Erikson’s Accreditation Reaffirmed by Higher Learning Commission

Erikson Institute’s 10-year accreditation was successfully reaffirmed by the Higher Learning Commission in early July, following an in-depth process involving the hard work and contributions of many members of the Erikson community.

What is accreditation and why is it important?

Accreditation in higher education is a method of ensuring quality in an institution’s programs. According to the Higher Learning Commission, a nonprofit organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an institutional accrediting agency, “Accreditation provides current and potential students assurance that they are receiving a quality education which will be recognized as such by potential employers or licensing boards as well as by other colleges or universities in case of student transfers or pursuit of a higher degree.”

Accreditation also has implications for funding from both employer-paid tuition reimbursement programs and the U.S. Department of Education (Title IV) student financial aid.

What does an institution do to maintain accreditation?

Maintaining accreditation is an ongoing process of continuous improvement, with specific events, like reaffirmation visits, to ensure standards remain high. When a reaffirmation visit approaches, institutions convene a cross-departmental group of leaders to prepare the required documentation and organize details for the visit. Erikson began its planning efforts during the 2022-23 academic year and officially established the Accreditation Executive Committee in June 2024.

Erikson’s Accreditation Executive Committee oversaw teams of executive team members, staff, and faculty to address each of HLC’s five criterion; 1) Mission; 2) Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct; 3) Teaching and Learning; Quality, Resources, and Support; 4) Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement; and 5) Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning. Each team completed self-study components for their assigned criterion. The results were compiled into a 128-page final report citing more than 900 pieces of evidence, called an “assurance argument.”

After the argument was submitted to HLC in February 2025, Erikson’s accreditation team prepared for a two-day visit in late March from a team of five peer reviewers selected by HLC. The reviewers’ schedule included “focus area” discussions with faculty and staff on topics the review team wanted more information about, as well as “open forum” discussions with a broad range of internal stakeholders. Student representatives were also included.

The entire Erikson community came together

Erikson President, Mariana Souto-Manning, PhD, acknowledged Vice President for Academic Affairs, Pamela Epley PhD for her outstanding leadership in guiding the reaccreditation process “…with care, integrity, and thoughtfulness. Her coordination, clarity, and dedication were essential in showcasing the depth and excellence of Erikson’s work,” Souto-Manning said.

Epley spoke about the next phase of Erikson’s ongoing commitment to continuous quality improvement. “The reaccreditation process provides an opportunity to reflect on our work as an institute of higher education, celebrate our strengths, and identify where and how we can continue to grow and improve,” she said. “Because this effort requires cross-departmental collaboration, the process has the added benefit of shared learning and greater cohesion across the Erikson community.”

Esther Warren, Director of Academic Affairs, was one of the administrative leads for Erikson’s reaccreditation efforts. “The preparation process was truly a campus-wide effort, reflecting the dedication and hard work of our entire community,” she said. “The strong turnout and engagement during the visit demonstrated the deep investment of our faculty, staff, and students in our shared mission.”