ICC is eager to announce the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) removed its sanction of notice and ICC has been approved for reinstatement as an HLC-accredited institution.
Over the past two years, ICC has faced challenges and changes, but the ICC community has worked hard to make improvement and persevere. With a new strategic plan and capable leadership in place, ICC is ready to continue moving forward in the right direction.
“I am very grateful to those who devoted so much time and attention to this project,” says ICC Interim President George Knox. “HLC accreditation is paramount to ICC’s relevance and status as an institution of higher learning, so it was of great importance we addressed the concerns aggressively, not only for the accreditation, but for the long-term growth and success of ICC.”
In November of 2017, ICC was placed on notice by the HLC for being at risk of incompliance with accreditation criteria including:
- The institution operates with integrity in its financial, academic, personnel, and auxiliary functions; it establishes and follows policy and processes for fair and ethical behavior on the part of its governing board, administration, faculty, and staff;
- the institution provides support for student learning and effective teaching;
- the institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs;
- the institution demonstrates a commitment to educational achievement and improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning;
- the institution demonstrates a commitment to educational improvement through ongoing attention to retention, persistence, and completion rates in its degree and certificate programs;
- the institution’s governance and administrative structures promote effective leadership and support collaborative processes that enable the institution to fulfill its mission;
- the institution engages in systematic and integrated planning; and
- the institution works systematically to improve its performance.
Through the work of several ICC leadership and team members, the structure, policies and procedures and processes of ICC have greatly improved; not only to meet the criteria, but to invest in the future of the institution.
“We are very excited by this news,” says Board of Trustees Chair Valorie DeFever. “ICC has used this opportunity to prove it is adaptable and will continue to be a long-standing and prominent pillar in the Independence community.”
ICC recently launched its new five-year strategic plan. The HLC reinstatement of accreditation is a springboard for the great growth and development on the horizon. For more information regarding the HLC removal of the sanction of notice, visit www.hlcommission.org.
About HLC
The Higher Learning Commission accredits approximately 1,000 colleges and universities that have a home base in one of 19 states that stretch from West Virginia to Arizona. HLC is a private, nonprofit accrediting agency. It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. To learn more, visit www.hlcommission.org.