By Steven Krolak

(NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—Every ten years since 1969, IU Southeast has earned accreditation, first from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and then from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

The campus is up for re-accreditation through HLC in 2020. The process includes both self-study report (known as the assurance argument) and a campus visit by an HLC evaluation team on September 9 and 10, 2019.

An assurance argument provides evidence to show that a university is fulfilling its responsibilities to educate, and meeting a set of criteria relating to governance, administration, finances and more.

Faculty, staff and students from across campus contributed time, effort and insight to building the assurance argument.

The working copy of IU Southeast’s assurance argument is now posted online for public comment—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the community are encouraged to read it and offer their input.

Comments can be submitted anonymously online using the comment feature, and will be reviewed by the accreditation preparatory team. Supplementary documentation can be uploaded via the form as well.

In addition, individuals may comment directly to the HLC via the organization’s website.

A series of presentations and open meetings is also being planned to provide the public with the opportunity to weigh in on the document.

Accreditation is important. It’s like a license to do business. Without accreditation, there would be no way for the university to guarantee the quality of its offerings, and its degrees would be of no value to its students, past, present, or future. Furthermore, unaccredited institutions are not eligible to disburse federal financial aid to their students.

Every voice counts in making this document a complete, accurate and inclusive presentation of IU Southeast.