Higher Learning Commission
Message from the President
A two and half year comprehensive self-evaluation and self-study process culminated when Mercy College welcomed consultant-evaluators from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association for a site visit November 16-18, 2009. Ten years ago Mercy College was awarded the maximum ten year accreditation status by the Higher Learning Commission and the College now seeks continued accreditation, which is a formal recognition of the excellence of an educational institution. Accreditation provides assurance to the public that quality standards are being met, that credits and degrees will be recognized by other colleges and universities, and access to federal grant and financial aid programs will be available to the institution and its students.
While many of Mercy’s programs are accredited by specialized accrediting agencies, such as the National League for Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the American Health Information Management Association and the Joint Review Commission on Education in Radiologic Technology, these programmatic accreditations would not be possible without regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Faculty, staff, administrators, students and members of the Board of Trustees – virtually every college constituency – actively participated in the self-study process, in order to identify and address strengths and opportunities for improvement, highlighted in a written report submitted to the Higher Learning Commission in advance of the November site visit. I’m proud of the self-study documents and other materials related to the accreditation visit and I’m grateful to the entire Mercy College community who contributed to this process of self-evaluation and documentation. You are welcome to review any of the following materials related to the accreditation process.
John F. Hayward
