North Park University's Old Main

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Institutional Accreditation

In addition to assessment and planning review, Institutional Effectiveness oversees the University’s accreditation. Institutional accreditation at North Park University is provided by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Reaffirmation of Accreditation

North Park University’s accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) was recently reaffirmed on July 16, 2021.

The Commission is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) which is responsible for ensuring accrediting bodies and institutions uphold and meet the established standards of quality. The Commission offers ways for an institution to demonstrate that it meets its criteria for accreditation.

North Park is on the HLC Open Pathway. This pathway requires North Park to periodically prepare an Assurance Argument and to provide annual reports to the Commission. The Open Pathway also requires North Park to engage in a Quality Initiative (QI), a multi-year program for campus quality improvement. North Park’s QI project is the Catalyst 606__ project. The Open Pathways replaces the PEAQ program that focused on a self-study every ten years.

North Park University has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1926.