Criteria for Accreditation: Assuring Quality in Higher Education
Inver Hills Community College is committed to continual quality improvement in providing a superb educational experience to our students. That commitment is sustained and validated by the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), an accreditation pathway of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). AQIP focuses on quality assurance and institutional improvement with the added emphasis of helping institutions achieve ongoing advancements in their programs and mission. The AQIP pathway follows an eight-year cycle. Inver Hills was admitted to AQIP on Nov. 22, 2002.
Carrie Schneider
“Having the HLC peer review team visit our campus in March of this year represents a regular part of the reaffirmation process. This is a time to highlight the quality work we are accomplishing at Inver Hills. We can take pride in those accomplishments and welcome the peer reviewers to our campus as the means to continue advancing our college mission of inspiring students, building careers and strengthening communities.” — Carrie Schneider, Inver Hills Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
Inver Hills has reached the end of the AQIP eight-year cycle and is undergoing a Comprehensive Quality Review (CQR). The review is part of a broader comprehensive evaluation to ensure Inver Hills is meeting the Criteria for Accreditation as the college pursues institutional improvement and complies with specific requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. The CQR leads to an action regarding the reaffirmation of the college’s accreditation. An HLC peer review team will be visiting our campus March 20–22, 2017.
What are the Criteria for Accreditation?
The Criteria for Accreditation are the standards of quality by which the HLC determines whether an institution merits accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation. Key Inver Hills administrators and staff have been working with HLC professionals to facilitate the reaffirmation of accreditation process at our college.
Carrie Schneider, associate vice president of strategic initiatives at Inver Hills, noted that planning for reaffirmation of accreditation is essential throughout the AQIP eight-year cycle and reflects the college’s nonstop efforts to adhere to criteria standards.
“Having the HLC peer review team visit our campus in March of this year represents a regular part of the reaffirmation process,” Schneider said. “This is a time to highlight the quality work we are accomplishing at Inver Hills. We can take pride in those accomplishments and welcome the peer reviewers to our campus as the means to continue advancing our college mission of inspiring students, building careers and strengthening communities. Reaffirmation of accreditation is about continuing to meet our goals of delivering outstanding academic programming while promoting a life-changing collegiate experience for our students.”
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 high 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 learn more about the HLC Criteria for Accreditation, including their Core Components, visit Higher Learning Commission.
Click image below to view HLC Criteria for Accreditation video:
Notice for Public Comment
Inver Hills Community College is seeking comments from the public about the college in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. The college will host a visit March 20–22, 2017, with a team representing the Higher Learning Commission. Inver Hills Community College has been accredited by HLC since 1976. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. All comments must be received by February 20, 2017.
For more information about the Reaffirmation of HLC Regional Accreditation at Inver Hills Community College, contact:
Carrie Schneider
Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives 651-450-3788
