Review
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) provides two pathways or tracks through which its member institutions receive, reaffirm, and maintain accreditation: the Open Pathway and the Standard Pathway. West Virginia State has been following the Standard Pathway.
What is Standard Pathway? The Standard Pathway is one of two options institutions have for maintaining accreditation with HLC. It follows a 10-year cycle and is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. These improvement topics are integrated into comprehensive evaluations conducted during the cycle, as well as through interim monitoring, as required.
Procedures: The Standard Pathway’s 10-year cycle includes the following institutional reviews:
Regular Monitoring: Institutions submit an annual Institutional Update, which is reviewed by HLC to monitor organizational health, comply with certain federal requirements and identify any changes that may require HLC follow up. HLC will also apply change processes as appropriate to planned institutional developments, and will monitor institutions through reports, visits and other means as is deemed appropriate.
Year 4: Comprehensive Evaluation: Institutions undergo a comprehensive evaluation to ensure they are meeting the Criteria for Accreditation, pursuing institutional improvement and complying with certain requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. A Year 4 evaluation may include a determination that interim monitoring is necessary.
Year 10: Comprehensive Evaluation: The second comprehensive evaluation conducted in the Standard Pathway cycle follows the same process as the evaluation conducted in Year 4. The Year 10 evaluation leads to an action regarding the reaffirmation of the institution’s accreditation.
West Virginia State’s accreditation was last reaffirmed in April 2015. West Virginia State received its accreditation status in 1927 and has the longest record of continuous accreditation among West Virginia’s higher education institutions.
West Virginia State University is preparing for its Year 10: Comprehensive Evaluation, December 2025.
Team
Leadership
Ms. Deborah Williams, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer
Dr. Kerri Steele, Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Accreditation Co-Chair
Dr. Thomas Kiddie, Professor of English and Accreditation Co-Chair
Steering Committee
Dr. Kerri Steele
Dr. Thomas Kiddie
Dr. Aaron Settle
Mr. Justin Mcallister
Dr. Jeffrey Pietruszynski
Ms. Deborah Williams
Dr. Lee Young
Dr. Micheal Fultz
Mr. Roy Simmons
Dr. Ami Smith
Dr. Robert Wallace
Dr. Naveed Zaman
Dr. Michael Pennington
Criterion 1 — Mission
Co-Chairs Dr. Rob Wallace and Dr. Ami Smith
Ms. Patricia Schumann
Mr. Jack Bailey
Criterion 2 — Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
Co-Chairs Dr. Micheal Fultz and Ms. Alice Faucett
Ms. Rebekah Redmon
Chief Reggie Patterson
Ms. Julie Saldivar
Dr. Jessica Barnes-Pietruszynski
Dr. Carolyn Stuart
Mr. Michael Casey
Mr. Joseph Davenport
Criterion 3 — Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support
Co-Chairs Dr. Mark Wilson and Dr. Naveed Zaman
Dr. Leighann Davidson
Dr. Jeff Pietruszynski
Mr. Gary Ginther
Dr. Anne McConnell
Ms. Kellie Toledo
Dr. Eyas Mahmoud
Dr. Tim Ruhnke
Criterion 4 — Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
Co-Chairs Mr. Matt Carroll and Dr. Aaron Settle
Dr. Barbara Ladner
Mr. Roy Simmons
Dr. Sean Collins
Ms. Jessica Hensley
Ms. Renee Lester
Ms. Brandy Conrad
Ms. Alaina Dorsey
Dr. Barbara Liedl
Ms. Kelly Shepherd
Criterion 5 — Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Co-Chairs Ms. Deborah Williams and Mr. Justin McAllister
Ms. Terri Frye
Ms. Brittany Fletcher
Ms. Sydney Prince
Mr. Dan Brown
Ms. Krystal Smith
Mr. Quintin Joseph
Mr. Michael McClung
Mr. Jackson Hayes
Dr. Jasmine Porter
Ms. Hope Fout
Federal Compliance
Mr. Roy Simmons
Ms. Jodi Johnston
After the first draft of the Assurance Argument was completed in May 2024, the co-chairs reorganized the committees into smaller groups to allow for more detailed focus on the second draft. Also, HLC modified the criteria to merge criterion 3 and 4. The committees were reorganized as follows:
Criterion 1: Dr. Rob Wallace and Dr. Kerri Steele
Criterion 2: Dr. Micheal Fultz, Dr. Jeff Pietruszynski, Dr. Jessica Barnes-Pietruszynski, and Dr. Kerri Steele
Criterion 3: Dr. Naveed Zaman, Dr. Aaron Settle, Ms. Alana Dorsey, Ms. Renee Lester, and Dr. Thomas Kiddie
Criterion 4: Ms. Debbie Williams and Mr. Justin McAllister