HLC Reaffirms Accreditation of Clarke University

On Friday, February 23, Clarke University was officially notified of its reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission—one of seven independent corporations that accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the US.

Reaffirmation is based on the evaluation of five core criteria, including the implementation of an institution’s mission and a variety of elements connected to effectiveness of teaching and learning.

Clarke’s reaffirmation of accreditation process began last year with the submission of a self-study report after months of gathering and analyzing data. Then, in November, an HLC Peer Reviewer Team visited campus to meet with students, faculty, staff, BVM Sisters, and others.

The notification that the University received last week provided an overview of Clarke University’s many strengths, as well as specific areas to consider for continued improvement. As part of the reaffirmation of accreditation process, the University will submit an interim report in December 2025.

“The HLC Peer Reviewers were impressed by the quality of a Clarke education and the pride, dedication, and sense of community they encountered during their site visit,” said Clarke Interim President Fletch Lamkin. “In addition, we are pleased with how the report’s discussion of growth potential dovetails with elements of our current strategic plan.”

Clarke will undergo the reaffirmation of accreditation process again in the 2033-2034 academic year.