The Ohio State University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1913. In 2017 the university underwent its decennial reaffirmation of accreditation.

Ohio State’s review is carried out through the HLC Open Pathway process. This process includes writing an Assurance Argument, proposing and implementing a Quality Initiative, and hosting a site visit by a team of reviewers made up of faculty and staff from other universities with similar missions. The process also includes preparing a Multi-Campus Report for a sample of Ohio State’s regional campuses, along with visits to the selected campuses as part of the comprehensive evaluation.

Assurance Argument

As required by the HLC, Ohio State created an evidence-based Assurance Argument to demonstrate that it meets the five criteria for accreditation shown below. In it, Ohio State documents how it fulfills each Criterion (Note: HLC is currently revising the criteria with anticipated changes going into effect in September 2025). The Assurance Argument was overseen by the Institutional Re-accreditation Coordinating Committee that includes faculty, students and staff from across the university.

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.

Quality Initiative

As part of the Open Pathway model, the university also developed a Quality Initiative that addresses an academic issue of institutional importance. Implementation of Ohio State's initiative, Enhancing Academic Advising, began in 2014 and will continue over the next few years. The final report on the Quality Initiative was accepted by the HLC in November 2016 and  is available here.

Site Visit

A team of reviewers visited Ohio State on March 20-21, 2017. Beforehand, the team received the Assurance Argument and comments from the public. During the visit the review team met with faculty, staff and students and looked for evidence that Ohio State meets the five criteria of the Assurance Argument. The schedule of the visit is available here.

Multi-Campus Visits

The reviewers visited Ohio State’s Lima, Mansfield and Newark campuses on March 23-24, 2017. Before the visit they received the Multi-Campus Report, which includes data about each campus and explains its operations. The review team met with academic leaders, and some faculty and students during the visit. The reviewers looked for evidence to assure the quality of Ohio State’s extended operations and the institution’s capacity to maintain that quality. The Multi-Campus Report is available here.

HLC Coordinating Committee 2025-2027

• Randy Smith, Co-Chair, Vice Provost for Academic Programs  
• Rebecca Andridge, Co-Chair, Professor and Associate Dean, College of Public Health 
• Valarie Williams, Faculty Fellow, Professor of Dance and Chair, University Senate Steering and Council on Academic Affairs  
• Jay Johnson, Federal Compliance Lead, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Reporting 

Criterion 1. Mission 

1.A Mission Alignment, 1.B. Mission and Public Good, 1.C. Mission and Diversity of Society  

• Anne Ralph, Lead, Morgan E. Shipman Professor in Law and Director of Law and Leadership Program, Moritz College of Law 
• Rachel Nash, Assistant Vice Provost for Strategy, Academic Engagement and Operational Excellence, Office of Strategic Enrollment Management 
• Kiely Fletcher, Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management 
• Andrew Miles, PhD Candidate and University Fellow in Plant Pathology, Graduate Student Council Representative 
• Jennifer Dauer, Vice President for OSUMC and Representative for John Warner from the Medical Campus 
• Eric Anderman, Vice Provost of Regional Campuses 

Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct  

2.A. Integrity, 2.B. Transparency, 2.C. Board Governance, 2.D. Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression, 2.E. Knowledge Acquisition, Discovery and Application  

• Eric Bielefeld, Lead, Professor and Chair, Department of Speech and Hearing 
• Gates Garrity-Rokous, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of University Compliance and Integrity 
• Jared Gardner, Faculty Fellow of the University Senate and Professor of English 
• Lily Cook, Student, Moritz College of Law, Inter Professional Council Representative 
• Kim Potter, Director of Policy and Engagement, Office of University Compliance and Integrity 
• Matt Boll, USAC Representative and Facilities Planning Analyst, College of Arts and Sciences  
• Sara Watson, Secretary of the University Senate and Associate Professor of Political Science

Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning for Student Success  

3.A. Educational Programs, 3.B. Exercise of Intellectual Inquiry, 3.C. Sufficiency of Faculty and Staff, 3.D. Support for Student Learning and Resources for Teaching, 3.E. Assessment of Student Learning, 3.F. Program Review, 3.G. Student Success Outcomes  

• Norman Jones, Lead, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Professor of English  
• Kiely Fletcher , Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management 
• Jason Lemon, Vice Provost and Dean for Online Learning 
• Andrew Martin, Associate Dean for Curriculum and Instruction, College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Sociology 
• Andrew Miles, Graduate Student Council Representative, PhD Candidate and University Fellow in Plant Pathology 
• Anne McDaniel, Associate Vice President Strategy, Impact, and Academic Partners, Office of Student Life  

Criterion 4. Sustainability Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning  

4.A. Effective Administrative Structures, 4.B. Resource Base and Sustainability, 4.C. Planning for Quality Improvement  

• Kris Devine, Lead, Vice President of Operations and Deputy Chief Financial Officer 
• Michele Hansen, Associate Vice President for Institutional Research and Planning 
• Karla Zadnik, Professor, College of Optometry 
• Scott Schricker, Associate Professor and member of Senate Fiscal, College of Dentistry 
• Matt Boll, University Staff Advisory Council Representative and Facilities Planning Analyst, College of Arts and Sciences  

Opportunities

How do our Shared Values inform daily work, teaching and research? 

Hosted by the Office of Academic Affairs, this series of interactive sessions offer an open platform to share your perspectives, learn how our values guide institutional strategy, and contribute directly to Ohio State's accreditation review.

In addition to these open sessions, the committee is holding listening sessions with the University Senate’s constituent groups: USAC, IPC, CGS, USG, and Faculty Council.

Registration is required for these sessions, which will include light foods and beverages.

Register here 

Moderators

Randy Smith, Vice Provost for Academic Programs

Rebecca Andridge, Professor and Associate Dean, College of Public Health 

Eric Bielefeld, Professor and Chair, Department of Speech and Hearing 

Gates Garrity-Rokous , Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of University Compliance and Integrity 

Kim Potter , Director of Policy and Engagement, Office of University Compliance and Integrity

Piers Turner, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Political Science (by courtesy) and Center for Ethics and Human Values

Valarie Williams, Professor of Dance and Provost’s Faculty Fellow for HLC