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Criterion Committees:
Criterion 1
Criterion 2
Criterion 3
Criterion 4
Criterion 5

The Higher Learning Commission Criteria for Accreditation and Operational Indicators

Criterion One: Mission and Integrity

The organization operates with integrity to ensure the fulfillment of its mission through structures and processes that involve the board, administration, faculty, staff, and students.

Core Component – 1A.  The organization’s mission documents are clear and articulate publicly the organization’s commitments.

Examples of Evidence:

• The board has adopted statements of mission, vision, values, goals, and organizational priorities that together clearly and broadly define the organization’s mission.
• The mission, vision, values, and goals documents define the varied internal and external constituencies the organization intends to serve.
• The mission documents include a strong commitment to high academic standards that sustain and advance excellence in higher learning.
• The mission documents state goals for the learning to be achieved by its students.
• The organization regularly evaluates and, when appropriate, revises the mission documents.
• The organization makes the mission available to the public, particularly to prospective and enrolled students.

Core Component – 1B.  In its mission documents, the organization recognizes the diversity of its learners, other constituencies, and the greater society it serves.

Examples of Evidence:

• In its mission documents, the organization addresses diversity within the community values and common purposes it considers fundamental to its mission.
• The mission documents present the organization’s function in a multicultural society.
• The mission documents affirm the organization’s commitment to honor the dignity and worth of individuals.
• The organization’s required codes of belief or expected behavior are congruent with its mission.
• The mission documents provide a basis for the organization’s basic strategies to address diversity.

Core Component – 1C. Understanding of and support for the mission pervade the organization.

Examples of Evidence:

• The board, administration, faculty, staff, and students understand and support the organization’s mission.
• The organization’s strategic decisions are mission-driven.
• The organization’s planning and budgeting priorities flow from and support the mission.
• The goals of the administrative and academic subunits of the organization are congruent with its mission.
• The organization’s internal constituencies articulate the mission in a consistent manner.

Core Component – 1D. The organization’s governance and administrative structures promote effective leadership and support collaborative processes that enable the organization to fulfill its mission.

Examples of Evidence:

• Board policies and practices document the board’s focus on the organization’s mission.
• The board enables the organization’s chief administrative personnel to exercise effective leadership.
• The distribution of responsibilities as defines in governance structures, processes, and activities is understood and is implemented through delegated authority.
• People within the governance and admistrative structures are committed to the mission and appropriately qualified to carry out their defined responsibilities.
• Faculty and other academic leaders share responsibility for the coherence of the curriculum and the integrity of academic processes.
• Effective communication facilitates governance processes and activities.
• The organization evaluates its structures and processes regularly and strengthens them as needed.

Core Component – 1E. The organization upholds and protects its integrity.

Examples of Evidence:

• The activities of the organization are congruent with its mission.
• The board exercises its responsibility to the public to ensure that the organization operates legally, responsibly, and with fiscal honesty.
• The organization understands and abides by local, state, and federal laws and regulations applicable to it (or bylaws and regulations established by federally recognized sovereign entities.)
• The organization consistently implements clear and fair policies regarding the rights and responsibilities of each of its internal constituents.
• The organization’s structures and processes allow it to ensure the integrity of its cocurricular and auxiliary activities.
• The organization deals fairly with its external constituents.
• The organization presents itself accurately and honestly to the public.
• The organization documents timely response to complaints and grievances, particularly those of students.