Decatur, IL – After evaluating Richland Community College’s student learning, retention, persistence, and completion, the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has reaffirmed Richland’s accreditation for the next ten years.
When reaffirming accreditation, the HLC and other accrediting bodies focus on:
- 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
Throughout 2023, Richland Community College’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Planning prepared for the review, which required three items: the Assurance Argument, the Federal Compliance Report, and a visit by a Peer Review team.
The purpose of the Assurance Argument is to describe systems, processes, and the results – following the Department of Education’s Criteria for Accreditation. (Two Assurance Arguments are completed in the 10-year accreditation cycle.) A cross-section of employees assumed responsibility for the Assurance Argument based on their areas of expertise and knowledge of procedures and policies. The Criterion Leaders Group developed responses to each Core Component:
- Criterion 1: Mission
- Criterion 2: Integrity (Ethical and Responsible Conduct)
- Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning (Quality Resources, and Support)
- Criterion 4: Teaching and Learning (Evaluation and Improvement)
- Criterion 5: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning
In February 2024, a Peer Review team visited Richland Community College’s campus for three days – meeting with stakeholders for a first-hand view of the workings of an institution and to see in “real time” verification of what was written in the Assurance Argument.
On April 30, 2024, the Institutional Actions Council of the HLC reviewed the report from the Peer Review team and continued the accreditation of Richland Community College for another 10-year cycle.
“This is tremendously positive news for Richland,” said Dr. Cristobal (Cris) Valdez, President of Richland Community College. “We take accreditation very seriously and to meet all the standards and be awarded ten more years of accreditation speaks to the great work our faculty and staff have been doing and how engaged the College is in continual improvement to serve our students.”
In 2026, the College will submit an interim report on assessment of student learning, retention, persistence, and completion. It will undergo the reaccreditation process again in the 2033-34 academic year.