The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association is OSU's accrediting agency. Member institutions are reviewed for re-accreditation every 10 years; OSU's next visit will be in 2005. Like all higher education accrediting agencies in the United States, the HLC requires member institutions to engage in assessment as a means of continuous quality improvement, and assessment has become increasingly important in re-accreditation.

The HLC expects assessment of academic programs to be focused on student learning, systematic, on-going, and implemented and sustained by faculty and administrative commitment to excellent teaching and effective learning.In additional to requirements for demonstrating assessment methods and results, the HLC also requires that institutions demonstrate how assessment results are used to improve teaching, learning, and delivery of services to students.

The HLC has articulated specific expectations for institutional and program-level assessment, and specific expectations regarding the role of faculty members, department heads, and administrators in the assessment process. These are described in the HLC's Levels of Implementation (pdf). The Levels of Implementation will be used by consultant evaluators during OSU's re-accreditation visit in 2005.

Additional information about the HLC's assessment policy is available at the Higher Learning Commission's Assessment Resources website.

Link to the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association official website.