From the HLC Peer Review Report:
“The team was pleased to learn more about the University of Arizona,
which was found to meet (and greatly exceed) the standards.”
The University of Arizona
HLC 2021 Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Assurance Argument Peer Review Report Summary of Peer Review Outcomes HLC Approval Letter
Net ID required to view Assurance Argument, Peer Review Report, and Summary of Peer Review Outcomes Presentation Slides.
The University of Arizona has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1917. HLC is one of seven historically regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The university’s last comprehensive evaluation occurred in 2021 and validated the University’s extraordinary quality and integrity of academics, research, administration, faculty, staff, resources, facilities and procedures.
The Provost appointed Dr. Roger Miesfeld, University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Dr. Barbara Mills, Regents Professor of Anthropology, to serve as Co-Chairs of UArizona's HLC 2021 criteria committee. Dr. Gail Burd, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, served as the Executive Director of the UArizona HLC Team and provided invaluable insights due to her extensive experience as a HLC Peer Reviewer. The entire HLC 2021 Team included committees for Leadership, Advisory, Criteria, and Federal Compliance Committees.
Our Project
HLC 2021 Team
The team is comprised of leaders, advisors and individual contributors who are preparing for the Reaffirmation of Accreditation.
HLC 2021 Project Plan
The Project Plan is a compilation of documents including the project charter, roles and responsibilities, project schedule, and more.
HLC 2021 Key Milestones
The Key Milestones reflect the critical timeline to ensure that The University of Arizona is awarded Reaffirmation of Accreditation following the 2021 Comprehensive Evaluation.
Reaffirmation of Accreditation
To reaffirm accreditation, the University of Arizona is following the Open Pathway, which is one of two options that an institution has for maintaining its accreditation with HLC. The Open Pathway's 10-year cycle is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. In the final year of the cycle, the institution undergoes a comprehensive evaluation to ensure that it is meeting the Criteria for Accreditation, pursuing institutional improvement and complying with certain requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education.
Visit the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) website to learn more about the process.
Open Pathway
The university is participating in the HLC Open Pathway which focuses on quality assurance and institutional improvement.
Quality Initiative
The Open Pathway requires the university to undertake a major Quality Initiative designed to suit our present concerns or aspirations.
Comprehensive Evaluation
A team of peer reviewers conducts a comprehensive evaluation in the final year of the 10-year Open Pathway cycle.
Criteria for Accreditation
The Criteria for Accreditation are the standards of quality by which the Higher Learning Commission determines whether an institution merits reaffirmation of accreditation.
Assumed Practices
Foundational to the Criteria for Accreditation is a set of Assumed Practices shared by higher education institutions in the U.S that are unlikely to vary by institutional mission or context.
Federal Compliance
All HLC member institutions must meet their Title IV program responsibilities and comply with the expectations set by the United States Department of Education.
Related Topics
Strategic Plan
The five pillars of the University of Arizona Strategic Plan represent broad focus areas that work in concert and collectively act as a robust roadmap for the university's future.
UArizona HLC Accreditation
The University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
UArizona Learning Initative
The UArizona Learning Initiative is an approved HLC Quality Initiative designed to enhance and support student learning through integrated student and faculty programs.