Illinois State University’s Accreditation Steering Committee and work team members have compiled the first draft of an assurance argument document for the University’s reaccreditation process through the Higher Learning Commission.
“The assurance argument document is an integral part of the reaccreditation process,” said Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning J. Cooper Cutting. “It shows the University’s outstanding work in the areas of institutional mission, ethical and responsible conduct, teaching and learning practices, institutional resources and planning, and compliance issues.”
Accreditation Steering Committee and work team members began compiling supporting documents for the process during the spring 2023 semester. The draft assurance argument document will be shared with campus stakeholders, and students will have the opportunity to provide feedback about their experiences at the University through a survey in the spring 2024 semester.
Illinois State’s reaccreditation process will culminate in a site visit by HLC reviewers in October 2024. A final accreditation report by HLC, one of only six accreditors in the United States, will be delivered in 2025. A timeline of for the process leading to the October 2024 site visit is available online.
“Steering committee and work team members have done an excellent job in compiling evidence, drafting the assurance argument, and preparing for next fall’s site visit,” said Cutting. “Stakeholder review and feedback will be critically important in preparing the final assurance argument document in the coming months. This is an important campus-wide effort because accreditation is a signal to the public that Illinois State is building on a solid foundation and is committed to continuous improvement.”
Illinois State is participating in HLC’s Open Pathways process for accreditation, which follows a 10-year cycle.
