Accreditation Assurance Process

The Open Pathway includes the following:

Regular Monitoring

• Each year, Miami submits an annual Institutional Update, which is reviewed by HLC to monitor organizational health, comply with certain federal requirements.
• Miami must apply for approval of certain significant changes, such as a major change in our mission, new programs, consortial arrangements, etc.

Years 1-3: Prepare Assurance Filing

Institutions begin to write the Assurance Argument and assemble evidence for all claims made in the argument in preparation for the Year 4 Assurance Review. The assurance review demonstrates how Miami fulfills each of the four accreditation criteria and the associated 18 core components.

1. Mission
2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
3. Teaching and Learning for Student Success
4. Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning

Year 4: Assurance Review

• Institutions complete and submit the Assurance Review along with evidence for claims to ensure they are continuing to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. A peer review team evaluates these materials and recommends whether the institution should continue in the cycle or whether additional monitoring is required. HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) reviews and takes official action on the recommendation.

Years 5-7: Quality Initiative Proposal 

• Institutions submits a Quality Initiative Proposal for HLC approval. The proposal is due no later than June 1 of Year 7 of the Open Pathway cycle. 

Years 5-9: Quality Initiative

• The Open Pathway requires an institution to designate one major improvement effort it has undertaken during its 10-year accreditation cycle as it Quality Initiative (QI). A QI project may be started and completed during this time, or it may be a project that is already in progress or an achievement of a key milestone in the work of a longer initiative. The Quality Initiative is intended to allow institutions to tackle important problems, dream big and learn from success and failures.

Years 7-9: Quality Initiative Report

• At the end of the Quality Initiative, an institution writes its Quality Initiative Report. The report offers the institution the opportunity to reflect on what it has accomplished, to document the achievements and strategies used, and to define new priorities and challenges. The Quality Initiative Report is due no later than June 1 of Year 9 of the Open Pathway cycle.

Year 10: Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation

• 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. Miami submits an Assurance Argument, Multi-Campus Report and a worksheet that demonstrates compliance with particular federal regulations.  These materials are studied by a review team.  The team comes to campus for a two-day visit. This review leads to an action regarding the reaffirmation of the institution’s accreditation.