UW-Whitewater is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accrediting that ensures educational quality for post-secondary institutions in 19 states. HLC does an in-depth evaluation of our mission, integrity, quality of instruction, processes for evaluating and improving teaching and learning, and our overall institutional effectiveness, resources, and planning. HLC accreditation is very important for our campus, impacting things such as how we use our budget, transfer credits, and access to federal funds ---, including student loans.
UW-Whitewater’s last HLC review was in 2015-16. The review was very positive and resulted in full reaccreditation.
Quality of student learning assessment is one of the key factors considered in the accreditation process. Throughout our most recent review, the quality of our assessment processes and widespread involvement of faculty, staff, and students from across campus were noted as strengths.
For further details, you may review the HLC’s accreditation process as well as the Final Accreditation Report and the Assurance Argument from the 2015-16 visit, and the UW-Whitewater HLC 4th year Assurance Argument.
HLC will again review UW-Whitewater in 2022-2023.
In between 10 th year reviews, the university provides official updates (see figure below; UW-Whitewater is on HLC’s Open Pathway for accreditation)
In addition to university-wide accreditation, several programs or units are also approved by discipline-specific accrediting Bodies. Program-level accrediting agencies provide guidelines for content to cover, the kinds and level of instruction expected, practical experiences students should gain, instructor-to-student ratios, and instructor training and preparation.
Below is a full list of the programs or units and respective review dates.
Accrediting Agency |
Academic Year of Last Review |
Academic Year of Next Review |
|
Art |
National Association of Schools of Art & Design |
2019-2020 |
2024-2025 |
College of Business and Economics |
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business |
2018-2019 |
2023-2024 |
Chemistry |
American Chemical Society |
2016-2017 |
2021-2022 |
Communication Sciences and Disorders |
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association |
2013-2014 |
2021-2022 |
Counseling: MS |
Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs |
2019-2020 |
2024-2025 |
Music |
National Association of Schools of Music |
2011-2012 |
2021-2022 |
Occupational Safety |
ABET: Applied Science Accreditation Commission |
2015-2016 |
2021-2022 |
School Psychology |
National Association of School Psychologists |
2017-2018 |
2022-2023 |
Social Work: BA/BS |
Council on Social Work Education |
2018-2019 |
2023-2014 |
Social Work: MSW |
Council on Social Work Education |
----- |
2023-2024 |
Theatre |
National Association of Schools of Theatre |
2008-2009 |
2021-2022 |
Overall University HLC Accreditation |
Higher Learning Commission |
2015-2016 |
2022-2023 |