What is Accreditation?

In the United States, colleges and universities voluntarily seek accreditation from regional accreditors. Ashland University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

The HLC has designed the accreditation process to achieve its mission: “Serving the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher education”.

HLC evaluates the University in terms of its mission and HLC’s five criteria and assumed practices. The criteria for accreditation reflect a set of guiding values. In its evaluation process, HLC considers formal educational activities, governance and administration, financial stability, admissions, student services, institutional resources, student learning, institutional effectiveness, and institutional relationships with internal and external constituencies.

As part of their recognition by the U.S. Department of Education, HLC is required to assure that all member institutions are meeting their Title IV program responsibilities and are complying with U.S. Department of Education expectations and regulations through a federal compliance filing at the time of the comprehensive evaluation.