The Commission sends the organization and each team member
the Evaluation Visit Summary Sheet
the institution’s Statement of Affiliation Status and the Organizational Profile
the most recent Institutional Annual Report (Operational Indicators)
the official record of the most recent comprehensive visit
the official record of any focused visits that have taken place and/or institutional changes approved since the last comprehensive evaluation
Aabbreviations, list of commonly used ...9.2-1 Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) ...1.1-4, 2.2-1, 6.1-1 AQIP Criteria ...6.2-1, 6.2-2, 6.2-3, 6.4-1 AQIP Examiner ...6.1-3 AQIP Participant ...8.3-4 AQIP reviewers ...1.3-2 AQIP Review Panel ...2.2-3, 6.1-2 Action Projects ...6.3-1 Action Project Directory ...6.3-2 Annual Update ...6.3-2 application, formal ...6.1-2 Associate participation in ...6.1-2 change approval process ...7.2-5 core processes ...6.3-1 exploring AQIP and quality improvement ...6.1-1 introduction to ...6.1-1 organizational self-assessment ...6.1-2 Strategy Forum ...2.2-2, 6.3-1 Systems Appraisal ...6.3-3 Systems Portfolio ...6.3-2 Systems Portfolio Appraisal ...2.2-2 systems thinking in the process-focused organization ...6.2-1 Vital Focus ...6.1-3 accountability ...3.3-4 accreditation
institutional accreditation ...1.1-1 professional or specialized accreditation ...1.1-2 regional accreditation ...1.1-1, 7.2-3 voluntary accreditation ...1.1-1 Accreditation Review Council ...2.2-1 accredited status ...2.1-1 deciding between initial candidacy and initial accreditation ...4.2-1 determining a separately accreditable organization ...7.2-3 moving to accreditation ...4.2-4 reaffirmation process, steps in the ...2.2-1 action letter, official ...2.3-1 Action Projects ...6.3-1 Action Project Directory ...6.3-2 adverse actions ...7.3-3 denial of affiliation ...2.2-3, 7.3-3 Public Disclosure Notices ...8.3-1, 8.3-2 publication of adverse actions ...7.3-4 reapplication following withdrawal, resignation, or denial ...7.3-4 withdrawal of affiliation ...2.2-3, 7.1-3, 7.3-3 advertising and recruitment materials ...8.2-3, 8.3-3
advisory visit ...7.3-1 affiliation with the Commission ...2.1-1 accredited status ...2.1-1 candidate status ...2.1-1 denial of affiliation ...7.3-3 publication of affiliation by the commission ...8.3-2 publication of affiliation by the organization ...8.3-3 reapplication following withdrawal, resignation, or denial ...7.3-4 reconsideration of affiliation ...7.3-1 resignation from affiliation ...7.3-4 special conditions affecting affiliation ...7.3-1 withdrawal of affiliation ...2.2-3, 7.1-3, 7.3-3, 8.2-2 withdrawal of application for affiliation ...7.3-4 alternative visits ...5.6-1 announcing the visit ...5.4-5 Annual Data Report ...1.2-2 annual dues ...2.1-2 Annual Meeting ...1.2-3, 5.2-2, 5.2-5, 5.2-6, 5.4-2 Annual Report on Organizational Information
and Operational Indicators ...2.3-2, 7.1-3 Annual Update ...6.3-2 appeal of a Commission decision ...7.3-4 assessment of student learning ...1.2-3, 3.1-4, 3.2-8, 3.2-10, 3.3-3 Statement on Assessment of Student Learning ...3.2-9, 3.4-2
BBoard of Trustees ...2.2-1 Board action (See also Commission action) ...2.2-3 public meetings of the Board of Trustees ...8.3-2 breadth of knowledge ...3.2-13 budgeting for the evaluation process ...5.4-2
Ccampus crime-reporting ...8.2-2 candidacy ...2.2-2 candidacy and initial accreditation, deciding between initial ...4.2-1 candidacy processes ...4.2-3 candidacy self-study report ...4.2-3 hallmarks of effective candidacy ...4.2-2 moving to accreditation ...4.2-4 rationale for candidacy ...4.2-2 candidate status ...2.1-1 Chair Visits ...5.4-2 change, social and economic ...3.3-2 changes requiring Commission approval ...7.2-1 changes in educational offerings ...7.2-2 changes in educational sites ...7.2-2 changes in mission or structure ...7.2-1 changes in relationship with the Commission ...7.2-2 documentation to support a change request ...7.2-3 processes for approval of change requests ...7.2-5 seeking approval of proposed changes ...7.2-1 timing the submission of a change request ...7.2-4 This index provides a general guide to key points of information in the Handbook of Accreditation.
It is not an exhaustive list of every reference to each item, but rather it identifies where pertinent information can be found.
10 Index
chief executive officer, role of the ...5.4-6 communication with affiliated organizations ...2.1-1 choosing the dates for the visit ...5.4-1 closing of organizations ...7.3-2, 7.3-4 collaboration ...3.3-4 collaborative evaluations, cooperative and ...5.6-2 Collection of Papers on Self-Study and
Institutional Improvement ...1.2-2, 5.2-2, 5.2-6 Commission action ...2.2-3 deferral of action ...2.2-3 publication of Commission action ...8.3-4 review processes and Commission action ...5.5-2 show-cause orders ...2.2-3, 7.3-2 transmitting and documenting official action ...2.3-1 Commission decision-making bodies ...2.2-1 Commission decision-making processes ...2.2-2, 2.2-4 Commission mission statement ...1.1-2 Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement ...1.1-2 Commission on Institutions of Higher Education ...1.1-2 Commission staff liaison ...1.2-1, 5.2-6 Commission staff services ...1.2-1 Committee on Organizational Effectiveness
and Future Directions ...1.1-2, 1.1-4 common good ...3.3-3 communication, internal ...3.3-4 communication with affiliated organizations ...2.1-1 communication with other agencies ...8.1-2 communication with the team ...5.4-4 complaints against affiliated organizations ...8.3-3 complaints against the Commission ...8.3-3 complaints, organizational records of student ...8.2-4 completion / graduation rates ...8.2-2 comprehensive evaluation / visit ...2.2-1, 2.2-2, 5.2-1, 5.4-1, 5.4-6 budgeting for the evaluation process ...5.4-2 materials for the PEAQ evaluation process ...9.4-1 sample timeline for the PEAQ comprehensive evaluation process ...9.3-1 confirmation of objectivity ...1.3-2 conflicts of interest ...1.2-2, 1.3-3, 2.2-1, 5.4-3 constituencies, relations with ...3.2-16, 3.3-2, 3.3-3 consultant-evaluator ...1.3-2 contingency reports ...7.1-1 cooperative and collaborative evaluations ...5.6-2 coordinated visits with specialized or professional accrediting bodies ...5.6-2 Core Components ...3.1-1, 3.2-1, 3.3-1 core processes, AQIP’s ...6.3-1 Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) ...8.1-2 credit hour ...3.2-9 credit, transfer of ...3.2-18 credits, program length, and tuition ...8.2-1 criteria, AQIP (See Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP))
Criteria for Accreditation ...1.1-3, 2.1-1, 3.1-1, 3.2-1, 3.3-1, 4.2-3, 6.2-1, 6.2-2 Core Components ...3.1-1, 3.2-1, 3.3-1 Criteria Statements ...3.1-1 Examples of Evidence ...3.1-1, 3.2-1, 3.3-1 relationship of AQIP Criteria to ...6.2-1, 6.2-2 curricula ...3.2-14 customized accreditation review process ...5.3-1 accreditation core in the ...5.3-1 benefits of ...5.3-1 overview of the process ...5.3-2
Ddates for the visit, choosing the ...5.4-1 rescheduling evaluation visits ...5.4-2 debts to the Commission ...7.3-5 deciding between initial candidacy and initial accreditation ...4.2-1 decision-making bodies ...2.2-1 decision-making processes ...2.2-2, 2.2-4 deferral of action ...2.2-3 denial of affiliation ...2.2-3, 7.3-3 distance learning (See technology)
diversity ...3.2-2, 3.3-4 Statement on Diversity ...3.4-1 draft team report ...5.5-2 dues and fees, paying ...2.1-1
Eeligibility process for nonaffiliated organizations ...4.1-1 four steps in the eligibility process ...4.1-1 Preliminary Information Form ...4.1-1 Workshop for Applying Organizations ...1.2-3 Eligibility Requirements ...2.1-1, 4.1-2, 4.2-3, 4.2-4 Eligibility reviewer ...1.3-2, 4.1-2 engagement and service ...3.2-18 evaluation ...3.2-5 evaluation team (See team, evaluation)
Evaluation Visit Summary Sheet ...5.4-3 Evaluators Panel process ...2.2-3, 7.2-5 Examples of Evidence ...3.1-1, 3.2-1, 3.3-1 Exchanges newsletter ...1.2-2 executive director ...1.2-1 exit session ...5.4-6, 5.4-7
Ffederal compliance program ...8.2-1 advertising and recruitment materials ...8.2-3, 8.3-3 completion / graduation rates ...8.2-2 credits, program length, and tuition ...8.2-1 federal compliance visits to off-campus locations ...8.2-3 organizational compliance with the Higher Education
Reauthorization Act ...8.2-2 organizational relationships with other institutional
accrediting agencies ...8.1-2 professional accrediting bodies, organizational relationships with ...8.1-2 student complaints, organizational records of student ...8.2-4 Title IV ...8.2-2 fees, paying dues and ...2.1-1 final team report ...5.5-2 focused visits ...2.2-2, 7.1-2 report for a focused visit ...7.1-2 team visit and decision-making processes for focused visits ...7.1-3
Ggeneral education ...3.2-13 Statement on General Education ...3.2-13, 3.4-3 glossary of Commission terminology ...9.1-1 goals ...3.2-2 good practices promulgated by other organizations, endorsement of ...8.1-3 governance ...3.2-4 governing board, communication with the ...2.1-1 governmental and higher education agencies, relations with ...8.1-1 U.S. Department of Education ...4.2-2, 5.2-3, 8.1-1, 8.2-1, 8.3-1 graduate education ...3.2-11, 3.2-12, 3.2-14 graduation rates, completion / ...8.2-2
Hhallmarks of an effective self-study process ...5.2-1 hallmarks of an effective self-study report ...5.2-6 hallmarks of effective candidacy ...4.2-2 Higher Education Reauthorization Act, organizational compliance with the ..8.2-2 Higher Learning Commission, the ...1.1-2 hosting the visit ...5.4-6
Iimprovement ...3.3-5 initial accreditation ...4.2-1 deciding between initial candidacy and initial accreditation ...4.2-1 moving to accreditation ...4.2-4 institutional accreditation ...1.1-1 joint visits with other institutional accrediting bodies ...5.6-2 organizational relationships with other institutional
accrediting agencies ...8.1-2
Institutional Accreditation: An Overview ...1.2-2, 8.3-1 Institutional Actions Council ...2.2-1, 2.2-3 IAC Panels ...2.2-1 public members of Commission decision-making bodies ...2.2-1 integrity ...3.2-1, 3.2-4 intellectual inquiry ...3.2-13 international components, visits with ...5.6-2 interregional exchange of organizational information ...8.1-2 interregional visits ...5.6-3
Jjoint visits with other institutional accrediting bodies ...5.6-2
Kknowledge, responsible use of ...3.2-15
Llearning ...3.3-3 learning environments ...3.2-11 learning, life of / lifelong ...3.2-12, 3.2-13, 3.3-3 learning, organizational ...3.3-3 learning resources ...3.1-4, 3.2-11, 3.2-12 learning, student (See also assessment of) ...3.3-3 letter, official action ...2.3-1 liberal studies ...3.2-13 logistical arrangements for the visit ...5.4-4
Mmandates, fulfilling Commission ...7.1-1 materials for the PEAQ evaluation process ...9.4-1 meetings
Annual Meeting ...1.2-3, 5.2-2, 5.2-5, 5.2-6, 5.4-2 public meetings of the Board of Trustees ...8.3-2 Review Committee meetings ...2.2-3 mission ...3.2-1, 3.2-3, 3.3-2, 3.3-4 monitoring reports ...7.1-1 multiple accreditation relationships, expectations for organizations with ...8.1-2
Nnonaffiliated organizations, eligibility process for ...4.1-1 Workshop for Applying Organizations ...1.2-3 North Central Association ...1.1-2
Oobjectivity, confirmation of ...1.3-2 obligations of affiliation ...2.1-1 observers ...5.4-5 off-campus locations, federal compliance visits to ...8.2-3 changes in educational sites ...7.2-2 opening session ...5.4-6 Operational Indicators ...2.3-2, 7.1-3 optional visits ...5.6-1 Organizational Profile ...2.3-1, 2.3-2, 8.3-1, 8.3-2 organizational relationships with other institutional accrediting agencies ....8.1-2 organizational relationships with professional accrediting bodies ...8.1-3 organizational response (See response, organizational)
Overview, Institutional Accreditation: An ...1.2-2, 8.3-1
PParticipant in AQIP ...6.1-2 peer review ...1.1-1, 1.3-1 Peer Review Corps ...1.3-1 AQIP reviewers ...1.3-2 consultant-evaluators ...1.3-2 Eligibility reviewers ...1.3-2, 4.1-2 joining the Corps ...1.3-2 responsibilities of peer reviewers ...1.3-1 roles of peer reviewers ...1.3-2 selection and training of ...1.3-2 Team Chair Corps ...1.3-2 using peer reviewers as consultants ...1.3-3
periodic review ...2.1-1 placed on notice ...2.2-3, 7.3-2 planning ...3.2-5, 3.2-8, 3.3-2 Preliminary Information Form ...4.1-1 Principles of High Performance Organizations, AQIP’s ...6.1-1, 6.1-3, 6.3-2 prior learning ...3.2-9 probation ...2.2-3, 7.3-3 professional accrediting bodies, relationships with ...8.1-3 coordinated visits with specialized or professional accrediting bodies ..5.6-2 professional or specialized accreditation ...1.1-2 Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality (PEAQ) ...1.1-4, 2.2-1, 5.1-1 materials for the PEAQ evaluation process ...9.4-1 sample timeline for the PEAQ comprehensive evaluation process ...9.3-1 progress reports ...7.1-1 public, Commission interaction with the ...8.3-1 involving the public in Commission activities ...8.3-2 public disclosure, expanding view of ...8.3-1 Public Disclosure Notices ...8.3-1, 8.3-2, 8.3-3 public distribution of the team report ...8.3-2, 8.3-4 public Information, organizational responsibilities for ...8.3-3 public meetings of the Board of Trustees ...8.3-2 public members of Commission decision-making bodies ...2.2-1 publication of adverse actions ...7.3-4 publication of affiliation by the Commission ...8.3-2 plans for Commission distribution of organizational status ...8.3-2 publication of affiliation by the organization ...8.3-4 publication of Commission action ...8.3-4 publication of sanctions ...7.3-3 publications, Commission ...1.2-2
Qquality improvement, exploring AQIP and ...6.1-1
RReaders Panel ...2.2-1, 2.2-2 reaffirmation process, steps in the ...2.2-1 reapplication following withdrawal, resignation, or denial ...7.3-4 recommendation, team ...5.4-7, 5.5-1 reconsideration of affiliation ...7.3-1 record of a process, official ...2.2-2, 2.3-1 regional accreditation ...7.2-3 interregional exchange of organizational information ...8.1-2 interregional visits ...5.6-3 reminder letter ...5.4-1 report for a focused visit ...7.1-2 report, self-study (See self-study report)
reports, required ...2.1-1 contingency reports ...7.1-1 monitoring reports ...7.1-1 progress reports ...7.1-1 submitting required reports ...7.1-1 required or requested visits ...2.1-1 rescheduling evaluation visits ...5.4-2 resignation from affiliation ...7.3-4 resource room ...5.4-4 resources ...3.2-5, 3.2-6 responses, organizational ...2.2-2 formal written response ...5.4-7 response to the team report ...5.5-2 Review Committee ...2.2-1, 2.2-2, 2.2-3 review processes and Commission action ...5.5-2
Board of Trustee action (See Commission action)
Institutional Actions Council ...2.2-1, 2.2-3 Readers Panel ...2.2-1, 2.2-2 Review Committee ...2.2-1, 2.2-2, 2.2-3
Ssanctions ...7.1-3, 7.3-2, 8.3-4 placed on notice ...7.3-2 probation ...7.3-3 Public Disclosure Notices ...8.3-1, 8.3-2
publication of sanctions ...7.3-3 scholarship ...3.3-3 self-evaluation ...1.1-1 self-reflection ...3.3-5 self-study coordinator ...2.1-1, 5.2-4, 5.4-1, 5.4-4 self-study design ...5.2-1, 5.2-3, 5.2-5 self-study process in accreditation ...5.2-1 hallmarks of an effective self-study process ...5.2-1 practical advice for creating and conducting an effective
self-study process ...5.2-2 self-study report ...5.2-5 audiences for the self-study report ...5.2-5 hallmarks of an effective self-study report ...5.2-6 self-study steering committee ...5.2-3, 5.2-4 Self-Study, Workshop on ...1.2-3 separately accreditable organization, determining a ...7.2-3 sequential visits ...5.6-1 service, culture of ...3.3-4 show-cause orders ...2.2-3, 7.3-2 sites, changes in educational ...7.2-2 federal compliance visits to off-campus locations ...8.2-3 special conditions affecting affiliation ...7.3-1 specialized accreditation ...1.1-2, 5.6-2 staff liaison, Commission ...1.2-1, 5.2-6, 5.4-5 staff approval of change requests ...7.2-5 state agencies, concurrent visits with ...5.6-2 Commission communication with other agencies ...8.1-2 verification visits for state agencies ...8.1-2 statements of vision ...3.2-2 Statement of Affiliation Status ...2.3-1, 2.3-2, 8.3-1, 8.3-2 Statement on Assessment of Student Learning ...3.2-9, 3.4-2 Statement on Diversity ...3.4-1 Statement on General Education ...3.2-13, 3.4-3 steering committee, self-study ...5.2-3, 5.2-4 Strategy Forum ...2.2-2, 6.3-1 student complaints, organizational records of ...8.2-4 student learning outcomes ...3.2-9 Systems Appraisal ...6.3-3 Systems Portfolio ...6.3-2 Systems Portfolio Appraisal ...2.2-2 systems thinking in the process-focused organization ...6.2-1
Tteaching, effective ...3.2-10 team, evaluation
appointing the evaluation team ...5.4-3 communication with the team ...5.4-4 evaluating the team ...5.4-7 multiple roles of the team ...5.4-6 team size ...5.4-3
Team Chair Corps ...1.3-2 team report and recommendation ...5.5-1 advancement section ...5.5-1 assurance section ...5.5-1 audiences for ...5.5-1 draft team report ...5.5-2 final team report ...5.5-2 overview of the team report ...5.5-1 public distribution of the team report ...8.3-2, 8.3-4 team recommendation ...5.4-7, 5.5-1 team visit
announcing the visit ...5.4-5 dates for the visit, choosing the ...5.4-1 exit session ...5.4-6, 5.4-7 hosting the visit ...5.4-6 logistical arrangements for the visit ...5.4-4 multiple roles of the team ...5.4-6 observers ...5.4-5 opening session ...5.4-6 preparing for the visit ...5.4-3 rescheduling evaluation visits ...5.4-2 resource room ...5.4-4 team expenses ...5.4-2 team visit and decision-making processes for focused visits ...7.1-3 technology ...3.2-11, 3.3-3 third party comment ...5.4-5 timeline, a sample for the PEAQ comprehensive evaluation process ...9.3-1 Title IV ...8.2-2 transfer of credit ...3.2-18
UU.S. Department of Education ...4.2-2, 5.2-3, 8.1-1, 8.2-1, 8.2-4, 8.3-1
Vvalues ...3.2-2 verification visits for state agencies ...8.1-2 vision, statements of ...3.2-2 visits (See individual types of visits)
Vital Focus ...6.1-3 voluntary accreditation ...1.1-1 voluntary withdrawal ...7.3-4
WWeb site ...1.2-2, 8.3-1 withdrawal of affiliation ...2.2-3, 7.1-3, 7.3-3 withdrawal of application for affiliation ...7.3-4 withdrawal, voluntary ...7.3-4 Workshop for Applying Organizations ...1.2-3 Workshop on Self-Study ...1.2-3