Importance of Accreditation
Text explaining why accreditation is important.
Institutional Accreditation
Colorado State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a historically regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
CSU participates in the Open Pathway — one of two options institutions have with HLC to maintain accreditation. It follows a 10-year cycle and, like all pathways, is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. The process includes regular monitoring, an assurance review in year four, completion of a quality initiative in years five through nine and a comprehensive evaluation in year 10.
Specialized Accreditation
All academic/professional degrees and all course credits earned at CSU are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, many of CSU’s academic programs are accredited through professional organizations in their disciplines.
The Specialized Accreditation Schedule provides a listing of accredited programs as well as the corresponding dates for reaccreditation. Disciplinary accreditation can be important for future employment or admission to graduate school.
Specialized accreditation is especially common if the program is intended to prepare graduates for an occupation requiring licensure. Before enrolling in such a program, students should verify the program actually meets the requirements of the state in which they intend to practice.
As we embark on our process of reaccreditation, we are guided in principle, vision and values by the high-level blueprint of CSU’s Courageous Strategic Transformation (CST), which launched in March 2022 and lays the groundwork for carrying us forward to build on the future of our institution, students, community and planet. We have identified four core themes to align our pursuit of reaccreditation with the roadmap of the CST. The themes, as derived from among four strategic imperatives (People, Operations, Innovation, Impact) and 21 accompanying priorities in CSU’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, are: Education that Evolves, Ensure Student Access and Success, Critical Thinking for Life and Everyone Belongs.
Education that Evolves
We will craft and implement a dynamic Academic Master Plan that will establish CSU as a leader in higher education providing critical knowledge, skills and competencies, and we will build the infrastructure to rapidly adjust curricular and educational and delivery approaches to allow our learners to thrive in the 21st-century workforce.
Ensure Student Access and Success
We will provide access to educational excellence and opportunities that arise from it. We will offer all of Colorado’s students access to a high-quality university education, regardless of their financial situation, and provide all learners with the tools to thrive in the 21st-century workforce.
Critical Thinking for Life
We will prepare future generations of leaders, change makers and global citizens through a rigorous and distinctive program of general education that fosters self-knowledge and innovation across all programs of study.
Everyone Belongs
We will cultivate an inclusive climate conducive to the recruitment, retention and success of our students and employees.
— Courageous Strategic Transformation
The Colorado State University 2022-2026 Strategic Plan
Quality Initiative
Quality Initiative Report (2023)
Quality Initiative Proposal (2020)
Multi-Location Visits
Multi-Location HLC Report (2022)
Multi-Location Institutional Report (2022)
Multi-Location HLC Report (2016)
Multi-Location Institutional Report (2016)
Year 4 Assurance Review
Year Four HLC Notification Letter (2018)
Year Four Assurance Review HLC Final Report (2018)
Year Four Assurance Review Self-Report (2018)
FY14 Comprehensive Evaluation
Oversight
Planning Team
Susan Matthews
Presidential Fellow for Accreditation;
Deputy State Forester, Colorado State Forest Service
Steering Committee
The President’s Cabinet serves as the Reaccreditation Steering Committee.
Work Groups
Inclusive Excellence
Kauline Cipriani, Lead
Student Success
Ryan Barone, Lead
Research and Creative Artistry
Christa Johnson, Lead
Teaching and Curriculum
Allison Penfield & Katy Little, Co-Leads
Assessment of Student Learning
Stephanie Foster, Lead
Operations and Planning
Scott Shrake, Lead