认证
In 2019 the AQIP accreditation pathway was sunsetted by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). In response 中央社区学院 (CCC) elected to transition to the Open Pathway accreditation model that same year.
认证
美国.S. 教育部 defines accreditation as the process of being validated as a viable post-secondary instructional institution by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), 地区认证机构.
The HLC approved 中央社区学院 (CCC) to participate in the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) in 2002. HLC started phasing out institutions in the AQIP Pathway in 2018. 9月16日, 2019 HLC transitioned CCC into the Open Pathway, as shown in the following transition letter and transition map.
认证过程
The Open Pathway follows a 10-year cycle and is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. The Open Pathway is unique in that its improvement component, 质量倡议, affords institutions the opportunity to pursue improvement projects that meet their current needs and aspirations.
For more information about these activities, click on the corresponding step below.
CCC提交年度机构更新, which is reviewed by HLC to monitor organizational health, 遵守某些联邦要求, and identify any changes that may require HLC follow up. HLC will also apply change processes as appropriate to planned institutional developments, 并将通过报告监督各机构, 访问和其他委员会认为适当的方式.
The Assurance Review ensures institutions are continuing to meet HLC’s Criteria for 认证. 中央社区学院 prepares an Assurance Filing, comprised of an Assurance Argument and an Evidence File, providing documentation demonstrating how the college fulfills each of the five Criterion and each of the Core Components within each Criterion. The Assurance Argument consists of an organizational overview that details each of the major systems the organization will use to accomplish its mission and objectives. CCC answers questions that deal with analysis, processes, results and improvement. The Assurance Argument gives CCC an opportunity to explore and document how its current processes and systems work and helps the peer review team understand the organization’s key strengths and ambitions, as well as the challenges and conflicts it faces. A peer review team evaluates these materials and recommends whether the institution should continue in the cycle or whether additional monitoring is required. HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) reviews the peer review team’s recommendation and takes official action on it.
Institutions design and undertake a Quality Initiative project between years 5 and 9 of the 10-year Open Pathway Cycle. HLC peer reviewers approve an initial project proposal, as well as a report on the outcomes of the project. A Quality Initiative project may be designed to begin and be completed during this time, or an institution may continue a project that is already in progress or achieve a key milestone in the work of a longer initiative. The Quality Initiative is intended to allow institutions to take risks, aim high and learn from only partial success or even failure.
The Comprehensive Evaluation is the summary review that ends each 10-year period of participation in the Open Pathway. The comprehensive evaluation is comprised of the submission and review of an Assurance Filing, 联邦合规审查, 学生意见调查, 现场同行评审访问, 多校区参观. The team of peer reviewers produces a summary report that identifies those areas where CCC is meeting the Criteria for 认证, 追求制度改善, and complying with certain requirements set by the U.S. 教育部. The team also provides a recommendation regarding the reaffirmation of the institution’s accreditation. The recommendation is then sent to the Intuitional Actions Council (IAC) for review and action. CCC’s last Reaffirmation of 认证 occurred in August 2016, as shown in the following letter.
For more information on HLC’s Open Pathway for 认证, please go to hlcommission.org.