Accreditation

In December 2020, at the close of DU’s 10-year review cycle, our accrediting body—the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)—reaffirmed that the University of Denver continues to meet its Criteria for Accreditation, a distinction we have proudly held since our initial review in 1914.

DU is on the “Open Pathway,” one of three options institutions have for maintaining HLC accreditation. It follows a 10-year cycle and is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. The Open Pathway is unique in that its improvement component, the Quality Initiative, affords institutions the opportunity to pursue improvement projects that meet their current needs and aspirations.

 

 

 

Timeline

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    Spring Quarter:

    HLC Steering Committee and Working Groups Compile First Draft of Assurance Arguments

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    Summer 2019: 

    Planning Committee Reviews First Draft and Writes Second Draft with Writing Team

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    Fall 2019 - Spring 2020

    Campus-Wide Engagement Activities and Events

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    Summer 2020

    Planning Team Finalizes Arguments with Stakeholder Input, Submits Final Arguments to HLC

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    Early Fall 2020: 

    Finalize Details for HLC Campus Visit

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    October 19-20, 2020:

    Campus Visit by HLC Peer Reviewers

The Open Pathway’s 10-year cycle includes the following institutional reviews:

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Assurance Argument Goals

HLC conducts an Assurance Review to determine whether an institution continues to meet the Criteria for Accreditation, every 4 and 10 years. The University of Denver is approaching our 10 year review and is currently drafting assurance arguments and collecting evidence for our comprehensive evaluation in 2020. The assurance arguments detail how the University is meeting the criteria set forth by HLC, using materials such as websites, policies, reports and more as evidence. The Criteria for Accreditation are as follows:

  • Criterion 1: Mission
    • The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.
  • Criterion 2: Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
    • The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
  • Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support
    • The institution provides high quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
  • 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.
  • Criterion 5: Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness
    • 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. The institution plans for the future.

The University will submit both the assurance arguments with an evidence file, using HLC’S online Assurance System in the summer of 2020 after significant consultation with campus stakeholders, including faculty, staff and students. Prior to DU’s campus visit, a team of peer reviewers evaluates the assurance argument with corresponding evidence to provide a recommendation as to whether the institution meets the Criteria for Accreditation.

After the visit, a decision-making body within HLC reviews the University’s materials and the recommendation from the peer review team and takes official action.

Accreditation Committees