Wayne State prepares for HLC accreditation in 2026

As a top 100 public university in the country, Wayne State works to uphold its reputation for academic excellence. The value of a Wayne State degree is further affirmed through WSU's accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Groups across the university are preparing for the final stage of our HLC accreditation cycle, which will culminate in a site visit next year.

Accreditation is an essential peer review process that rigorous institutions of higher education like Wayne State University undergo to demonstrate, maintain and improve quality. Additionally, accreditation makes WSU eligible to participate in federal programs, such as disbursing federal student financial aid and to offer licensure and certification programs. Without accreditation, a degree loses some of its value.

"Accreditation is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to academic excellence, accountability and continuous improvement," said WSU Interim President Richard A. Bierschbach. "We encourage the entire Wayne State community to participate in this important process, which reaffirms our dedication to providing a world-class education that prepares our student body to thrive."

The 10-year cycle and ongoing commitment

The review process consists of several steps over a 10-year cycle, each evaluated by HLC peer reviewers.

Wayne State is on HLC's Open Pathway and has elected in years one through four to prepare and submit a self-study narrative. This comprehensive narrative describes the strengths, goals, and areas for improvement of the institution as they relate to our mission, strategic plan, and HLC accreditation standards, including specific examples and supporting evidence.

In years five through nine, the university proposes, implements, and reports on its primary quality initiative. Recent Quality Initiatives at WSU include Data-Informed Student Success for All (2024-2026) and the Undergraduate Academic Advising Initiative (2014-2016).

In year 10, the university submits another self-study with evidence demonstrating it meets accreditation standards and federal requirements, followed by a campus site visit where HLC reviewers gather additional information and feedback before recommending accreditation status. Wayne State's visit is scheduled for October 26-27, 2026.

"Maintaining our HLC accreditation is a key part of assuring academic excellence and student success," said Dr. Darin Ellis, vice provost for academic programs, assessment and accreditation. "It is also an exciting opportunity for the university to highlight its many strengths and celebrate what we have accomplished in terms of student outcomes."

A campus-wide effort

Preparation for accreditation is well underway and will continue throughout the next year. In early 2025, the Division of Academic Affairs launched the Data Literacy Institute as part of the 2024-2026 Quality Initiative. Informed by broad consultation with faculty, staff and university leadership, this cycle's quality initiative focuses on empowering faculty and staff to use data to enhance student learning and outcomes. Faculty and staff can participate in data literacy workshops throughout 2026.

Because accreditation is an institution-wide effort, everyone in the WSU campus community is encouraged to participate. More than 70 people from across campus - including faculty, staff, students, academic affairs, business and operations and more - are currently collaboratively writing the assurance argument, which will be submitted in September 2026.

Students will also play an important role in the spring by filling out a survey from HLC. Faculty and staff should encourage students to participate in the survey once it is available.

University programs all across campus support student outcomes and align with HLC's accreditation criteria, and some examples have already been included in the argument. If you are doing exciting work to improve Wayne State and its programs, watch for opportunities in winter 2026 to share these with the Academic Programs, Assessment and Accreditation team.

"Achieving reaccreditation shows the public that we provide an education that is high quality and worth the investment," said Dr. Keith Whitfield, interim provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. "As we celebrate the outstanding work that's been done and continue to improve our academic outcomes and support student success, Wayne State remains committed to advancing its mission of knowledge creation and preparing students to thrive and make an impact in our communities."

For more information about the HLC accreditation process, visit Wayne State's accreditation website.