Subject: 2019 HLC Assurance Review

Dear EIU Community,

This notice is to inform the campus community about the work being done in preparation for a report to the Higher Learning Commission (our regional accrediting body) that will be submitted in 2019.  After a successful reaffirmation of accreditation in 2014 by the HLC, Eastern entered a new 10-year cycle of accreditation on the Open Pathway (see https://www.hlcommission.org/Accreditation/open-overview.html).  As part of this cycle, we are required to submit a comprehensive report in Year 4 (by June 2019) addressing each of the five major Criteria and all core components (see https://www.hlcommission.org/Policies/criteria-and-core-components.html).  In the new Open Pathway, our comprehensive report is limited in length to about half of what is was in 2014.  Thus, we must be concise and selective about including direct measures to support each core component. 

A committee was formed last semester, co-chaired by Jeff Stowell (Psychology) and Karla Sanders (CASA Executive Director), with additional members Terri Fredrick (ENG), Jenny Sipes (Office of VP Student Affairs), Robert Chesnut (Office of Research & Sponsored Programs), Doug Brandt (Physics), Michael Cornebise (College of Sciences), Jeanne Lord (LCBAS), Missy Jones (SPE), Jody Stone (Housing & Dining), David Boggs (BUS), and Candace Flatt (VPAA Operations).  Over the course of the next year, committee members will be approaching offices or departments with requests for data that will support our assurance argument (i.e., report) for continued accreditation status.  In Fall of 2018, we will be sending out an online survey for everyone to complete.  Unlike in 2014, there is no site visit in conjunction with the submission of the Year 4 assurance argument. 

If you have questions about the process, please contact Jeff Stowell (jrstowell@eiu.edu) or Karla Sanders (kjsanders@eiu.edu).

Thank you for your cooperation and support of this very important step in the accreditation process.

For additional information about the HLC’s Assurance Review, please see https://www.hlcommission.org/Accreditation/assurance-review.html

Jay. D. Gatrell, Ph.D.

Provost & VPAA