Federal Compliance ProgramAs a federally recognized accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is required to assure that all its member institutions are meeting their Title IV program responsibilities as well as complying with the expectations of specific regulations accreditors must enforce as a part of their recognition by the U.S. Department of Education. Compliance with these requirements by both institutions and HLC is necessary to ensure that institutions accredited by the HLC areeligible for federal financial aid. The following documents, which are effective for visits beginning January 1, 2012, except as noted, comprise the Commission's processes for implementing the Federal Compliance Program. Documents for Institutions and Evaluation Teams
This document outlines the Commission’s requirements to ensure that its affiliated institutions comply with federal regulations. It identifies applicable Commission policies, provides a template for institutions in documenting compliance with the requirements, and provides guidance to evaluation teams in determining whether the requirements are met. Following this template, the institution provides its evidence in a separate federal compliance section of its comprehensive self-study report. This document provides definitions for contractual and consortial arrangements referred to in various federal compliance documents. Documents for InstitutionsThis document supplements the information provided for institutions in “Federal Compliance Program: A Guide for Institutions and Teams” by specifically addressing the Commission’s new policies related to the federal definition of a credit hour. These worksheets are used by institutions, in addition to the information provided on federal compliance as outlined in the Guide, specifically to address credits and program length and clock hours. The Worksheets are placed with the other documentation in a separate federal compliance section of the institution’s report. Institutions with comprehensive evaluations in Spring 2012 and the teams visiting those institutions: Please note that the Commission has updated the Worksheets for Institutions: A. Credits and Program Length and B. Clock Hours in response to comments and questions from the first institutions to use this worksheet. The changes provide clarification and do not affect the substance of the worksheet. If you have already completed the earlier worksheet, you do NOT need to redo your work on the updated worksheet. Important Update: these pilot worksheets apply to all PEAQ comprehensive and AQIP Checkup evaluations in the Spring of 2012. Information for Evaluation TeamsThis worksheet is used by the Evaluation Team to prepare the report on its evaluation of the institution in relation to the federal compliance program components. The report becomes an appendix to the team report. This document supplements the information provided for teams in “Federal Compliance Program: A Guide for Institutions and Teams” by specifically addressing the Commission’s new policies related to the federal definition of a credit hour. These worksheets are used by the Evaluation Team, in addition to the Team Report attachment on federal compliance, specifically to address credits and program length and clock hours. The Worksheets becomes appendices to the team report. Important Update: these pilot worksheets apply to all PEAQ comprehensive and AQIP Checkup evaluations in the Spring of 2012. |
