Accreditation Corner: HLC announces changes and revisions for 2025-2026

Update | Friday, December 5, 2025

During the past year, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has worked on simplifying its framework. The changes took effect this year on Sept. 2. Changes include:

• The two teaching and learning criteria have been consolidated into one: Criteria 3--Teaching and Learning for Student Success. The criteria include components of rigor and quality, learning support, assessment, program review, and newly added student success outcomes. 
• A revised institutional planning and fiscal responsibility criteria that is focused on sustainability and covers institutional effectiveness, resources, and planning.  

Additionally, HLC has modified some requirements for completion of a substantive change request. These include:

• Questions regarding consortia arrangements have been added to multiple HLC screening forms. Please note: A consortia arrangement is when “part of a program is delivered with another institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education–recognized accreditor.”  
   

As a reminder, in addition to consortia arrangements, substantive change requests must be completed and accepted or approved by HLC prior to marketing or enrolling students for any of the following, so please allow time for this process in your planning.

• Contractual arrangement
  Outsourcing a portion of an academic program to another entity. 
• Additional location
  Opening or closing a geographically separate site, including College Credit Plus, where a student can complete ≥50% of a program (degree or certificate).  
• Academic program notifications
  New, ending, or changing (e.g., 25%+ change in hours/content, method of delivery, customized/abbreviated pathways) degree or certificate programs.
   

Federal requirements: What shifted in the past year

• Distance Education & R2T4 (Return of Title IV Funds) Final Rules. ED issued final rules in January 2025; some provisions may be implemented early, with the remainder effective July 1, 2026. Institutions should review distance-ed definitions, regular and substantive interaction, and R2T4 calculation changes to ensure alignment. (Federal Register)
   

For more information
If you have questions or need help applying this to your program or site, contact The Office of Accreditation by emailing Teddi Lewis-Hotopp, Student Affairs director, at tlewisho@cscc.edu, or Darla Van Horn, Student Affairs program manager, at dvanhorn@cscc.edu.

 

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