Walsh Earns Maximum 10-Year Reaffirmation of Accreditation from Higher Learning Commission

March 23, 2020

Walsh University has earned the maximum 10-year reaffirmation on its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of the nation’s six regional accreditors for institutions of higher education. Earning this privilege is an important accomplishment in higher education which requires in-depth evaluation and signifies the credibility and academic excellence of a university in the United States. Walsh University has earned continuous accreditation since 1970 and the next evaluation will occur in 2030.

“This announcement is the result of an independent verification of our commitment to our university mission and our high academic standards. It is a testament to our gifted people across CAV NATION, and highlights the tremendous value of Catholic higher education to our students,” said Walsh President Dr. Tim Collins. “I applaud the efforts by our Walsh accreditation team and all of the dedicated members of our entire community who worked so hard to make this possible. They just proved that They Rock!”

In preparation for the visit of the HLC Peer Reviewers, Walsh University organized an accreditation task force led by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness Dean Ute Lahaie, Ph.D., and task force members representing every facet of university operations. The accreditation process included feedback from across the community and culminated with a November 2019 campus visit by the HLC Peer Review Team who interviewed the university cabinet, board members, faculty, staff, and students to verify supporting evidence of Walsh’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s demanding Criteria for Accreditation.

Recognized by the United States Department of Education, the HLC evaluates degree-granting institutions against a set of standards they must meet to receive or maintain accredited status. The process for reaffirmation includes a long-term self-study and site visit by a peer-review team. The purpose of accreditation is to evaluate the overall quality of a college or university, while providing an opportunity for an institution to reflect on itself and collect evidence that demonstrates a focus on continuous improvement and planning for the institution’s future. Accreditation is also an important requirement to receive federal financial support.

The Higher Learning Commission is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region.