HLC Reaccreditation

Celebrating Our Story

Why HLC accreditation matters

Harper College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This institutional seal of quality guarantees that our academic programs meet rigorous, recognized standards.

For our students, HLC accreditation delivers four critical benefits:

Financial Aid Eligibility: Unlocks federal grants, loans, and work-study programs.
Seamless Credit Transfer: Ensures other universities recognize and accept your coursework.
Career Credibility: Validates your degree with employers and tuition reimbursement programs.
Proven Quality: Confirms our continuous commitment to student success and academic excellence

Criteria for Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission's Criteria for Accreditation are designed to evaluate institutional quality and effectiveness. Because every college has a unique mission, accreditation focuses on how well an institution's programs, services, planning, and operations support that mission and contributes to continuous improvement. At Harper, our mission guides our work and serves as the foundation for our accreditation efforts.

Criterion 1. Mission

The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.

Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct

In fulfilling its mission, the institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.

Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning for Student Success

The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness in fulfilling its mission. The rigor and quality of each educational program is consistent regardless of modality, location or other differentiating factors.

Criterion 4. Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning

The institution’s resources, structures, policies, procedures and planning enable it to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational programs, and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

Committee Membership

Steering Committee Membership

Steering Committee Co-Leads

Dr. Kathleen Gorski, Associate Provost of Curriculum and Instruction

Veronica Mormino, Professor, Business and Social Sciences

Criterion 1 Co-Chairs

Marcia Frank, Senior Director of Innovation and Development

Dr. Sean Warren-Crouch, Director - College Transitions

Criterion 2 Co-Chairs

Christopher Benshoof, Instructor of Mathematics and Science

Dr. Eric Bohman, Manager - Placement and Secondary Alliances

Criterion 3 Co-Chairs

Dr. Dennis Baskin, Associate Provost - Student Affairs

Jennifer Lau-Bond, Assistant Professor - Resources for Learning

Kelly Taylor, Professor - Career and Technical Programs

Criterion 4 Co-Chairs

Tony Butler, Director - Risk Management

Nicci Cisarik De Jesus, Director - Student Recruitment and Outreach

Criterion Committee Membership

Criterion 1. Mission

Co-Chairs: Marcia Frank and Dr. Sean Warren-Crouch

Chris Candelas

Sonnet Gabbard

Erika Hartman

Richard Johnson

Jalen Little

Jazmin Lupercio

Kristyn Meyer

Kathleen Reynolds

Javi Rivera

Annie Sylvester

Roderica Williams

Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct

Co-Chairs: Christopher Benshoof and Dr. Eric Bohman

Donna Harwood

Keith Jensen

John Lawson

Derek Leiter

Dawn McKinley

Jennifer Olsen

Joy Pak

Colleen Rice

David Richmond

Anna Strati

Suzette Tolentino

Mike Vanlandingham

Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning for Student Success

Co-Chairs: Dr. Dennis Baskin, Jennifer Lau-Bond, and Kelly Taylor

Dr. Jason Altmann

Ana Maria Contreras

Amaziah Finley

Talitha Gentry

Michael Harkins

Michelle Harrell

Claudia Lopez Heinrich

Matt McLaughlin

Pardess Mitchell

Kimberley Polly

Jaime Riewerts

Jose Vital

Stephanie Whalen

Criterion 4. Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning

Co-Chairs: Tony Butler and Nicci Cisarik De Jesus

Robert Grapenthien

Darlene Schlenbecker

Brian Thomason

Sandra Villanueva

Maintaining accreditation

Harper College follows the Open Pathway for maintaining HLC accreditation. HLC will conduct a comprehensive evaluation with peer review and site visit on Aril 17-18, 2028.

10-year open pathway accreditation cycle

Years 1-3 (2019-2021): Routine Reporting & Tracking
- Annual data updates
- Monitoring student metrics
- Institutional health check
Year 4 (2022): Mid-Cycle Assurance Review
- Online audit
- Updated assurance argument
- Evidence file submission
Years 5-9 (2023-2027): Expanding 8-Week Course Programs at Harper College
- Major improvement project
- Scaling accelerated courses
- Faculty development
- Enhanced student success metrics
Year 10 (2028): Comprehensive Evaluation
- Self-study documentation
- Student opinion survey
- On-site peer review visit
- Reaffirmtion of accreditation

Harper College HLC Reaffirmation Progress
Requirement	Target Date	Status	Highlights
Planning & Organization	May 2026	Complete	Steering Committee established, Criteria teams formed, evidence reviewed, input collected and preliminary Assurance Argument drafted.
Quality Initiative Report	May 2027	In Progress	Expansion of 8-week pathways and development of new academic programs to support student momentum and completion.
Federal Compliance Review	June 15, 2027	In Progress	Compliance Team reviewing requirements and developing institutional responses.
Assurance Argument Final Draft	July 2027	In Progress	Writing, review, revision, and campus feedback activities underway.
Student Opinion Survey	February 2028	Upcoming	HLC survey sent to Harper Students.
Comprehensive Evaluation Visit	April 17-18, 2028	Upcoming	HLC Peer review team visit scheduled.