The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States, founded in 1895. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States. The headquarters of the organization is in Chicago, Illinois. The United States Department of Education recognizes the commission as an institutional accreditor.
IU Northwest is part of the Open Pathway. It is designed for institutions that have completed at least one pathway cycle and are otherwise eligible to choose their pathway. It supports the pursuit of innovative or strategic improvement projects, known as Quality Initiatives. Institutions undergo a virtual review in Year 4 and a comprehensive evaluation in Year 10.
To make determinations about accreditation, the Commission has established the Criteria for Accreditation, standards of quality that institutions are expected to address. The Criteria emerge out of a set of guiding values that are grounded in shared tenets of the academic community. The five criteria are listed below. A complete list of the following criteria with their core components can be found on the HLC Website.
Criterion One. Mission
The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.
Criterion Two. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
Criterion Three. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support
The institution provides quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
Criterion Four. Teaching and 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.
Criterion Five. 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. The institution plans for the future.
To maintain our accreditation, IU Northwest must demonstrate that we are meeting the five Criteria AND all of the Core Components. From the HLC Criteria for Accreditation: “The institution meets the Criterion only if all Core Components are met. The institution must be judged to meet all five Criteria for Accreditation to merit accreditation.”
We must also assure to the HLC that IU Northwest policy and practice adheres to a set of articulated minimum expectations (called “Assumed Practices”) that all institutions must comply with as a practical matter. These are not mission-driven or open to individual institutional interpretation as the Criteria are; rather, these are expected practices that each institution must demonstrate.
Another undertaking is the Federal Compliance Program. Some of the topics addressed in the Federal Compliance Program include credits and program length, student complaints, transfer policies, Title IV, advertising and recruitment, relationships with state entities, and third-party comment. The HLC site visit team will conduct an audit to ensure that IU Northwest meets the requirements outlined in the Federal Compliance Program.
Peer Review
On March 31-April 1, 2025, a five-person peer review team from the Higher Learning Commission will visit IU Northwest. Peer review is a defining characteristic of institutional accreditation in the United States and one of ten guiding values articulated in the HLC Criteria for Accreditation. The team of peer reviewers will conduct an on-site visit to verify that the claims made by the institution in the Assurance Argument are accurate. They will visit us to conduct interviews and collect additional evidence.
Before the Visit
As part of the Assurance Review, IU Northwest submits an Assurance Argument, along with materials of evidence (called an Evidence File), to demonstrate that it is in compliance with HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. The team of peer reviewers conducting the comprehensive evaluation reviews these materials in preparation for an on-site visit.
In advance of the visit, the peer review team receives the Assurance Argument, Quality Initiative Report, Federal Compliance Filing, Institutional Status and Requirements Report, Student Opinion Survey results and Institutional Update data).
On-site visits occur after the peer review team has reviewed the assurance argument and student survey results. The team works with the institution to create the agenda for the visit, which typically includes meetings with the institution’s leadership and board, as well as open forums with faculty, staff and students. Visits typically last 1 1/2 days. The team will remain in the area for an additional day of deliberations after the visit.
During the Visit
While on campus, the peer review team will likely spend time meeting with individuals and groups (including open forums with faculty, staff, and students). A schedule of the campus visit will be posted to this website as soon as it becomes available. The HLC Steering Committee has developed a set of sample questions peer review team members may ask, which is intended to be a helpful guide in preparing for the campus visit.
James Wallace Criterion 1 Convener
Amy Diaz C. 1 Convener
Vicki Roman-Lagunas Criterion 2 Convener
Mark Baer C. 2 Convener
Cynthia O’Dell Editing Team, Criterion 3 Convener
Chris Young Editing Team, Criterion 4 Convener
Dorothy Frink Criterion 5 Convener
John Novak Editing Team
Scott Hudnall Editing Team
Beth Tyler
Bill Allegrezza
Mianta’ Diming
Aaron Pigors
Kelly Zieba
Ellen Szarleta
Ryan Vega
Natalie Vega-Finn
Frances Daniel
Jennifer Rines
Mark Hoyert
Jonathyne Briggs
Bill Allegrezza
Crystal Shannon
Krista Grant
Cindy Roberts
- What do you know about accreditation?
- What do you know about the Higher Learning Commission?
Learn more about the HLC and the accreditation process - Have you seen or read IU Northwest’s Assurance Argument?
Find the Assurance Argument - How would you describe IU Northwest’s mission?
Learn more about the IU Northwest mission, vision and values - How does your department contribute to IU Northwest’s mission?
- How do you contribute to the university’s mission?
- What are the university’s current strategic planning priorities?
Find the Strategic Plan - How does the campus engage in the strategic planning process?
- What are IU Northwest’s greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
- How would you describe the campus climate for diversity?
- What is it like to work at IU Northwest? How is morale on campus?
- What are the biggest challenges facing IU Northwest? How about challenges specific to your department?
- Describe any campus processes that could be improved or made more efficient.
- What kind of changes are taking place at IU Northwest? Do you see these as positive or not?
