HLC Bulletin June 2023

"HLC Bulletin"

JUNE 2023

In This Issue:
•    Federal Compliance: A Key Part of Reaffirmation
•    A Closer Look at the Criteria for Accreditation: Core Component 1.B

Federal Compliance: A Key Part of Reaffirmation

KU’s HLC Federal Compliance Committee is already assembling the necessary documentation in preparation for filing the federal compliance form in advance of the deadline for submitting the assurance argument and supporting documentation.

Filing the form and addressing specific requirements is a key element in the Higher Learning Commission’s conditions for reaffirmation of accreditation. The HLC assures the U.S. Department of Education that member institutions such as KU comply with the expectations of specific federal regulations, including the Title IV Higher Education Act program that administers federal financial aid for students. The requirements also reinforce important quality assurance goals.

Federal compliance requirements focus on eight specific areas:

  1. Assignment of Credits, Program Length and Tuition
  2. Institutional Mechanisms for Handling Student Complaints
  3. Publication of Transfer Policies
  4. Practices for Verification of Student Identity
  5. Protection of Student Privacy
  6. Publication of Student Outcome Data
  7. Standing with State and Other Accreditors
  8. Recruiting, Admissions and Related Institutional Practices

“Most important is making sure we have a Code of Ethics for recruitment and enrollment that aligns with the institution’s overall code and set of values,” said John Curran, Vice Chancellor and Chief Risk Officer, who chairs KU’s HLC Federal Compliance Committee. “Federal compliance is about consumer protection and truth in advertising.”

The committee is reviewing other processes and procedures related to federal compliance to identify where improvements may be needed. One example concentrates on the mechanism for handling student complaints and ensuring it is well-publicized.

“It’s important not only to have a visible intake mechanism, but to demonstrate that after analyzing the data, we take action,” Curran said.

KU’s federal compliance filing is reviewed as part of the comprehensive evaluation that occurs every 10 years for reaffirmation of accreditation. The HLC may also require an institution to provide documentation related to one or more federal requirements as part of routine monitoring, or if compliance questions arise.

Once KU has submitted its assurance argument and evidence documents by the December 2024 deadline, a federal compliance reviewer will be alerted to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the institution’s federal compliance materials. That individual will provide the findings to the review team at least one week prior to their visit to KU on March 3 and 4, 2025. The reviewer’s findings are not conclusive; the review team may conduct further exploration and confirmation of whether the requirements are met during its site visit.

A Closer Look at the Criteria for Accreditation

Criterion 1. Mission

Core Component 1.B

The institution’s mission demonstrates commitment to the public good.

  1. The institution’s actions and decisions demonstrate that its educational role is to serve the public, not solely the institution or any superordinate entity.
  2. The institution’s educational responsibilities take primacy over other purposes, such as generating financial returns for investors, contributing to a related or parent organization, or supporting external interests.
  3. The institution engages with its external constituencies and responds to their needs as its mission and capacity allow.
Examples of Evidence:
  • The institution’s mission documents if they specifically address the institution’s role in the community.
  • List of efforts, programs and certificates that meet community or constituent needs.
  • Information about the institution’s sustainability program.
  • A list of partnerships and consulting arrangements with local businesses.
  • Documentation of public events and series the community is able to attend.
  • Documentation of the utilization of campus facilities by the community.
  • Engagement of faculty, staff, and students in the community (i.e., community service, service-learning, etc.).
What does Core Component 1.B mean for you?

KU demonstrates its commitment to the public good in myriad ways.

Some examples include KU’s work through research units such as the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, which identifies sustainable chemical technology advances for industry through collaborations among chemists, engineers, data scientists, and economists; the Kansas Geological Survey, which studies and provides information about the state’s geologic and groundwater resources; through training and educational programs available through outreach units such as the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute or the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute; and through community relationship-building activities such as those offered by the Institute for Community Engagement at the Medical Center.

Many students participate in annual service projects such as the Big Event and the JayDoc Free Clinic. The Center for Service Learning offers programs that help connect community partners with KU courses, benefiting both student learning and community needs. Centers such as the Hall Center for the Humanities, The Commons, and Kansas Public Radio, along with cultural enrichment programs through the Lied Center of Kansas, the Spencer Museum of Art, and the Dole Institute of Politics, further demonstrate KU’s contribution to the public good. In addition, Jayhawk Hospitality works with groups and organizations to facilitate the use of campus facilities for meetings and other events.

Members of the KU community who participate in community service, service learning, and public events should ensure those activities are known and documented by emailing hlc2025@ku.edu.