Higher Learning Commission

HLC’s Student Success and Assessment Academies take a cross-functional institutional team through multiple years of focused, thorough work, marking improvement through guidance from experienced practitioners, in-person events that allow a retreat from campus, and frequent touch points to ensure continuing progress. 

Graduates of the Academies featured in previous issues of the Leaflet have demonstrated ways that the program allowed them to confront realities at their institution and find a path forward. 

By breaking down silos to align priorities and unify the community or identifying student populations that are underserved and developing new initiatives to reach them, institutions that have participated in the Student Success Academy have seen positive, long-term impact from their experience in the program. 

Each team in the Student Success Academy examines four key factors to identify current realities and discover areas of opportunity for improving student success at their institution: data, initiatives, infrastructure and engagement. This informs the Student Success Plan, an actionable piece which addresses gaps in the identified areas for improvement and sets a path forward. 

In the Assessment Academy, teams implement a customized project to improve student learning through assessment. Embedding assessment into the culture of an institution and aligning assessment efforts across a campus are common goals, as are promoting data literacy and using data effectively. 

Each Academy gives institutions access to expert, tailored guidance from practitioners and scholars, in-person and virtual events with dedicated time to connect and plan, and opportunities to network and connect with peers at institutions from across the HLC membership. 

HLC is currently accepting applications to join the fall 2024 cohort of the Assessment or Student Success Academies through June 14. Have questions about the program or applying? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Learn more and apply today!