CMU receives 10-year Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Central Michigan University Provost Paula Lancaster today announced that the university has earned its 10-year Reaffirmation of Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

“This reaccreditation confirms our commitment to the success of our students and graduates and to the communities we serve. It demonstrates the high quality of our academic programs and student services,” Lancaster said. “This distinction is well-earned for our faculty, staff, students, and supporters and serves as a reminder that the work we do is vital, effective and impactful.” 

The HLC, a private, nonprofit accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 950 colleges and universities in the U.S. Per the HLC website, institutional accreditation “evaluates the university as a whole, including its educational offerings, governance, operations and finances.”

In a letter sent to CMU President Neil MacKinnon in late June, the HLC noted that its Institutional Actions Council “continued and reaffirmed the accreditation of Central Michigan University,” at its June 22, 2026, meeting.

“This successful outcome reflects the significant work of multiple faculty and staff members over two years to prepare for reaccreditation,” MacKinnon said. “And, more importantly, it reflects the ongoing work of our entire university community to ensure that CMU remains an accessible, affordable, impactful institution of higher learning.”

Findings from the process

CMU began preparations for the reaccreditation process in fall 2024 with the formation of a multi-disciplinary steering committee co-chaired by Dave Patton, senior vice provost for academic and curricular affairs, and Kirsten Weber, faculty member in the School of Communication, Journalism, and Media. The HLC evaluation included a comprehensive self-study, formal reporting, peer review, and a site visit in April that included open forums with university community members.

The comprehensive review included an assessment of CMU based on four criteria, as well as the university's compliance with federal regulations:

1. Mission
2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
3. Teaching and Learning for Student Success
4. Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning 

In the HLC Comprehensive Evaluation Team Report, reviewers highlighted numerous strengths of the university, including:

• Academic programs that clearly align with the university’s mission and emphasis on “student success and community impact by preparing graduates for high-demand, workforce-critical fields in Michigan and beyond.”
• The university’s service to communities through “demonstrated adaptability {to respond} to evolving community demands” and “educational programs that address community and societal needs.”
• Applied, community-focused research from units including the Institute for Great Lakes Research, the CMU Research Corporation, and others.
• The Go Grants Initiative as an exemplar of mission-driven innovation.
• The “meaningful and visible relationship with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe,” which provides a “valuable cultural asset that enhances the educational experience…” and “…fosters inclusive engagement and civic responsibility.”
• Demonstrated “institutional integrity through a comprehensive governance and policy framework that guides ethical conduct and accountability at all levels of the organization,” as well as “transparency through open governance practices, routine public disclosure, and long-standing access to institutional records.”
• CMU’s commitment to “adapting its policies, programs and services to effectively meet the needs of the evolving student population it seeks to serve.”
• Practices that “reinforce CMU’s commitment to academic freedom as an essential component of educational quality;” and that support freedom of expression and freedom of inquiry while balancing them with “expectations for respectful and responsible engagement.”
• Processes that “ensure CMU’s academic offerings remain rigorous, current and appropriate” and that the university “meets expectations for educational quality, supports student learning, and maintains coherence between curriculum, assessment, and institutional goals.”
• Quality and preparedness of faculty and staff, as well as opportunities for professional development.
• Services that support students’ mental, emotional and physical wellness, as well as programs that emphasize safety and accessibility.
• A university-wide commitment to collaborative governance, data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement

Opportunities for growth

In its assessment, the HLC review team also noted opportunities for CMU’s continued improvement, many of which are already in progress, Lancaster said. These include:

• Increasing offerings in high-demand areas such as stackable credits and micro-certifications.
• Emphasizing measurable outcomes on “public good” initiatives and partnerships.
• Adopting a policy on use of Artificial Intelligence to “strengthen the culture of responsible research and investigation.”

Next steps for CMU

Following receipt of the HLC’s letter, CMU has elected to remain on HLC’s Open Pathway cycle of review, evaluation and accreditation. According to Shellie Haut, CMU’s HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer, remaining on the Open Pathway will allow CMU to complete a mid-cycle Assurance Review in Year 4 and then an Open Quality Initiative during years 5-9.

“Our mission statement asserts that we will be measured by the success of our students, our graduates, and the communities we serve,” MacKinnon said. “The findings of the HLC Review Team reflect our efforts to achieve our mission, and we are actively working to both strengthen our existing efforts and to find new ways to serve our students and communities.”

CMU’s accreditation history

CMU was first accredited in 1915 by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Since that time, CMU has maintained continuous accreditation, except for one year in 1922-1923. Before this year, CMU’s last comprehensive evaluation took place in 2015-2016, when the university received reaffirmation of accreditation for 10 years.  

Visit CMU's HLC Accreditation webpage

According to the HLC’s letter, CMU’s next comprehensive institutional review will take place in 2035-36.