Open Pathway

• Demonstrate that Stark State College meets the five criteria for accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and Federal Compliance requirements.
• Involve the entire College community in an ongoing internal and external evaluation of the effectiveness of the College in order to promote a better overall understanding of the College’s mission.
• To allow Stark State to concentrate on its systems and processes as the basis for quality assurance and as the lever enabling institutional improvement.
• Demonstrate the College’s commitment to our stakeholders and to advancing the quality of higher education.
• To maintain College accreditation.
• Infuse the principles and benefits of continuous improvement in the culture of Stark State College.
• Provide the information needed to assist with continuous quality improvement leading to focused quality initiatives.
• Collaborate and network with peer institutions.

• Report annually to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) on progress on all quality initiatives.
• Communicate to HLC changes in our President, Provost and HLC Liaison.
• Communicate to HLC problems in meeting HLC obligations, questions about our institution, or its commitment to accreditation.
• Respond to communications from HLC.
• Submit the Assurance Review.
• Oversee all phases of the accreditation process at Stark State College.
• Articulate the purpose of the accreditation process, the criteria for accreditation, and federal compliance to various Stark State College committee members and teams.
• Provide leadership to the College and to promote College and community interest and participation in the accreditation process.
• Ensure that all steps of the accreditation process are completed according to the established plan and timetable.
• Ensure that the Stark State College accreditation webpages are maintained and updated.
• Work with Executive Council in arranging our Comprehensive Evaluation.

For more information about HLC or Open Pathway at Stark State College, contact:

Lada Gibson-Shreve, Ph.D.
Provost and Chief Academic Officer (Accreditation Liaison Officer)
Stark State College
6200 Frank Avenue NW
North Canton, OH 44720-7299
330-966-5457 ext. 4266
lshreve@starkstate.edu

The Open Pathway requires an institution to designate one major improvement effort it has undertaken during its 10-year accreditation cycle as its Quality Initiative. The Quality Initiative takes place between years 5 and 9 of the 10-year Open Pathway Cycle. A Quality Initiative project may be designed to begin and be completed during this time, or an institution may continue a project that is already in progress or achieve a key milestone in the work of a longer initiative. The Quality Initiative is intended to allow institutions to take risks, aim high, and learn from only partial success or even failure.

According to HLC, the most common topics include student success, assessment of student learning, online learning (including Quality Matters), organizational planning, unit or program review, developing a quality culture, and cultural competency.

• Stark State College systems portfolio December 2018 (PDF)
• Stark State College systems portfolio June 2014 (PDF)

HLC conducts an Assurance Review to determine whether an institution on the Standard or Open Pathway continues to meet the Criteria for Accreditation. On the Open Pathway, the Assurance Review is conducted by itself in Year 4 and is a part of the comprehensive evaluation that occurs in Year 10.

The following steps make up the Assurance Review:

1. The institution demonstrates that it meets the Criteria for Accreditation by preparing an Assurance Filing, comprised of an Assurance Argument and an Evidence File, using HLC’s Assurance System.
2. A team of peer reviewers evaluates the institution’s Assurance Filing. The outcome of this review is a recommendation as to whether the institution meets the Criteria for Accreditation.
3. A decision-making body reviews the institution’s documentation and the recommendation from the peer review team and takes an official action.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is a national accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States.

Accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC’s institutional accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online offerings. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through specialized accreditation agencies. Specialized accreditation agencies accredit programs, departments, or schools within a college or university.

Accreditation agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities. Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status. – from the HLC Website