Higher Learning Commission Accreditation
Wayne State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. HLC accreditation applies to the entire institution and includes all programs and all locations.
The HLC is one of six regional accrediting agencies in the U.S. charged with overseeing the accreditation of degree-granting, post-secondary institutions. Wayne State College has been continuously accredited by the HLC since 1917. HLC accreditation is reviewed on a regular cycle, usually every 10 years. WSC’s next reaffirmation of accreditation will be in 2024-25.
Institutional accreditation is important because it speaks to the quality and integrity of education at the college level. Accreditation assures the public and continuously improves the quality of higher education. The accreditation process evaluates the ability of an entire institution to meet its overall mission by evaluating the educational activities of an institution as well as its governance and administrative structure, financial viability, student support services, human resources, the student learning environment, student learning, institutional effectiveness, and relationships with internal and external constituencies.
Criteria for Accreditation
The HLC's Criteria for Accreditation are the standards of quality by which HLC determines whether an institution merits accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation. They are as follows:
- Mission - The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.
- Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct - The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
- Teaching-Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support - The institution provides quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
- Teaching-Learning: Evaluation and Improvement - The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.
- Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness - The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities.
Contact
The Higher Learning Commission is located at:
230 South LaSalle Street
Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
800-621-7440
[email protected]
Office of Accreditation and Assessment
Our office provides resources for assessing student performance, academic programs, and academic departments. For more information, please contact Dr. Michelle Gill, Director of Faculty Development and Innovation.