Capital University Receives Reaffirmation of Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission

After a year of intense review by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the accrediting body for colleges and universities determined Capital “is positioned well for success” and awarded full reaffirmation of accreditation for another 10 years.

Capital has been accredited through HLC for 100 years. The 2022 evaluation is the first time in more than two decades that the University has fully met all HLC criteria for accreditation with no conditions or interim monitoring reports required.

“Given the rigorous foundational standards of quality set by the Higher Learning Commission, I couldn’t be prouder to announce that we received the highest scores and comments from the accrediting bodies of all our schools,” said David Kaufman, Capital University president. “While this full reaffirmation of accreditation reflects the diligent work being done by our faculty, staff, and Cabinet members, there is still much work ahead of us to ensure that we carry out our mission of providing a transformative education for all Capital students.”

The Criteria for Accreditation addressed: 1) mission; 2) ethical and responsible conduct; 3) quality, resources, and support for teaching and learning; 4) evaluation and improvement of teaching and learning; and 5) institutional effectiveness, resources, and planning.

“The full reaffirmation of accreditation shows HLC’s confidence in our mission to empower an inclusive community of learners,” said Jody Fournier, Ph.D., provost and vice president of learning. “We have made great strides in our efforts around student success for the diverse population of students who attend Capital University, and we will continue to prioritize those efforts through our core organizational values.”

The report credited the work of President Kaufman in helping Capital “overcome a period of instability.” It pointed to “a level of trust that has led to much improvement in governance, planning, and the assessment of student learning. The institution has made a great deal of progress under the leadership of the new president and the reconfigured administrative structure.

The review summary addressed three main areas and concluded:

• “Capital University has overcome a period of instability and has established a level of trust that has led to much improvement in governance, planning, and the assessment of   student learning. The institution has made a great deal of progress under the leadership of the new president and the reconfigured administrative structure.”
  • “Planning and communication are central to all that the University does. Faculty, staff, and the Board of Trustees talk about the transparency of leadership and the centrality of planning.”
  • “One area that the institution will need to continue to monitor is in the area of projected deficits over the next few years. The institution is aware of the projections and has included plans in the strategic plan and financial forecasts to carefully monitor the financial health of the institution. The Board of Trustees is also aware of the need to carefully monitor these projections to ensure that the institution remains healthy and positioned for the future.”

Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, HLC validates the quality of an institution’s academic programs at all degree levels and evaluates the institution’s quality as a whole. For more information about the Higher Learning Commission and accreditation, go to https://www.hlcommission.org.