Statement of Accreditation Status
as of July 27, 2024
Pierpont Community and Technical College
500 Galliher Drive
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 367-4907
pierpont.edu
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 (On Notice)
• Public Disclosure Notice - On Notice
• Action Letter - On Notice
Accreditation granted: |
|
Historical note: | * Note on date of accreditation: Accredited as a single entity on April 28, 2008. The result of a request to separate administratively from Fairmont State University, first accredited in 1928-34 1947. |
Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2023 - 2024
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2033 - 2034
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
Date | Event | Description |
09/15/2025: | Notice | See Public Disclosure Notice - On Notice |
2027 - 2028: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
2033 - 2034: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History With HLC
Date | Event | Description |
06/27/2024: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Place on Notice |
07/27/2023: | Interim Report | Accepted |
01/09/2023: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Accepted with Monitoring |
03/16/2020: | Focused Visit | Accepted with Monitoring |
02/13/2018: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Continue Accreditation with Monitoring |
11/14/2017: | 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. |
02/28/2017: | Interim Report | Accepted |
05/16/2016: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Accepted with Monitoring - The report should be due November 15, 2016 in order to include fall 2016 enrollment data. |
07/01/2014: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Reaffirm Accreditation |
02/24/2014: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Accepted - The report submitted by Pierpont Community & Technical College included the information requested by the Higher Learning Commission and represented well the current financial position of the College. Its financial position allows it to meet its obligations in a timely manner and to support its educational programs. The College appears to be making appropriate responses to the declines in enrollment experienced in 2012 and 2013. |
02/26/2013: | Financial Panel Recommendations | Affirmed that the institution continues to address its financial issues |
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.
• Pierpont Community and Technical College Student Achievement Data
• College Scorecard: Pierpont Community and Technical College
• College Navigator: Pierpont Community and Technical 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: 31
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: 07/01/2023
In-State
Branch Campuses
Caperton Center - Clarksburg, West Virginia
Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center - Bridgeport, West Virginia
Additional Locations
Braxton County Center - Sutton, West Virginia
First Energy Corporation Customer Service Center - Fairmont, West Virginia
Former Main Campus - Fairmont, West Virginia
Middletown Commons - White Hall, West Virginia
Monnongalia Technical Center - Morgantown, West Virginia
North Central Advanced Technology Center - Fairmont, West Virginia
Robert C. Byrd Institute - Bridgeport, West Virginia
United Hospital Center - Bridgeport, West Virginia
West Virginia University Hospitals Radiology Dept - Morgantown, West Virginia
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 participates 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.