Outcomes
Student outcome information, including graduation rates and other measures, is available on the institution's website and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and College Navigator.
• City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Student Achievement Data
• College Scorecard: City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
• College Navigator: City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Note: The College Scorecard and College Navigator links above will take you to information about the institution's main campus. Some colleges or universities may report separate information on these websites for certain divisions or branch campuses. Search these sites to find this additional information.
Institutional Characteristics
Please note: All institutions are required to represent themselves accurately and consistently to multiple agencies. Information about the institution that is published by other agencies may appear differently, depending on the timing of the institution's updates to those agencies or those agencies' definitions or standards. For example, an institution's control may be categorized differently by the U.S. Department of Education for other purposes under its standards.
Control
Public
Number of Educational Programs
Degree programs:
- Associate's: 24
Branch Campuses and Additional Locations
Approved Branch Campuses and Additional Locations
The institution's accreditation includes courses and programs offered at the branch campuses and additional locations listed below. This list includes campuses and locations that are active and inactive (i.e., not currently enrolling students).
Last updated: 02/24/2022
In-State
Branch Campuses
None.
Additional Locations
Dawson Technical Institute - Chicago, Illinois
Out-of-State
Branch Campuses
None.
Additional Locations
None.
International
Branch Campuses
None.
Additional Locations
None.
HLC's Notification Program for Additional Locations
Institutions that meet certain eligibility criteria may apply to participate in HLC's Notification Program for Additional Locations. This program allows institutions to open new locations after notifying HLC and receiving confirmation that the location has been added to our records, rather than applying for approval through the standard substantive change process.
Participation Status
The institution does not participate in the Notification Program for Additional Locations.
About HLC and Accreditation
HLC is an institutional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in the United States.
Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC's accreditation includes all degree levels as well as on-site and online course delivery. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through specialized or programmatic accreditation agencies, which accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.
Evaluation Process
Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation and other HLC requirements. HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets threshold requirements and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to report data annually in the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices.
The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Faculty and staff from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. They make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies, which take final action on institutional evaluations.
Decision Making
HLC's decision-making bodies evaluate and make decisions, called actions, on recommendations from peer reviewers and staff that review institutions for their compliance with HLC's Criteria for Accreditation and other requirements. The decision-making bodies are comprised of institutional representatives and public members. See Decision-Making Bodies and Processes for more information.
Public Information
HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.
Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution's accreditation status are disclosed to the public. In cases of reaffirming continued accreditation, placing an institution on or reviewing a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available on the institution's Statement of Accreditation Status, found by searching the institution's name through HLC's online directory. Public Disclosure Notices (PDNs) are also issued and posted in the directory in cases of sanction, assigning or removing an institutional designation, resignation of accreditation or candidacy, institutional closing or withdrawal of accreditation by HLC. The PDN provides the public with the most applicable information from the posted Action Letter. HLC decision-making outcomes also are summarized on the HLC Institutional Actions page.
Complaints Against Institutions
HLC has a formal complaint process, consisting of an online complaint form for faculty, students and other parties to submit information regarding a member institution’s potential non-compliance with HLC requirements. As stated in HLC policy, the complaints process is designed to enable HLC to review, in a timely and fair manner, information that suggests potential substantive non-compliance with an institution's ability to meet HLC requirements.