Section 1: Purpose of Accreditation
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is an external quality-review process for colleges and universities. It examines the institution as a whole, including its mission, academic programs, governance, administration, finances, student support, institutional resources and commitment to continuous improvement.
Who accredits the University of Central Arkansas?
The University of Central Arkansas is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, commonly referred to as HLC.
What is HLC?
The Higher Learning Commission, or HLC, is an independent institutional accreditor that evaluates degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States. As an institutional accreditor, HLC reviews the university as a whole rather than focusing on a single academic program. Its work provides assurance that member institutions meet established expectations for quality, integrity, student learning, institutional effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation provides assurance to students, families and the public that UCA meets recognized standards of institutional quality and integrity. It also supports the recognition and transfer of academic credit and is connected to an institution’s eligibility to participate in federal student-aid programs.
Is the comprehensive evaluation a ranking of UCA?
No. The HLC comprehensive evaluation is not a ranking or competition among colleges and universities. It is a review of whether UCA meets HLC’s requirements for accreditation.
It is also not a separate evaluation of every individual department or program. The review considers how the university operates as an institution and how its programs, people, policies and resources work together to fulfill its mission.
Does the visit mean that UCA’s accreditation is in question?
No. A comprehensive evaluation is a normal part of the continuing accreditation cycle. It allows UCA to demonstrate that it meets HLC’s requirements and to reflect on its strengths, progress and opportunities for improvement.
Does HLC accreditation include all UCA programs and methods of delivery?
Institutional accreditation examines the university as a whole, including its degree levels and educational delivery methods. Some individual programs may also hold specialized or programmatic accreditation from organizations associated with particular professions or fields of study. These are separate accreditation types and standards.
Section 2: Evaluation Process
What is an HLC comprehensive evaluation?
A comprehensive evaluation is a periodic review conducted as part of UCA’s continuing accreditation relationship with HLC. It includes:
- An institutional self-evaluation.
- An Assurance Argument supported by evidence.
- Review by a team of trained peer reviewers.
- A visit to the university.
- Opportunities for members of the campus community to participate.
- A subsequent accreditation decision through HLC’s review process.
When will UCA’s HLC visit take place?
UCA’s HLC peer-review visit is scheduled for March 8–9, 2027.
Faculty, staff and students should plan to be available on those dates because members of the peer-review team may request meetings with individuals and campus groups.
Who will conduct the visit?
The visit will be conducted by an HLC peer-review team. Peer reviewers are faculty members, administrators and other higher-education professionals who have been trained by HLC to evaluate institutions against its accreditation requirements.
What will the peer-review team examine?
The team will review UCA’s Assurance Argument and supporting evidence and will meet with members of the university community. The evaluation will consider whether UCA:
- Is guided by a clear and evolving mission.
- Operates with integrity, transparency and responsible governance.
- Assumes responsibility for educational quality and student success.
- Has the structures and resources needed to improve, fulfill its mission and respond to the future.
What is the Assurance Argument?
The Assurance Argument is UCA’s evidence-based explanation of how the university meets HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. It describes how UCA fulfills its mission, acts with integrity, supports learning and student success, and sustains institutional improvement.
The argument is supported by documents and other evidence demonstrating how the university’s policies and practices work in operation.
What kinds of evidence may be included?
Evidence may include policies, planning documents, assessment results, program-review materials, governance records, financial information, student-success data, institutional reports and examples of how decisions are made and evaluated. Evidence should demonstrate the existence, use, and effectiveness of policies, plans, and programs in meeting the criteria for accreditation.
UCA’s Assurance Argument Steering Committee and Criterion Teams are writing the Assurance Argument, organizing evidence, and aligning the materials with the university’s mission.
What is the Quality Initiative?
The Quality Initiative is a major improvement project completed by an institution during its HLC accreditation cycle. UCA will complete and submit its Quality Initiative Report as part of its preparation for the comprehensive evaluation.
Section 3: Calendar and Participation
What are the major milestones leading to the visit?
UCA’s current preparation calendar includes the following major activities:
Spring and summer 2026
- Complete the Quality Initiative Report.
- Revise the Assurance Argument.
- Organize supporting evidence.
Fall 2026
- Prepare the campus for the visit.
- Share the Assurance Argument with the campus community.
- Conduct a mock site visit.
- Collect feedback on the Assurance Argument.
Winter 2026–27
- Make final revisions to the Assurance Argument.
- Upload the Assurance Argument and evidence to HLC’s Canopy system.
February 2027
- Conduct the HLC Student Opinion Survey.
- Complete the final Assurance Argument and evidence and upload to HLC
March 8–9, 2027
- Host the HLC peer-review team for the comprehensive evaluation visit.
What is the mock site visit?
UCA will host a mock visit on November 10-11, 2026. HLC consultants will meet with committees and university stakeholders, test the strength of UCA’s Assurance Argument, anticipate questions that the formal peer-review team may ask and recommend final revisions. The mock visit is a working rehearsal rather than an accreditation decision.
What happens after the mock visit?
UCA will consider the consultants’ feedback, make final revisions and upload the Assurance Argument and supporting evidence to HLC’s Canopy system. The materials will be finalized before the March visit.
Section 4: Community Participation
How can faculty and staff prepare?
Faculty and staff should:
- Know UCA’s mission and be able to describe how their work advances it.
- Become familiar with HLC’s four Criteria for Accreditation.
- Provide relevant evidence when requested.
- Read the Assurance Argument and offer feedback as requested
- Participate in other campus-wide and program-specific HLC events
How can students participate?
Students may be invited to attend meetings or open forums throughout the process, including during the site visit. Students will also have an opportunity to complete the HLC Student Opinion Survey.
Additional information about meeting schedules and participation opportunities will be shared as the visit approaches.
What is the HLC Student Opinion Survey?
The Student Opinion Survey is an HLC-administered survey that gives students an opportunity to share their views about their experience at UCA. Survey results are provided to the peer-review team as one source of information for the evaluation.
UCA’s survey is scheduled to open through Cub Hub in February 2027.
Are responses to the Student Opinion Survey confidential?
Yes, the HLC Student Opinions Survey is conducted by the HLC, not UCA. All data and responses are anonymous and the raw responses are viewed only by HLC.
Will community members be able to meet with the peer-review team?
The team will meet with selected university groups and may hold sessions for broader campus participation. A detailed schedule, including any open forums, will be announced closer to the visit.
Section 5: What to Expect During the Visit
What will happen during the March 8–9 visit?
The peer-review team will review evidence, meet with university leaders and campus groups, and ask questions related to HLC’s accreditation requirements. The team will use the written materials and information gathered during the visit to prepare its evaluation.
What should I expect if I am invited to a meeting?
Peer reviewers may ask participants to describe their work and experiences at UCA. Questions may address topics such as:
- How a unit’s work supports the university’s mission.
- How decisions are made and communicated.
- How UCA evaluates educational quality.
- How the university supports student learning and success.
- How data and evidence inform planning and improvement.
- How shared governance operates.
- How UCA responds when areas for improvement are identified.
Participants should answer candidly and draw on examples from their own experiences. It is acceptable to say that you do not know an answer or that another person or office would be better positioned to respond.
What should I do if I see members of the HLC team on campus?
Welcome them as guests of the university and assist them with ordinary questions such as directions. There is no need to deliver a rehearsed message. A professional, helpful and candid campus environment is the best representation of UCA.
Will classes and university operations continue during the visit?
Normal university activities are generally expected to continue. Some faculty members, staff members and students may be asked to participate in scheduled meetings or forums.
Will the peer-review team make a decision before leaving campus?
The team does not expect to announce a final accreditation decision at the conclusion of the visit. Its findings will proceed through HLC’s established review and decision-making process. Information about the outcome will be shared with the university community when it becomes available.
What are the possible outcomes of the review?
After the visit, the peer-review team prepares a report describing its findings and recommendations. UCA will have an opportunity to review the report for factual errors and respond before the materials are considered by an HLC decision-making body.
The review may result in reaffirmation of UCA’s accreditation. HLC may also identify opportunities for improvement or require additional monitoring, such as a follow-up report or visit.
In more serious circumstances, HLC has processes for sanctions or other actions when an institution does not meet accreditation requirements.
Where can I find updates?
Updates, preparation materials, the Assurance Argument and participation information will be posted on UCA’s HLC website as they become available. UCA also plans to communicate with key campus groups through campus events and targeted messages.