Criteria for Accreditation

The criteria and core components are the standards by which HLC determines whether Youngstown State merits reaffirmation. The criteria have been designed to seek evidence of continual improvement. Underlying the criteria and core components is a set of Assumed Practices shared by all institutions.

To maintain accreditation, Youngstown State must demonstrate that it is meeting each criterion (listed below) AND all of its core components. For more comprehensive information, visit hlcommission.org.

Criterion One. Mission

• The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.

Criterion Two. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct

• The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.

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

• The institution provides high quality education wherever and however its offerings are delivered.

Criterion Four. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement

• The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.

Criterion Five. Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness

• The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. The institution plans for the future.