HLC - Criteria for Accreditation

Criterion 5: Engagement and Service (Key Questions)

As called for by its mission, the organization identifies its constituencies and serves them in ways both value.

Core Components

Core Component 5a: The organization learns from the constituencies it serves and analyzes its capacity to serve their needs and expectations.

As it defines, identifies, and interprets evidence related to this core component, the university may wish to consider evidence such as the following:

• The organization's commitments are shaped by its mission and its capacity to support those commitments.
• The organization practices periodic environmental scanning to understand the changing needs of its constituencies and their communities.
• The organization demonstrates attention to the diversity of the constituencies it serves.
• The organization's outreach programs respond to identified community needs.
• In responding to external constituencies, the organization is well-served by programs such as continuing education, outreach, customized training, and extension services.

Core Component 5b: The organization has the capacity and the commitment to engage with its identified constituencies and communities.

As it defines, identifies, and interprets evidence related to this core component, the university may wish to consider evidence such as the following:

• The organization's structures and processes enable effective connections with its communities.
• The organization's cocurricular activities engage students, staff, administrators, and faculty with external communities.
• The organization's educational programs connect students with external communities.
• The organization's resources--physical, financial, and human--support effective programs of engagement and service.
• Planning processes project ongoing engagement and service.

Core Component 5c: The organization demonstrates its responsiveness to those constituencies that depend on it for service.

As it defines, identifies, and interprets evidence related to this core component, the university may wish to consider evidence such as the following:

• Collaborative ventures exist with other higher learning organizations and education sectors (e.g., K-12 partnerships, articulation arrangements, 2+2 programs).
• The organization's transfer policies and practices create an environment supportive of the mobility of learners.
• Community leaders testify to the usefulness of the organization's programs of engagement.
• The organization's programs of engagement give evidence of building effective bridges among diverse communities.
• The organization participates in partnerships focused on shared educational, economic, and social goals.
• The organization's partnerships and contractual arrangements uphold the organization's integrity.

Core Component 5d: Internal and external constituencies value the services the organization provides.

As it defines, identifies, and interprets evidence related to this core component, the university may wish to consider evidence such as the following:

• The organization's evaluation of services involves the constituencies served.
• Service programs and student, faculty, and staff volunteer activities are well-received by the communities served.
• The organization's economic and workforce development activities are sought after and valued by civic and business leaders.
• External constituents participate in the organization's activities and cocurricular programs open to the public.
• The organization's facilities are available to and used by the community.
• The organization provides programs to meet the continuing education needs of licensed professionals in its community.

Navigate Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion 1 | Criterion 2 | Criterion 3 | Criterion 4 | Criterion 5 | Cross-Cutting Themes