Higher Learning Commission 2022

The University of Akron is preparing for its Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation, an evaluation that occurs every 10 years. On September 12-13, 2022, a peer review team will be on campus to determine whether UA continues to meet the criteria for accreditation, is pursuing institutional improvement, and complies with the requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. Questions? Contact HLC Accreditation Officer Dr. Joe Urgo at jurgo@uakron.edu.

The 10-year accreditation cycle is as follows:

  • In Years 1-3, the institution prepares for the Year 4 comprehensive evaluation by collecting evidence and beginning to draft the Year 4 evaluation.
  • In Year 4, the institution submits the comprehensive evaluation and is visited by a peer review team.
  • In Years 5-9, the institution begins preparing for the Year 10 comprehensive evaluation.
  • In Year 10, the institution submits the comprehensive evaluation and is visited by the peer review team to determine whether accreditation can be reaffirmed.

2022 HLC Comprehensive Evaluation

President Miller welcomes the review team

We are pleased to have an opportunity to engage with the Higher Learning Commission at this transitional time in the over 150-year history of The University of Akron. Having weathered a decade of senior leadership uncertainty, demographic-based enrollment decline and associated budget pressure, labor unrest and a global pandemic, the University has positioned itself to emerge as a strong, highly engaged urban research university of opportunity. We hope you will affirm the progress we have made in shared governance, budget transparency, student academic and personal support, community engagement, basic and applied research and leadership development. Because of these efforts, the University has attracted significant new opportunities in the arts, polymer science and engineering, and the arts and sciences. A new and intensive engagement with our over 180,000 alumni is rapidly raising awareness and generating private funding particularly in the area of student scholarships. The strategic vision of the Academic division has put the university on a path focused on providing opportunities for underserved students and ensuring the success of all students. This is a critical moment in the history of the university and we are most excited to have the Higher Learning Commission as our partner.

Gary Miller, President, The University of Akron

2022 HLC Documentation

Preparing for the HLC visit

During the HLC visit in September 2022, students, faculty, staff, and contract professionals are welcome to attend open forums to share feedback with our HLC peer reviewers. To prepare, it’s a good idea to review The University of Akron's Assurance Argument, which provides narrative and evidence about how UA fulfills the HLC criteria:

CRITERION 1 - MISSION

The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.


CRITERION 2 - INTEGRITY: ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT

The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.


CRITERION 3 - TEACHING AND LEARNING: QUALITY, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

The institution provides quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.


CRITERION 4 - TEACHING AND LEARNING: EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT

The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments and support services, at it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.

CRITERION 5 - INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, RESOURCES AND PLANNING

The institution’s resources, structures, processes and planning are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

Prior HLC visits to campus

Members of the HLC Writing and Review Teams

  • Dale Adams
  • Phil Allen
  • Jill Bautista
  • Janet Bean
  • Doug Brumbaugh
  • Kate Budd
  • Katie Cerrone
  • Celeste Cook
  • Aimee deChambeau
  • Ali Doehring
  • Kathee Evans
  • Tammy Ewin
  • Tonia Ferrell
  • Kim Gentile
  • Dallas Grundy
  • Tami Hannon
  • Jenny Hebert
  • Kelly Herold
  • Sarah Kelly
  • John Messina
  • Joe Minnochi
  • Laurel Rooks
  • Marnie Saunders
  • Michael Strong
  • Joe Urgo