Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Iowa Lakes Community College is accredited by the opens in a new windowHigher Learning Commission (HLC), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, 800-621-7440, and participates in the Standard Pathway, one of several pathways leading to reaffirmation of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission.
The Standard Pathway is one of three options institutions have for maintaining accreditation with HLC. It follows a 10-year cycle and is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. These improvement topics are integrated into comprehensive evaluations conducted during the cycle.
Institutions undergo a comprehensive evaluation (during year four) to ensure they are meeting the Criteria for Accreditation, pursuing institutional improvement and complying with certain requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. The second comprehensive evaluation (during year ten) conducted in the Standard Pathway cycle follows the same process as the evaluation conducted in Year 4. The Year 10 evaluation leads to an action regarding the reaffirmation of the institution’s accreditation.
Criteria for Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) uses five criteria to evaluate how well Iowa Lakes Community College is performing—Mission; Integrity; Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support; Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement; and Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning. To achieve continued accreditation, Iowa Lakes Community College must adhere to the criteria for accreditation set by the Higher Learning Commission.
