Institutional Accreditation

For an institution to reaffirm their accreditation, institutions must complete a periodic review on a 10-year cycle to ensure they continue to meet HLC's Criteria for Accreditation and pursue institutional improvement. The HLC has developed a model for continued accreditation through a program called Pathways. The two pathways for continued accreditation are Standard and Open.

Wayne State College has selected the Open Pathway Review. The Open Pathway is unique in that its improvement component, the Quality Initiative, affords institutions the opportunity to pursue improvement projects that meet their current needs and aspirations.

In addition to the regular monitoring that occurs through the HLC, the Open Pathway's 10-year cycle includes the following institutional reviews:

Year 4: Assurance Review
The Year 4 review occurs asynchronously via the commission's online Assurance System and without a visit. Institutions complete an Assurance Review to ensure compliance with the criteria for accreditation and to demonstrate pursued institutional improvement efforts. A peer review team evaluates these materials and makes a recommendation to the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) regarding the institution’s compliance with HLC requirements and whether monitoring should be required.

Years 5-9: Quality Initiative
Between Years 5 and 9 of the 10-year cycle, the institution proposes and completes a Quality Initiative. The Assurance Reviews free the Quality Initiative to focus on institutional innovation and improvement. The institution undertakes a Quality Initiative as something it elects to suit its own purposes. Its timeframe is flexible to accommodate the amount of time necessary to complete or make substantial progress toward completion.

Year 10: Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation
In Year 10, institutions undergo a comprehensive evaluation to reaffirm their accreditation. Wayne State College is scheduled for a comprehensive evaluation in 2024-25.