What is Accreditation?
"Accreditation is the recognition that an institution maintains standards requisite for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice. The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality." - U.S. Department of Education
There are both Institutional accreditations and Specialized or Programmatic Accreditations. Learn more.
Accreditation Status at NDSCS
NDSCS’s accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) was originally granted in 1971 and reaffirmed in 1981, 1991 and 2001. NDSCS was then approved to follow the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) beginning in 2002 because of their good standing with HLC.
AQIP was a quality-based, continuous improvement model that focuses on developing a quality mindset, identifying issues early, and generating evidence that meets quality standards. Quality Standards were more regularly updated, and a Systems Portfolio was submitted to HLC in 2004, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2018 with reaffirmation of our accreditation happening in 2009 and 2016 after comprehensive evaluations and site visits.
In 2019, HLC officially phased out AQIP as an accreditation pathway. NDSCS now follows the open pathway toward reaccreditation. The open pathway follows a 10-year cycle and is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. It also includes a Quality Initiative Project (QIP) that meets NDSCS’s needs and aspirations. The QIP at NDSCS is the Partnering for Success project.
In April 2025, NDSCS will undergo its next Comprehensive Accreditation Review and site visit. In this process, the HLC will once again review the college based on the HLC Criteria for Accreditation which addresses the mission, educational quality, and integrity of the institution, as well as compliance with federal regulations and academic progress.
Value of Accreditation
Accreditation:
- Encourages confidence that an institution’s education is fair and accurate.
- Assures that a neutral, external party has reviewed the quality of education.
- Confirms that institutions and programs have processes in place to meet changes in thinking.
- Provides for eligible students to have access to federal financial aid.
- Assists with transfer of credits among institutions.
- Aids with entrance to a profession.
- Signals prospective employers that an educational program has met widely accepted educational standards.
Throughout this year, be on the lookout for more updates and how you can contribute to the success of NDSCS and its continued accreditation. Get ready to piece it together!
