The Higher Learning Commission transferred CLC to the Open Pathway for accreditation in fall 2018 as part of their larger plan to phase out the AQIP pathway from all institutions.
Despite the transition, HLC and the College of Lake County remain committed to continuous quality improvement efforts. As such, the college plans to continue conducting annual improvement projects internally in the spirit of AQIP.
About AQIP
In spring 2002, the College of Lake County Board of Trustees approved the College’s participation in theAcademic Quality Improvement Program(AQIP), aContinuous Improvementmodel of accreditation through theHigher Learning Commission(HLC). The aim of this program is to achieve positive institutional change through a culture of continuous improvement. To remain eligible for accreditation under the AQIP pathway, the college must meet several obligations during its 8-year accreditation cycle. Those requirements compel the college to provide the HLC with periodic assessments and reports, to participate in two planning sessions facilitated by the HLC, and to undertake at least three significant improvement projects each year. The college selects its improvement projects through a collaborative, deliberative process of assessing areas essential to the college’smission statement. The college’s students, faculty, staff, administration and Board are engaged in this selection process. Project teams, composed of faculty and staff, are responsible for planning and implementing the Action Projects.
Systems Portfolios and Systems Appraisals
Twice during the 8-year accreditation cycle, institutions file an assessment document called aSystems Portfolio. In these documents, institutions compile and report evidence that that demonstrate how they are meeting the HLC’sCriteria for Accreditation. These Criteria are the indicators or academic quality, financial stability, continuous improvement efforts and governance that each college or university must meet in order to remain accredited. The institutions provide evidence on how they meet each criterion through continuous self-assessment, planning, and improvement. They explain how they use data to inform their decision making. A peer review team evaluates these Portfolios and identifies strengths and opportunities for improvement in a report called a Systems Appraisal.
Comprehensive Quality Review
The HLC will be conducting a Comprehensive Quality Review site visit in March 2017. The college’s last visit was in 2009. These visits are a normal part of the accreditation process and occur twice during the 8-year accreditation cycle. Through these visits, trained reviewers ensure that each accredited institution is meeting standards set out in the Criteria for Accreditation. Upon completion, the reviewers will summarize their findings and share them with the college and make a recommendation to the HLC’s governing body regarding the college’s accreditation status.
Reaffirmation of Accreditation
这个认证过程确保学院和大学符合教育质量标准，并符合联邦法律和美国教育部的监管要求。这次审查导致了HLC理事会关于重申该机构认证的行动。在审查委员会的建议后，HLC的理事会将决定该机构将被重新认证，将在一些规定下重新认证，或是否需要监控。