Accreditation Overview

HLC Accreditation

Phoenix College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the college's next reaffirmation of accreditation (also called a Comprehensive Evaluation) is scheduled for 2025-26. At that time, PC will be required to submit an Assurance Argument, a Federal Compliance Report, and will host a site visit by the HLC so that they can comprehensively review our institution's programs, policies, and processes.

What is the purpose of accreditation?

Comprehensive Evaluations, such as the one we are currently preparing for, have two main purposes:

Continuous improvement of college processes and policies.
Compliance with federal educational regulations.

Continuous Improvement

Our institution is in the process of collecting hundreds of pages of documentation regarding the work we do to support students throughout their academic careers at Phoenix College. This documentation is used to demonstrate to HLC that we comply with their criteria for accreditation. More importantly, though, it provides us at the college an opportunity to critically and holistically review the work that we do here.

This periodic review of the college is important to ensure that we are properly aligning our mission, strategic plan, and the operations of all parts of the college in order to best serve students. It's a chance to take stock of the excellent work that we do every day, but also to identify areas of potential growth and improvement.

Compliance

The United States Department of Education (USDE) relies on accrediting agencies such as the HLC for quality assurance of colleges and universities. In this way Phoenix College is no different than Arizona State University, Stanford University, or Harvard University. All are subject to the same USDE accreditation requirements. The USDE relies on this process to ensure federal student aid funds are used toward quality educational courses and programs.

Institutions such as Phoenix College, which are are accredited by a USDE-recognized accrediting agency gain the following benefits:

Students attending PC are able to receive federal financial assistance for their education.
Credits earned at PC can be transferred to other institutions of higher education.
Confirmation of the rigor and quality of the education that students receive at PC.

Criteria for Accreditation

The Criteria for Accreditation are the standards of quality by which the HLC determines whether an institution merits accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation. Each criterion is made up of several Core Components and Subcomponents. In order to receive reaffirmation of accreditation an institution must write an Assurance Argument in which it demonstrates specifically how it meets the standard described for each Criteria and Core Component. The five Criteria for Accreditation are as follows:

Criterion 1. Mission

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

Core Components

1.A. The institution’s mission is articulated publicly and operationalized throughout the institution.

1.B. The institution’s mission demonstrates commitment to the public good.

1.C. The institution provides opportunities for civic engagement in a diverse, multicultural society and globally connected world, as appropriate within its mission and for the constituencies it serves.

Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct

The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.

Core Components

2.A. The institution establishes and follows policies and processes to ensure fair and ethical behavior on the part of its governing board, administration, faculty and staff.

2.B. The institution presents itself clearly and completely to its students and to the public.

2.C. The governing board of the institution is autonomous to make decisions in the best interest of the institution in compliance with board policies and to ensure the institution’s integrity.

2.D. The institution is committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression in the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning.

2.E. The institution’s policies and procedures call for responsible acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge by its faculty, staff and students.

Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support

The institution provides quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.

Core Components

3.A. The rigor of the institution’s academic offerings is appropriate to higher education.

3.B. The institution offers programs that engage students in collecting, analyzing and communicating information; in mastering modes of intellectual inquiry or creative work; and in developing skills adaptable to changing environments.

3.C. The institution has the faculty and staff needed for effective, high-quality programs and student services.

3.D. The institution provides support for student learning and resources for effective teaching.

Criterion 4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement

The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.

Core Components

4.A. The institution ensures the quality of its educational offerings.

4.B. The institution engages in ongoing assessment of student learning as part of its commitment to the educational outcomes of its students.

4.C. The institution pursues educational improvement through goals and strategies that improve retention, persistence and completion rates in its degree and certificate programs.

Criterion 5. Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning

The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

Core Components

5.A. Through its administrative structures and collaborative processes, the institution’s leadership demonstrates that it is effective and enables the institution to fulfill its mission.

5.B. The institution’s resource base supports its educational offerings and its plans for maintaining and strengthening their quality in the future.

5.C. The institution engages in systematic and integrated planning and improvement.

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