Communications

In March 2024 Northern Illinois University will undergo its regular ten-year comprehensive accreditation evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission. This is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every aspect of the university’s structure and operations through an Assurance Argument and site visit.

The Assurance Argument is a narrative supported by links to evidence files and is being shared with the campus community for review in stages, beginning with:

• Criteria 1: Mission and
• Criteria 2: Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct

Comments on the Assurance Argument and compelling examples that illustrate the ways NIU meets various criteria are invited. If you have such an example to share, please include a URL or attach a document that provides supporting evidence.

View criteria 1 and 2 and provide feedback

If you have questions, please contact Chris McCord (mccord@niu.edu) or Amy Buhrow (abuhrow@niu.edu).

In March 2024 Northern Illinois University will undergo its regular ten-year comprehensive accreditation evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission. This is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every aspect of the university’s structure and operations through an Assurance Argument and site visit.

The Assurance Argument is a narrative supported by links to evidence files and is being shared with the campus community for review in stages. This week the narrative and evidence are being shared for:

• Criteria 3: Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support
• Criteria 4: Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement

Comments on the Assurance Argument and compelling examples that illustrate the ways NIU meets various criteria are invited. If you have such an example to share, please include a URL or attach a document that provides supporting evidence.

View criteria 3 and 4 and provide feedback

If have have not reviewed Criteria 1 and 2, there is still time to comment and provide evidence.

If you have questions, please contact Chris McCord (mccord@niu.edu) or Amy Buhrow (abuhrow@niu.edu).

In March 2024 Northern Illinois University will undergo its regular ten-year comprehensive accreditation evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission. This is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every aspect of the university’s structure and operations through an Assurance Argument and site visit.

The Assurance Argument is a narrative supported by links to evidence files and is being shared with the campus community for review in stages. This week the narrative and evidence are being shared for:

• Criterion 5: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning

Comments on the Assurance Argument and compelling examples that illustrate the ways NIU meets various criteria are invited. If you have such an example to share, please include a URL or attach a document that provides supporting evidence.

View criteria 5 and provide feedback

If have have not reviewed Criteria 1 and 2 or Criteria 3 and 4 there is still time to comment and provide evidence.

If you have questions, please contact Chris McCord (mccord@niu.edu) or Amy Buhrow (abuhrow@niu.edu).

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to invite you to attend open forums with members of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) comprehensive evaluation peer review team during their upcoming visit to NIU.

• Open Forum for Faculty: 1:30-2:15 p.m. Monday, March 25 in Holmes Student Center Heritage Room.
• Open Forum for Staff: 8:30-9:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 26 in Holmes Student Center Heritage Room.

This visit is the final part of our 10-year comprehensive evaluation with the HLC. This important process ensures NIU meets the criteria for accreditation, is pursuing institutional improvement and is complying with certain requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education.

The open forums are broad conversations about how NIU policies, procedures and activities align with the five HLC accreditation criteria below. While departments and units all support the five criteria in unique ways, the focus of the conversation will be at the institution level.

• Mission
• Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
• Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support
• Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
• Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning

The peer review team discussion will reflect topics they want to learn more about after reading our Assurance Argument. We anticipate questions along the lines of:

• How does the NIU mission guide decision-making and planning?
• How does NIU foster ethical behavior and integrity?
• How does NIU support student success and retention?
• How does NIU use data to drive improvement initiatives? What are recent examples?
• How does NIU contribute to the broader community? What are recent examples?

Reaffirmation of HLC accreditation assures current and prospective Huskies and the public of NIU’s legitimacy as an institution. It also gives NIU access to significant federal funding. I encourage you to attend one of these forums and thank you for all you do here at NIU!

Sincerely,

Lisa C. Freeman
President
Northern Illinois University

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited for the start of the new academic year and to share some good news with you. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has reaccredited NIU for 10 years, following a comprehensive evaluation and campus visit earlier this year.

The evaluation team noted the following about our university:

“NIU is committed to fostering a supportive and enriching environment for its students, prioritizing academic and personal growth. NIU has invested in high-quality teaching and resources, as well as providing ongoing support and enriched experiences. The faculty and staff are qualified and passionate about serving the needs of students.”

Accreditation assures current and prospective Huskies and the public of NIU’s legitimacy as an institution and provides us with access to critical federal funding. It also offers tangible evidence and validation of the hard work each of you is doing to ensure student success here at NIU.

Our accreditation comes as a result of collaboration throughout the university and shows NIU is complying with requirements set forth by the U.S. Department of Education, while illustrating that our policies, procedures and activities align with these five criteria:

• Mission
• Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
• Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support
• Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
• Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning

Within the five criteria, we met 17 of 18 core components fully. One component – financial resources for maintaining and strengthening educational offerings – was met with concern. The report acknowledges our ongoing efforts and university goals to reduce the budget deficit, and we will submit an interim report on our progress in Oct. 2026 to address this component.

Continuous improvement is at the heart of accreditation, and we are restarting the 10-year process once again to ensure NIU is providing the best education and experience possible. Through collaborative efforts, we look forward to achieving much more in the years ahead and celebrate what has been accomplished to this point.

Thank you for your commitment to what you do here at our university. We could not achieve this without your ongoing efforts and contributions. Also, a special thanks to the team of NIU employees led by Amy Buhrow, Chris McCord and Jason Rhode who spearheaded our reaccreditation efforts. Go Huskies!

Sincerely,

Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost

September 5, 2023

NIU was reaccredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 2014 for 10 years, the maximum period possible. Nearly a decade later, the university is preparing for a 2024 assurance review and site visit March 25 and 26, 2024, toward reaffirmation of accreditation.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

September 11, 2023

NIU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915. Higher Learning Commission accreditation, along with specialized accreditations, assures the public of NIU's legitimacy.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

September 18, 2023

Higher Learning Commission accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

September 25, 2023

Higher Learning Commission accreditation is necessary for NIU to receive federal dollars. Similarly, the only institutions allowed by the U.S. Department of Education to disperse federal financial aid to students are those with HLC accreditation.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

October 2, 2023

Higher Learning Commission accreditation is not a ranking process, a unit-by-unit evaluation or an opportunity to request more staff or resources.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

October 9, 2023

The Higher Learning Commission accreditation process provides NIU the opportunity to take stock of, and celebrate, its accomplishments.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

October 16, 2023

The Higher Learning Commission accreditation process includes a self-study -- NIU prepares an in-depth self-evaluation report that measures performances with the standards set by HLC and a site visit when a peer review team selected by HLC conducts an on-site program inspection and reviews the self-study report.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

October 23 and 30, 2023

Higher Learning Commission accreditation includes all degree levels as well as on-site and online course delivery.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

November 6 and 13, 2023

On-site visits from the Higher Learning Commission occur after the peer review team reviews the institutional report and student survey results. The team will work with NIU to create the agenda, which typically includes meetings with university leadership and board members as well as open forums with students, faculty and staff.

The HLC site visit is scheduled for March 25-26, 2024.

November 20 and 27, 2023

NIU’s Higher Learning Commission site visit will take place on March 25-26, 2024. In preparation, a team has spent the last 18 month preparing our Assurance Argument. We would like to solicit campus feedback.  We invite all thoughts.  In particular, if you have compelling examples that illustrate ways that NIU is meeting the criteria, we ask that you share them. We will use Qualtrics to collect feedback and release the draft argument. Criteria 1 and 2 will be released on Nov. 27, Criteria 3 and 4 will be released on Dec. 4, and Criterion 5 will be released on Dec. 11.  All Qualtrics surveys will remain open until Jan. 12, 2024. We will be keeping the campus informed of each release by sending out weekly reminders.

December 4, 2023

In March 2024 Northern Illinois University will undergo its regular ten-year comprehensive accreditation evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission. This is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every aspect of the university’s structure and operations through an Assurance Argument and site visit.

The Higher Learning Commission Assurance Argument is a narrative supported by links to evidence files and is being shared with the campus community for review. Criteria 1 and 2 are now available to review.

December 11, 2023

In March 2024 Northern Illinois University will undergo its regular ten-year comprehensive accreditation evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission. This is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every aspect of the university’s structure and operations through an Assurance Argument and site visit.

The Higher Learning Commission Assurance Argument is a narrative supported by links to evidence files and is being shared with the campus community for review. Criteria 3 and 4 are now available to review.

December 18, 2023

In March 2024 Northern Illinois University will undergo its regular ten-year comprehensive accreditation evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission. This is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every aspect of the university’s structure and operations through an Assurance Argument and site visit.

The Higher Learning Commission Assurance Argument is a narrative supported by links to evidence files and is being shared with the campus community for review. Criteria 3 and 4 are now available to review.

January 2, 2024

In March 2024 Northern Illinois University will undergo its regular ten-year comprehensive accreditation evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission. This is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every aspect of the university’s structure and operations through an Assurance Argument and site visit.
 

If have have not reviewed Criteria 1 and 2, Criteria 3 and 4 or Criteria 5 there is still time to comment and provide evidence. Please comment and provide evidence for all five criteria by Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.

January 8, 2024

In March 2024 Northern Illinois University will undergo its regular ten-year comprehensive accreditation evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission. This is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every aspect of the university’s structure and operations through an Assurance Argument and site visit.
 

If have have not reviewed Criteria 1 and 2, Criteria 3 and 4 or Criteria 5 there is still time to comment and provide evidence. Please comment and provide evidence for all five criteria by Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.

January 16, 2024

This week, NIU students received a link to the student survey from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the institutional accrediting association that is comprehensively evaluating our school this year. Input received from these surveys is important, as it helps identify both strengths and weaknesses at NIU, as viewed through the lens of our students.

Please do not hesitate to mention this HLC survey to your students and encourage them to fill it out by Thursday, Jan. 25. The survey is brief and should take less than five minutes to complete.

January 23, 2024

Last week, NIU students received a link to the student survey from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the institutional accrediting association that is comprehensively evaluating our school this year. Input received from these surveys is important, as it helps identify both strengths and weaknesses at NIU, as viewed through the lens of our students.

Please do not hesitate to mention this HLC survey to your students and encourage them to fill it out by Thursday, Jan. 25. The survey is brief and should take less than five minutes to complete.

March 19, 2024

"The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Assurance Argument Writing Team – Chris McCord, Matt Streb, Sarah Garner, Stephanie Richter, Simon Weffer and Betsy Hull – did a fantastic job telling the NIU story, one that reflects our commitment to teaching, research, artistry and outreach. The expertise, unique insights and collaborative efforts each brought to their respective sections of the Assurance Argument, and overall, resulted in a document that showcases the very best of NIU. Thank you, Chris, Matt, Sarah, Stephanie, Simon and Betsy for your outstanding contributions to NIU’s 10-year HLC Comprehensive Evaluation." - NIU Today Applaud a Colleague

April 2, 2024

"Celeste’s meticulous attention to detail and her deep knowledge of NIU were instrumental in preparing for and executing the March Higher Learning Commission (HLC) 10-Year Comprehensive Evaluation Visit. Celeste drafted the NIU Federal Compliance Filing detailing all the ways we meet federal regulations. She also gave our HLC visitors a tour (in the rain) of some NIU’s innovative learning spaces. Her contributions to the process were pivotal! Thank you, Celeste!" - NIU Today Applaud a Colleague