Welcome
As a degree-granting institution, Lincoln College is affiliated with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, which works with member institutions in a nineteen state region. Lincoln College is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission enables the College to measure our programs and services against a set of established standards to ensure that our students receive a high quality education. Further, HLC accreditation communicates to others that the College’s mission and goals, resources and resource allocation, admissions standards, and support services are appropriate and effective.
Participation in the HLC accreditation process is a vital part of the College’s determination to fulfill our mission as a student-centered institution empowering students to realize their full potential for success through quality educational programs and services.
As part of maintaining accreditation, every ten years Lincoln College carries out an in-depth self-study involving members of the entire College community. We are currently in the process of conducting a self-study in preparation for reaccreditation in 2013. During the self-study, the self-study team is examining, documenting, analyzing, and evaluating every area of the College to assess and document how well we are accomplishing our mission.
Goals for the self-study include:
- Involving the entire college community in ongoing and productive conversation about continual improvement of College programs and services.
- Identifying areas of strength and challenge for future institutional planning.
- Preparing for and requesting continued HLC certification.
Timeline
- Beginning in 2011, the 5 Criterion Committees began gathering evidence supporting each criterion.
- During 2012, each Criterion Committee is involved in synthesizing the evidence they have gathered to create a committee report which will be included with the evidence for the self-study and will inform the institutional self-study report.
- In 2013, the College will submit the final written report to the Higher Learning Commission documenting institutional strengths as well as areas of challenge.
- During the 2013-2014 academic year, a team of HLC evaluators will visit both campuses to conduct an on-site review. After that visit, the evaluating team will make a recommendation to the HLC concerning continued accreditation.