WVSU prepared for institutional reaffirmation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in 2015. Starting in March 2012, WVSU’s Planning Team oversaw and coordinated the preparations for reaffirmation. WVSU was previously accredited in 2004 – 2005.
Steps in the Reaffirmation Process:
1. Self-study
WVSU began its self-study process in March 2012. The university evaluated its programs and operations to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement in relation to the Higher Learning Commission’s criteria for accreditation. The purpose of the process was to evaluate WVSU’s ongoing improvement and to provide evidence to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) that WVSU meets the criteria for reaffirmation. The process culminated in a written report to the HLC.
2. Third-Party Comment Period
WVSU is to publish notifications and basic information about its reaffirmation and invites the public to provide written comments to the Commission. The Commission will integrate the third-party comment period in its regular accrediting process as part of its ongoing effort to make the accreditation process responsive to a broad range of constituents.
3. Peer review and site visit
A visiting team of peer reviewers is to read WVSU’s self-study report and conduct a comprehensive site visit. The site visit is to include a combination of formal meetings, forums, and informal conversations with faculty, staff, students, administration, and alumni.
Visiting teams:
— are comprised of faculty members and administrators familiar with universities similar to WVSU
— write a report of its findings to submit to the HLC and WVSU
WVSU is then required to submit to the HLC a formal written response to the visiting team’s final report.
4. Decision
The HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) reviews the findings and recommendations from the site visit and makes the final decision to affirm or deny WVSU’s continuing accreditation. This step in the process may take several months from the time WVSU submits its response to the visiting team’s final report.
The HLC evaluates WVSU a minimum of once every 10 years. It grants accreditation for a maximum of 10 years. The HLC is implementing new pathways for reaffirmation, which will require WVSU to submit reports to the HLC periodically during the 10-year cycle. WVSU will start a new pathway after the 2015 reaffirmation decision.