About the Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation and one of two commission members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), which was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission accredits, and thereby grants membership in the Commission and in the North Central Association, degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region.
Contact Us
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1413
Phone: 800.621.7440 / 312.263.0456 . Fax: 312.263.7462 .
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Governance
The Commission is governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the membership and administered by a president selected by and accountable to that Board. The charge to the president is to ensure that through its structures and personnel, the Commission delivers useful and cost-effective services. The president is Dr. Sylvia Manning.
The Commission adheres to the following Bylaws, which were approved in 2001. The Board has approved on first reading proposed new and amended bylaws. The Commission invites comments on these changes before the Board takes final action in June 2010. Comments can be sent to
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. Comments must be received by May 10, 2010.
Decision-Making Bodies
Actions on affiliated institutions are taken by decision-making bodies comprised of institutional representatives and public members. Unless otherwise specified, the decision-making bodies are broadly representative of the colleges and universities accredited by the Commission, with attention to institutional type, control, size, and geographical distribution. All decision-making bodies abide by the Commission’s conflict of interest policies. Visit the Calendar of Events to see a list of meetings of the Commission’s decision-making bodies.
Peer Reviewers
The Commission relies on a cadre of carefully selected and trained professionals who serve the Commission in its accreditation processes. This group of more than a thousand individuals is called the Peer Review Corps. These volunteers share their knowledge of and direct experience with higher education, their dedication to educational excellence, and their commitment to the principles underlying voluntary accreditation.
Relationship with the Federal Government and Other Organizations
To serve the common good, the Commission must create and maintain relationships with the federal government and other organizations with broader communities dependent on the quality of higher learning received in accredited colleges and universities. In most states in the North Central region, state legislatures have established governing or coordinating bodies to implement state policies meant to ensure that the citizens of the state have access to quality higher education.
The federal government has a distinct interest in the role of accreditation in assuring quality in higher education for the students who benefit from federal financial aid programs. By being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) as a gatekeeper agency, the Commission agrees to fulfill specific federally defined responsibilities within the accreditation processes.
“The Triad” is the term used to describe the close working relationships among the states, the federal government, and regional accreditation. The Commission values its role in the Triad and through its policies and practices seeks to maintain the vitality of this unique exercise in private–public collaboration.
Other accrediting agencies, institutional and specialized, are also external constituents. On behalf of its affiliated organizations, the Commission establishes and maintains relationships with governmental and higher education agencies.
Staff
The Higher Learning Commission has more than forty staff members. For contact information, visit the staff directory.
Employment Opportunities
The Higher Learning Commission is an equal opportunity employer. These employment opportunities are currently available at the Higher Learning Commission.
Document Archive
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Archives holds the Higher Learning Commission's and the North Central Association's historical documents.
To use the materials contact the Archives at : 217.333.0798 or
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. The materials are accessible at the Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street, Urbana, IL 61820, during business hours.
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About HLC
