Accreditation Update: September 5, 2012

As has been mentioned previously, the Criteria for Accreditation of the Higher Learning Commission have five separate categories.  Under each criterion are a series of core components and subcomponents, in all totaling 21 core components and an additional 58 subcomponents.  As part of our self-study, Concordia College needs to provide evidence that it meets all of these.  During the next few campus updates, we will be providing a little more detail about each of the Criteria for Accreditation.

The first criterion focuses on the mission of the institution.  "The institution's mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution's operations."  In a mission-driven institution like Concordia College, this is less problematic than it might be in some colleges or universities.  Yet we still need to document that our mission is well-known by all stakeholders, is used to guide all curricular, budgetary, and programmatic decisions, and connects us to the public in a meaningful way.

As the committee explores this criterion, we will study the documents of the Board of Regents, look for evidence of mission-based decisions in committees and administrative offices, and identify the ways in which Concordia College presents itself to a diverse and multicultural society.

A booklet describing all of the requirements of the Higher Learning Commission can be found here.  If you have questions about the Higher Learning Commission or Concordia’s approach to the self-study, please direct them to either of the coordinators - Kristi Loberg and Michael Wohlfeil - or to any of the members of the Self-Study Steering Committee.

Higher Learning Commission

Criteria for Accreditation

Information For:

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