The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools conducted in 2015 its periodic comprehensive evaluation of Marshall University for the purpose of reaffirming Marshall’s continuous accreditation with the HLC. Marshall has been accredited by the HLC since 1928. Its last comprehensive evaluation was 2005-06.
Marshall submitted its Assurance Argument to the HLC in September 2015, followed by an HLC site-team visit in October 2015. In December of 2015, the HLC’s Institutional Actions Council reaffirmed Marshall University’s accreditation.
Marshall submitted its Assurance Argument to the HLC on September 12, 2015, demonstrating the university’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.
The HLC’s comprehensive evaluation site-team visit took place on October 12-13, 2015. The site-team reviewed Marshall’s 2015 Assurance Argument prior to the visit, and once on campus met with students, faculty, and staff. Based on its visit, the site-team submitted its Reaffirmation Review to the HLC Institutional Actions Council.
In 2011, Marshall was invited by the HLC to pioneer its Open Pathway Review Process for Reaffirmation of Accreditation. The Open Pathway consists of two primary components:
- An Assurance Argument
- An Improvement Process Quality Initiative
Marshall’s first Improvement Process Quality Initiative was designed to test the Lumina Foundation’s Degree Qualifications Profile through a process of review and self-assessment of academic degree program assessment plans. This testing resulted in Marshall University’s Degree Profile. Details regarding the quality initiative can be found here.
The Open Pathway offers Marshall University the opportunity of ongoing review and improvement over a ten-year cycle. As shown in the ten-year Open Pathway Cycle Master Schedule, Marshall will undergo an Assurance Review in 2019-20 and begin its next Quality Initiative in 2020. In 2025-26, Marshall will undergo another comprehensive review to seek reaffirmation of accreditation.
Updated: January 21, 2016