Concordia University Chicago's Academic Accreditation Continued

Submitted by Concordia University Chicago.

Concordia University Chicago has received continued accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). At its May 2015 meeting, the Higher Learning Commission board approved continued accreditation at CUC through 2023. Concordia-Chicago has been fully accredited by the commission since 1950. The HLC is the regional higher education accrediting organization in 19 Midwest and South-Central states.

In order to ensure that each university it accredits has the ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation, the HLC conducts regular periodic visits. Reaffirmation of accreditation will allow CUC to continue to offer an academically excellent university education at the baccalaureate and graduate levels.

An HLC team visited Concordia-Chicago in 2014 to conduct a Quality Assurance Check-Up Visit, closely examining all aspects of university operations. In its report, the HLC team noted:

• During the three-day checkup visit, members of various campus constituencies were open to questions raised by the HLC team and were actively engaged, sharing information and seeking details when suggestions were made. A wide range of staff, students, faculty, administrators, members of the community and other stakeholders attended the meetings, and interactions were universally positive.

• The University’s Board of Regents’ commitment to the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) process was evident. An interview with the Chair of the Board, a Board member and the President of the Foundation Board indicated that Regents were actively engaged.

• The University has established a strong foundation for maintaining its continuous improvement efforts with the implementation of three quality-focused AQIP action projects, and the completion of two earlier ones. Administrators and faculty who attended a recent Higher Learning Commission Strategy Forum enthusiastically described the formulation of a new AQIP Action Project based on the institution’s most recent Appraisal Feedback report.

The visit was the culmination of 18 months of work by nearly 150 faculty, staff and administrators who assembled data, wrote several major report documents and worked with the HLC team over their three days on campus.

Dr. John Zillman, Interim Senior Vice President for Academics and AQIP Steering Committee Chair, said he was impressed by the university-wide collaboration which ensured the successful continuation of the University’s accreditation. “As in so many other challenges that we face, I am thankful for the faithful colleagues who are truly gifted by our gracious God. They offer the expertise, creativity, wisdom and courage necessary to sustain Concordia University Chicago as a place to know the truth and the freedom that comes with it.”