Parkland College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC is federally recognized by the US Department of Education and is an accreditor of post-secondary, degree-granting institutions in the United States. Parkland College is part of the HLC Open Pathway and is currently in the process of completing the comprehensive evaluation for re-accreditation taking place this Fall 2022, known as “We Renew in ‘22!”
We had the chance to talk to Ms. Julie Weishar, the Coordinator of the Higher Learning Commission.
“I am the Coordinator of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Steering Committee, and I am a Professor of Communication and Program Director in the Arts, Media, and Social Sciences department. My role is to serve the HLC Steering Committee members and help prepare the college for the peer review team’s visit to campus on November 14 and 15.”
“Regarding this year’s re-accreditation visit is to confirm that Parkland College meets all five criteria necessary to keep its accredited status with the Higher Learning Commission” explains Weishar.
Weishar and her teams’ goals for this year’s re-accreditation will consist of preparing their self-study document ahead of the re-affirmation visit taking place on November 14 and 15, 2022. The (HLC) evaluates Parkland on five criteria: Mission; Integrity; Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support; Teaching & Learning: Evaluation and Improvement; and Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning.
Why is this important?
Accreditation means that Parkland is recognized as a quality educational institution and our courses transfer to four-year institutions. It also means that Parkland can grant degrees and certificates and is authorized to distribute financial aid to students and provides the credibility we need to attract private and grant based funding and donations.
“The peer review team will have read our Self-Study ahead of time and will be seeking to validate what they read as they meet with our campus community – including students, faculty, staff, administration, and Board of Trustees and they will determine whether we meet the five criteria used for evaluation.” says Weishar.
What can students and faculty do to help?
Weishar explains “Students and faculty can prepare for the HLC visit by being familiar with the mission, goals, and core values found in the catalog and on Parkland’s website and be familiar with the General Learning Outcomes (GLOs) General Education, and consider how what you do or how your role as a student contributes to or engages with one or more of these items and helps fulfill the mission of Parkland. Students should be able to speak about their experiences at Parkland and how Parkland helps students achieve their educational goals.”
*Sessions are being held in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to help the campus prepare for the accreditation visit.
The team had their first CETL session on Criterion 1 on 9/12.
Weishar and her team are looking forward to sessions in the next few weeks consisting of:
There will also be opportunities for students to learn about the process in the coming weeks, and students will be hearing about the process in their classes.
To learn more about Accreditation at Parkland, head on over to Parkland’s Accreditation page or frequently asked questions. Or contact…
Julie Weishar, Professor of Communication, Program Director
Email | 217/353-2029 | Room C-121
Nikola Buis
Prospectus Reporter