Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission

Richland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, often referred to as the HLC, and is recognized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

In general, the HLC and other accrediting bodies focus on the following functions:

• Assessing the quality of academic programs
• Creating a culture of continuous improvement of academic quality
• Involving faculty and staff comprehensively in institutional evaluation and planning
• Establishing criteria for professional certification and licensure

The HLC has established several pathways of accreditation from which an institution can choose to match that institution’s culture and to focus on evidence-based decision-making.

In 2002, Richland applied for and was selected as a Vanguard Institution for the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). The AQIP model emphasized process development and evaluation, continuous improvement, and evidence-based decision-making. How does an institution make decisions? How does an institution gain input on strengths and opportunities from both internal and external stakeholders? How does an institution monitor results to identify ways to improve?

As with any accrediting institution, the HLC began in 2014 to examine its three pathways to assure consistency and connection to the Federal guidelines for accreditation. That work resulted in the phasing out of AQIP and the revision of the Open and Standard Pathways to include AQIP practices.

Richland transitioned to the Standard Pathway in 2017, completing some final requirements under AQIP and moving to the timeline of the Standard Pathway.

Affirmation of accreditation includes a number of initiatives, also outlined on the Institutional Effectiveness page of the Richland website.

Responding to a series of questions, an institution uses the Assurance Argument to describe systems and processes and the results, following the Department of Education’s Criteria for Accreditation. This Assurance Argument is the compilation of the answers to the question “How do you know?” Two Assurance Arguments are completed in the 10-year accreditation cycle. Because Richland is completing the transition to the Standard Pathway, the 2017 Systems Portfolio is a hybrid approach to answering the questions of the Assurance Argument.

For the Comprehensive Evaluation in Year 9, a review team visits campus and meets with stakeholders for a first-hand view of the workings of an institution.

All of these activities are reviewed in the Reaccreditation Affirmation process in the last year.

Richland’s accreditation has been reaffirmed until 2022-2023.

Specialized Accreditation