Accreditation is both a status and a process. As a status, accreditation provides public notification that an institution or program meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting agency. As a process, accreditation reflects the fact that in achieving recognition by the accrediting agency, the institution or program is committed to self-study and external review by one's peers in seeking not only to meet standards but to continuously seek ways in which to enhance the quality of education and training provided.
What is HLC?
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent agency, founded in 1895. HLC accredit degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States. HLC is an institutional accreditor, accrediting the institution as a whole. More information about the Higher Learning Commission can be found at .
What are the HLC Requirements and Policies?
HLC partners with member institutions and other stakeholders to define policies for quality higher education. Institutions are committed to meeting HLC鈥檚 accreditation policies, including HLC鈥檚 foundational requirements:
- Eligibility Requirements
- Criteria for Accreditation
- Assumed Practices, Obligations of Membership
- Federal Compliance Requirements.
Details on HLC Requirement and Policies can be found at .
Is accreditation permanent?
HLC requires that an institution's accreditation be reviewed every 10 years, with 4-year interval reporting requirements.
Are there different kinds of accreditation?
There are three types of accrediting agencies or commissions used in the United States. In addition, the Florida Department of Education offers specific program accreditation in select areas.
- Institutional Accrediting Agencies: agencies recognized by the US Department of Education Secretary as reliable authorities concerning the quality of education or training offered by the institutions of higher education or higher education programs they accredit.
- Programmatic Accreditation:聽Programmatic accrediting agencies provide quality assurance for individual degree programs that may be offered within accredited institutions but that require special review because their graduates become licensed practitioners (for example, nursing, medical, culinary programs or law schools). The programmatic accrediting agencies assure that the quality of the educational program meets the national and state standards and that graduates are prepared to pass licensure examinations.
- National Accreditation:聽National accrediting agencies accredit institutions with specialized missions (for example, businesses colleges or colleges of art and design). These are referred to as the specialized or national accrediting commissions. Unlike programmatic accreditation, national accreditation is not required for licensure. It is an additional level of scrutiny and status afforded to those programs that undergo this process and are found to meet the standards of excellence.
Questions or comments concerning Florida SouthWestern State College's reaffirmation of accreditation process may be directed to Dr. Martin McClinton, Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs, at 239-432-6798 or martin.mcclinton@fsw.edu.