• The Higher Learning Commission is the accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities for the Midwest region of the United States. HLC states that its mission is to “Advance the common good through quality assurance of higher education as the leader in equitable, transformative and trusted accreditation in the service of students and member institutions […]. HLC is governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the membership and administered by a president selected by and accountable to that Board” (Higher Learning Commission [HLC], n.d.) and has more than 50 staff members.
• For more information about HLC, please visit the website: The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org)

• A team of HLC peer reviewers will visit OSU as part of the reaffirmation of accreditation process. The peer review team will review OSU’s assurance argument, meet with stakeholders and provide their recommendation regarding the institution’s accreditation standing.
• Reaffirmation of Accreditation occurs every 10 years.
• For more detailed information about OSU’s upcoming site visit and the associated timeline, see the OSU Accreditation website: 2025-2026 Reaffirmation of Accreditation or the On-Site Visits (hlcommission.org) on the HLC website.

• Approximately one month prior to the site visit, the HLC peer review team will send out an anonymous survey to students, faculty and staff of the university to gather first-hand accounts of stakeholder experiences within the institution.
• The HLC peer review team will also hold open forums and anonymous sessions to gather student, faculty and staff feedback on their experiences with OSU.

• Accreditation is the process by which colleges, universities and academic programs demonstrate their quality. In the U.S., there are three main types of accreditations: regional, national and programmatic. Regional accreditation is more common among public and nonprofit colleges, while national accreditation is typical for trade schools and religious schools. Programmatic accreditation is awarded to specialized academic programs or departments in fields such as nursing, education and business.
• According to its website, the Higher Learning Commission defines institutional accreditation’s purpose as:

Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution's academic programs at all degree levels, whether delivered on-site, online or otherwise. Institutional accreditation also examines the quality of the institution beyond its academic offerings and evaluates the institution as a whole, including the soundness of its governance and administration, adherence to mission, the sustainability of its finances, and the sufficiency of its resources.

- Higher Learning Commission

• Oklahoma State University holds institutional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, which is required for an institution to receive federal funding, for the students to obtain federally backed student loans or transfer credits, and to ensure academic quality. OSU strives to promote learning, advancement of knowledge, life enrichment and economic development through teaching, research, extension, outreach and creativity. Graduating from an accredited institution ensures that your degree is recognized, and employers, along with other higher learning institutions, will appreciate your hard work.

• To facilitate this process, OSU has established a Steering Committee and various Subcommittees to ensure alignment of the OSU mission and strategic plan through guidance and support during the university’s journey toward the upcoming Reaffirmation of Accreditation under the Higher Learning Commission .
• For specific information about the missions, goals and members of the Steering Committee and Subcommittees, visit OSU’s accreditation website: OSU Accreditation Steering Committee

• Since 2021, the OSU Leadership Team has worked on creating a new Strategic Plan to guide the operations and goals of OSU through the next several years. This Strategic Plan was created by communicating with stakeholders across the university and unifies the needs of students, faculty and the future workplaces that our students will enter.
• For detailed information about OSU’s current Strategic Plan, visit the Office of the President’s website: Office of the President - Strategic Plan