WCC has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1973. Accreditation by HLC requires that the college meets the following five criteria:
- Mission: The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.
- Integrity: Ethical and responsible Conduct: The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
- Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support: The institution provides high quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
- Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement: The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.
- Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness: The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. The institution plans for the future.
The College completed its most recent Reaffirmation of Accreditation by HLC in 2020. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus on campuses, a completely virtual peer review team visit was conducted on April 6-7, 2020, with sessions held remotely with participants from across campus. A brief Verification Visit, required of institutions that had virtual visits due to COVID-19, was held on campus in October 2020. The Reaffirmation of Accreditation process includes:
- Completion of an Assurance Argument and evidence file demonstrating how WCC meets HLC Criteria
- A Federal Compliance filing
- Completion of a Quality Initiative (a project through the HLC Assessment Academy)
- A comprehensive visit by an HLC peer review team
The College's next Reaffirmation of Accreditation will be in 2029-30.
Read about WCC's strategic planning efforts
HLC Executive Summary: Assurance Argument
HLC Faculty and Staff Reflection Worksheet