Accreditation Process and Timeline

2024 HLC Reaffirmation of Accreditation Visit

DACC will host a team of HLC Peer Reviewers on March 25 & 26, 2024 for a comprehensive evaluation for reaffirmation of accreditation. Details about the site visit will be posted here as soon as we have them. Prior to the visit, DACC submitted an Assurance Argument explaining how we fulfill the Criteria for Accreditation.

Visit Schedule Outline

Monday, March 25 | 8am to 5pm

Introductory Meeting with the President
Overview of the Visit with the DACC Leadership Team
Focused Session: Assessment of Student Learning
Focused Session: Budgeting and Planning
Lunch with the Board of Regents and the DACC Advisory Board
Focused Session: Retention, Persistence, and Completion
Open Forum with Students
Open Forum with Faculty
Campus Tour

Tuesday, March 26 | 8am to Noon

Open Forum with Staff
Focused Session: Distance Education and Early College High School
Exit Interview with the President

Open Forum Details

Event	Date	Time	Location	Zoom Link
Student Open Forum	Monday, March 25	2:00-2:45pm	DAEM 205/207	https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/83527369970
Faculty Open Forum	Monday, March 25	3:00-3:45pm	DAEM 205/207	https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/81695981721
Drop-In Session	Monday, March 25	3:00-3:45pm	DAEM 107	In person only – Open to all DACC employees
Staff Open Forum	Tuesday, March 26	8:30-9:30am	DAEM 205/207	https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/89625334806
Drop-In Session	Tuesday, March 26	8:30-9:30am	DAEM 107	In person only – Open to all DACC employees

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a process that evaluates the quality of an institution’s academic programs, operations, and support services and provides a road map for continuous improvement. At DACC many programs are accredited by specialized accreditation agencies. DACC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). More information about the HLC is available at https://www.hlcommission.org or 800.621.7440.

HLC Accreditation - The Standard Pathway

DACC has been independently accredited by HLC since 2008. Prior to 2008, DACC was accredited as a branch campus of NMSU. DACC in on the Standard Pathway, a 10-year cycle that includes periodic reviews to ensure that we meet the Criteria for Accreditation and are pursuing institutional improvements.

Criteria for Accreditation

Criterion 1. Mission

Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct

Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support

Criterion 4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement

Criterion 5. Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness

Standard Pathway 10-year Cycle

DACC’s current 10-year cycle began in 2014 and will culminate with a Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation site visit on March 25 & 26, 2024.

Accreditation Steering Committee

The Accreditation Steering Committee was comprised of faculty, staff, administrators, and students. The committee wrote the Assurance Argument and assembled the Evidence File for the 2024 Comprehensive Evaluation.

If you are interested in being a part of the next Accreditation Steering Committee, or would like to learn more about the accreditation process, please contact Dr. Jennifer Hodges, Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, at jhodges@dacc.nmsu.edu or 575-527-7734.

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