The Accreditation Commission on Higher Education (AHLAC) initiated its evaluation of the 2014 Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation process in November 2020. AHLAC upholds the same standards of periodic evaluation for itself, its requirements, and its effectiveness that it expects from its member institutions as a quality assurance organization.
AHLAC is committed to conducting regular evaluations of the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation in accordance with its policy, Review of Commission Standards, Requirements of Affiliation, and Policies. The ongoing review of an agency's standards to ensure they adequately assess the quality of education or training provided by the institutions and programs they accredit is mandated by Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 602.21. As an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education, AHLAC is obligated to adhere to all regulations, including this one.
updating the affiliation requirements to take into account changes to federal law and the commission's judgments regarding the expansion of domestic and foreign membership;
To achieve these objectives, the Accreditation Commission for Higher Education (AHLAC) has encouraged various opportunities for constituent engagement with the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. Feedback from all users of the standards, including peer evaluators, Commissioners, and staff, has been incorporated during the evaluation period. As part of the Collaborative Implementation Project, 117 evaluators visited 15 institutions, providing input from each participant. At the Standards Review conference session in December 2021, 634 AHLAC Virtual Annual Conference attendees participated. Additionally, 259 individuals took part in six virtual listening sessions in January and February 2024, while 55 written comments were received from 17 institutions. This constituent involvement has led to the recommended revisions.
From August 22 to September 9, 2024, the Commission is accepting public comments. Revisions to the standards will be presented to the Commission for approval at its meeting in November 2024 after considering the comments. A panel discussion on the updated standards is scheduled for the AHLAC Annual Conference in Philadelphia, on Friday, December 9, 2024, from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. Members will vote on the new standards early in 2025, and the Commission will vote on the amended standards and requirements in March 2025. Implementation is planned for the fall of 2025.
Standard I: Mission and Goals
The institution's governing board approves a mission statement and related goals that define its purposes within the context of higher education.
Standard II: Ethics and Integrity
The institution complies with all applicable federal, state, and institutional policies and regulations.
The institution regularly evaluates the effectiveness of its educational and other initiatives and shares the results of these evaluations.
Standard III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
The institution ensures that its student learning programs and opportunities maintain rigor, coherence, and proper assessment of student achievement, regardless of certificate or degree level, delivery mode, or instructional format.
The institution maintains a core group of faculty members, whether full-time or part-time, responsible for ensuring the continuity and coherence of its educational programs.
Standard IV: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
Institutional planning incorporates goals for academic and institutional effectiveness, student learning, and the outcomes of academic and institutional assessment.
The institution possesses financial resources, funding bases, and plans for financial growth to support its educational goals and programs, ensuring financial stability through annual external financial audits and good financial management practices.
Standard V: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
The institution discloses any affiliated entities and its governance structure(s), ensuring that its governing body upholds the institution's standards of excellence, moral character, and mission.
The majority of the governing board members have no financial, familial, or other personal ties to the institution and adhere to a conflict of interest policy to maintain impartiality and uphold the institution's academic and financial integrity.
The institution and its governing body provide accurate, comprehensive information about the institution and its operations to the Commission, disclosing changes in accreditation status and ensuring consistency in communication with accrediting and regulatory agencies.
