Accreditation

In December 2020, at the close of DU鈥檚 10-year review cycle, our accrediting body鈥攖he Higher Learning Commission (HLC)鈥攔eaffirmed that the 麻豆区 continues to meet its Criteria for Accreditation, a distinction we have proudly held since our initial review in 1914.

DU is on the 鈥淥pen Pathway,鈥 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:听

    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:听

    Finalize Details for HLC Campus Visit

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    October 19-20, 2020:

    Campus Visit by HLC Peer Reviewers

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

  • Regular Monitoring

    Institutions submit an annual Institutional Update, which is reviewed by HLC to monitor organizational health, comply with certain federal requirements, and identify any changes that may require HLC follow up. HLC will also apply change processes as appropriate to planned institutional developments, and will monitor institutions through reports, visits and other means as it deems appropriate.

  • Year 4: Assurance Review

    Institutions complete an Assurance Review to ensure they are continuing to meet HLC鈥檚 Criteria for Accreditation. The institution provides documentation demonstrating how it fulfills each Criterion and Core Component. A peer review team evaluates these materials and recommends whether the institution should continue in the cycle or whether additional monitoring is required. HLC鈥檚 Institutional Actions Council (IAC) reviews and takes official action on the recommendation.

  • Years 5 - 9: Quality Initiative

    Institutions design and undertake a Quality Initiative project. HLC peer reviewers approve an initial project proposal, as well as a report on the outcomes of the project.

  • Year 10: Comprehensive Evaluation

    Note: This will occur at the 麻豆区 in October 2020.

    Institutions undergo a comprehensive evaluation to ensure they are meeting the Criteria for Accreditation, pursuing institutional improvement and complying with certain requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. This review leads to an action regarding the reaffirmation of the institution鈥檚 accreditation.

    More 麻豆区 Comprehensive Evaluation:

    HLC conducts comprehensive evaluations of member institutions to confirm that the institution continues to meet the Criteria for Accreditation, is pursuing institutional improvement and complies with requirements sets by the U.S. Department of Education. Evaluations are conducted by teams of peer reviewers.

    The evaluation that occurs in the final year of each pathway cycle鈥擸ear 10 for Open Pathway鈥攊ncludes an action regarding the institution鈥檚 reaffirmation of accreditation.

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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 麻豆区 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:听Mission
    • The institution鈥檚 mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution鈥檚 operations.
  • Criterion 2:听Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
    • The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
  • Criterion 3:听Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support
    • The institution provides high quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
  • Criterion 4:听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:听Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness
    • The institution鈥檚 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鈥橲 online Assurance System in the summer of 2020 after significant consultation with campus stakeholders, including faculty, staff and students. Prior to DU鈥檚 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鈥檚 materials and the recommendation from the peer review team and takes official action.

Accreditation Committees

  • Gaps Analysis Group

    The Gaps Analysis group is reviewing all five criterion arguments and听identify the gaps where content and/or evidence is missing and needed.

    NameTitle
    Casey DingerInterim Vice Provost of Internationalization听
    Adrienne GonzalesDirector of the Center for World Languages and Cultures
    Clint EmmerichAssistant Provost, Budget and Analysis
    Keith MillerInterim Associate Provost of Graduate Education听
    Michele HannaAssociate Professor, Graduate School of Social Work
    Richard ColbyAssistant Director, First Year Writing, and Teaching Professor, Writing Program
    Chip ReichardtProfessor, Psychology听
    Christina PaguyoDirector, Academic Assessment
    Allison FriederichsAssociate Dean and Teaching Associate Professor, College of Professional Studies
    Sarah HoffmanAssistant Provost, Student Success
    Deigan SilverAssociate Professor, Media, Film and Journalism Studies, Director, CILCA
    Kimberly BenderInterim Associate Provost for Research
    Lory-Ann VarelaInterim Executive Director of Culture, Access and Transitions Program

  • Criterion 1: Mission

    The Mission Committee is responsible for ensuring the University's mission, which guides our operations, is clear and articulated publicly.听Thank you to the following people for drafting the initial argument for Criterion 1:

    NameTitleUnit
    Kristin DealInterim DirectorOffice of Diversity and Inclusion
    Cara DiEnnoAssociate DirectorCenter for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship and Learning
    Allana ForteAssistant Vice ChancellorEnrollment
    Garret GlassAssistant Director, ProductionNewman Center
    Theresa Hernandez*Assistant Vice Chancellor, Campus PartnershipsInformation Technology
    Darrin Hicks*Professor, Communication StudiesCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
    Madeline PhippsSr. Media Relations SpecialistDepartment of Marketing and Communications
    Audrey SchiavoneTeaching Assistant ProfessorWriting Program

    *听鈥 Committee chairs

  • Criterion 2: Integrity

    The Integrity Committee is responsible for ensuring that the University acts with integrity and that our conduct is ethical and responsible.听Thank you to the following people for drafting the initial argument for Criterion 2:

    NameTitleUnit
    Sarah BuenavidezAssociate Director, Graduate EnrollmentGraduate Education
    Brian GonzalesClinical Assistant ProfessorGraduate School of Social Work
    Niki LatinoAssociate Vice ChancellorCampus Life and Inclusive Excellence
    Jerron LoweDirector, Human Resource PartnershipsHuman Resources and Inclusive Community
    Timothy Sisk*ProfessorJosef Korbel School of International Studies听
    Tiffany WenDirectorInternal Audit
    Paul Kosempel*Teaching Associate Professor, Pioneer Leadership Living and Learning CommunityPioneer Leadership Program
    Audry LaCroneCommunications ManagerOffice of Research and Sponsored Programs

    *听鈥 Committee chairs

  • Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning 鈥 Quality, Resources and Support

    The听Teaching and Learning 鈥 Quality, Resources and Support Committee is responsible for ensuring the University provides high quality education, wherever and however our offerings are delivered.听Thank you to the following people for drafting the initial argument for Criterion 3:

    NameTitleUnit
    Ayla EngelhartAssociate Director, Student OutreachCampus Life and Inclusive Excellence
    Brian Gearity*Director, MA Coach and Sport EdGraduate School of Professional Psychology
    Anthea Johnson RooenDirector, College Access and PipelineCampus Life and Inclusive Excellence
    Richard ColbyTeaching Associate ProfessorWriting Program
    Luc BeaudoinVice Chancellor for InternationalizationOffice of Internationalization
    Virginia PittsDirector, University TeachingOffice of Teaching and Learning
    Adrienne GonzalesInterim DirectorWorld Languages and Cultures
    Ingrid Tague*Associate DeanCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

    *听鈥 Committee chairs

  • Criterion 4: Teaching and Learning 鈥 Evaluation and Improvement

    The听Teaching and Learning 鈥 Evaluation and Improvement Committee is responsible for ensuring the University demonstrates responsibility for the quality of our educational programs, learning environments and support services. The committee also evaluates the effectiveness of those programs, environments and services for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.听Thank you to the following people for drafting the initial argument for Criterion 4:

    NameTitleUnit
    Jennifer AndersonAssociate Director, CPD Info and SystemsCareer and Professional Development
    Michael BrentAssistant Professor, Department of PhilosophyCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
    Michelle Kruse-CrockerTeaching Associate ProfessorCollege of Professional Studies
    Christina PaguyoDirector, Academic AssessmentOffice of Teaching and Learning
    Maggie Red*Associate Dean, Programs and PartnershipsColorado Women's College
    Nancy SasakiTeaching ProfessorNatural Sciences and Mathematics
    Rachel WalshAssociate Professor, Languages and LiteraturesCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
    Kate Willink*Faculty DirectorOffice of Teaching and Learning

    *听鈥 Committee chairs

  • Criterion 5: Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness

    The听Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Committee's responsibility is to ensure the University's resources, structures and processes are sufficient to fulfill our mission, improve the quality of our educational offerings and respond to future challenges and opportunities.听Thank you to the following people for drafting the initial argument for Criterion 5:

    NameTitleUnit
    Emily AllenProgram CoordinatorPioneer Leadership Program
    Don BaconProfessor, MarketingDaniels College of Business
    Linda Kosten*Vice ProvostPlanning and Budget
    Leandra MartinezAssistant ControllerController's Office
    Chip Reichardt*Professor, PsychologyCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
    Keith RhodesTeaching Assistant ProfessorWriting Program
    James RosnerAssociate Vice ChancellorFacilities
    Shannon SealesLearning and Development ConsultantHuman Resources and Inclusive Community

    *听鈥 Committee chairs

  • Planning Committee
    • Jennifer Karas, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs听
    • Alex Lustig, Project Manager