HLC
HLC (Higher Learning Commission) is one of the main organizations that checks if colleges and universities are meeting quality standards. When someone mentions HLC in their resume, they're typically talking about experience with college accreditation processes. Think of HLC like a quality inspector for schools - they make sure colleges are providing good education and managing themselves well. This is important for schools because they need HLC approval to offer degrees and for their students to get financial aid. Other similar organizations include SACSCOC and MSCHE, which do the same job but in different parts of the country.
Examples in Resumes
Led campus-wide preparation for HLC accreditation visit
Served on HLC steering committee and prepared institutional reports
Coordinated Higher Learning Commission documentation and compliance requirements
Managed HLC assessment data collection across multiple departments
Typical job title: "Accreditation Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Accreditation Specialists
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you manage a full institutional accreditation review process?
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience leading campus-wide efforts, coordinating multiple departments, managing documentation, and ensuring compliance with HLC criteria. Should mention timeline management and stakeholder communication.
Q: What strategies have you used to maintain ongoing accreditation compliance?
Expected Answer: Should explain systems for continuous monitoring, data collection processes, and methods for keeping faculty and staff engaged in maintaining standards between formal reviews.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you collect and organize evidence for accreditation requirements?
Expected Answer: Should describe experience with documentation systems, data collection methods, and working with different departments to gather necessary information.
Q: What is your approach to preparing faculty and staff for an accreditation visit?
Expected Answer: Should discuss training methods, communication strategies, and ways to help campus community understand their role in accreditation.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the main criteria that HLC evaluates during accreditation?
Expected Answer: Should be able to list basic HLC criteria like mission, integrity, teaching and learning, resources, and planning and improvement.
Q: How do you organize and maintain accreditation documentation?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of basic file organization, document management, and understanding of what types of evidence are needed for accreditation.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of accreditation processes
- Document organization and filing
- Data collection assistance
- Meeting coordination
Mid (2-5 years)
- Writing accreditation reports
- Managing documentation systems
- Training faculty and staff
- Coordinating department responses
Senior (5+ years)
- Leading accreditation initiatives
- Strategic planning
- Policy development
- Campus-wide project management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with higher education administration
- Lack of understanding of accreditation processes
- Poor project management skills
- Limited experience with documentation and compliance
- No knowledge of academic assessment
Related Terms
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