HLC Accreditation

As part of its ongoing review of all its client institutions, including UWL, the Higher Learning Commission evaluates institutions on a 10-year cycle, and we are due for our 10-year comprehensive review. We finalized the full HLC Assurance Argument (our self-study report) in March of 2026 and our HLC Site Visit will be on April 20-21, 2026.

HLC Documents and Site Visit Information

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
HLC Comprehensive Evaluation Agenda

Monday, April 20, 2026

Time	Activity, Location, & Team Members	Activity, Location, & Team Members
8:15am-8:30am	Meeting with HLC Team Lead and Chancellor Beeby 3200 Centennial Hall
8:30am-9:20am	Meeting with Chancellor and Cabinet (all team members) 3200 Centennial Hall
9:30am-10:00am	Meeting with Assurance Process Committee (all team members) 3130 Student Union
10:15am-11:05am	Open Forum Discussion: OPEN TO ALL FACULTY, STAFF, & STUDENTS Criterion 3: Teaching & Learning for Student Success 3310 Student Union	Federal Compliance 3130 Student Union
11:15am-12:05pm	Focus Topic: Stabilization – Leadership and Finances 3310 Student Union	Federal Compliance (continued) 3130 Student Union
12:10pm-12:50pm	Lunch with invited UWL Students (all team members) 3105 Student Union
1:00pm-1:50pm	Team Meeting 3100 Centennial Hall
2:00pm-2:50pm	Meeting with UWL Strategic Plan Pillar Sponsors and Plan Organizers 3105 Student Union	Meeting with UWL Strategic Plan Goal Leads 3314 Student Union
3:00pm- 4:00pm	Open Forum Discussion: OPEN TO ALL FACULTY, STAFF, & STUDENTS Criterion 4: Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning & Institutional Priorities 3310 Student Union	Focus Topic: Implications of Wisconsin Act 15 3130 Student Union
4:00pm-4:30pm	Team meeting (all team members) 3100 Centennial Hall

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Time	Activity, Location, & Team Members	Activity, Location, & Team Members
8:00am-9:00am	Focus Topic: Maintaining Strong Enrollment 3310 Student Union
9:15am-10:15am	Open Forum Discussion: OPEN TO ALL FACULTY, STAFF, & STUDENTS Criterion 1: Mission & Criterion 2: Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct 3310 Student Union	UWL Facilities Scott Schumacher, UWL Director of Planning & Construction 3105 Student Union and around campus as needed
10:30am-11:30am	Drop-In Session 3105 Student Union
11:45am-Noon	Exit Meeting (all team members) 3100 Centennial Hall

HLC Site Visit Team

Role	Name
Chair	Judith Penrod Siminoe Vice President for University Affairs & Advisor to the President, St. Cloud State University
Reviewer	Douglas Davenport Dean, Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies, University of Central Missouri
Reviewer	Kristin Woods Sr. Associate Vice President, Enrollment Management & Student Success, University of Northern Iowa
Reviewer	Qiumei Jane Xu Associate Dean, Northeastern Illinois University
Reviewer	John F. Barthell Intergovernmental Personnel Act Program Director NSF, University of Central Oklahoma

2026 HLC Assurance Argument

UWL's Assurance Argument
- Please note that the links in the Assurance Argument will not work for anyone without login access to HLC's website (a limited number of people on campus are granted this access). However, the links do indicate where evidence files backing up the narrative are provided to the HLC Site Visit Team.

2022-2025 Quality Initiative

Key Dates for HLC Review:

March 23, 2026: Assurance Argument Due Date
April 20-21, 2026: HLC Site Visit

HLC Cycle

Detailed Schedule and Process

2015-16: Previous 10-year Review (site visit)
2019-20: Mid-Cycle 4-Year Assurance Review (virtual)
2020-2024: Year 5-9 Quality Initiative. UWL's Quality Initiative this cycle was Mind's Matter: an initiative focused on a public health approach to promoting mental health with a focus on enhancing student success through increased attention to a healthy campus environment.
- Quality Initiative Report Due Date: June 2025
2025-26: 10-Year Reaccreditation Review
- Assurance Argument Due Date: March 23, 2026
- HLC Site Visit: April 20-21, 2026
2029-30: Mid-Cycle 4-Year Assurance Review (virtual)
2030-2034: Year 5-9 Quality Initiative

The 10-Year Reaccreditation Review consists of the following steps:

The university prepares and submits an Assurance Argument, a comprehensive report that demonstrates the UWL meets the four Criteria and Core Components that HLC requires for ongoing accreditation.
The university files a Federal Compliance Review in which we demonstrate that UWL complies with specific regulations established by the US Department of Education.
HLC conducts an online survey of our students.
The HLC Peer Review Team assigned to UWL reviews the Assurance Argument, Federal Compliance Filing, and the results of the student survey.
HLC Peer Review Team visits campus as part of their comprehensive review. The team works with the institution to create the agenda for the visit, which typically includes meetings with the institution’s leadership and board, as well as open forums with faculty, staff and students.
HLC Peer Review Team drafts a report and sends it to UWL. We will have the opportunity to review the report for factual errors.
HLC Peer Review Team revises their report (if necessary) and submits it to HLC's Institutional Action Council.
HLC Institutional Action Council makes a final determination.

Accreditation 101

Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is 1 of 6 regional accrediting agencies, formally recognized by the US Dept. of Education.

Accreditation is a mark of quality, integrity, and financial soundness. It is required for eligibility for Title IV financial aid.

Why UWL cares about HLC Accreditation:

Assurance of academic program quality and credibility
Eligibility for federal financial aid and scholarships
Facilitates transferability of credits
Enables professional licensure and certification

HLC Accreditation

A page within HLC Accreditation