Accreditation
Riverland Community College is authorized by the State of Minnesota to offer postsecondary education degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
Two Sources of Authorization:
Riverland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). According to the HLC website, the Higher Learning Commission is an independent agency founded in 1895, accrediting colleges and universities in the United States.
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
800-621-7440
Riverland is evaluated on the same standards and elements of accreditation that four-year colleges and universities must demonstrate under the criteria set forth by the Higher Learning Commission.
HLC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which serves as a primary national voice for voluntary accreditation and quality assurance to the U.S. Congress and U.S. Department of Education.
Our accreditation applies to the entire institution. This accredited status assures students that the credits they earn at Riverland are transferable throughout the country. It also qualifies our students for federal financial aid.
Under HLC Policy 1.C.2.b, Commission approval is required to extend accreditation when there is a change in an educational offering, including degree programs offered though distance delivery methods.
To ensure we maintain our regional accreditation, Riverland participates in the Standard Pathway. The Standard Pathway applies principles of total quality management and continuous quality improvement in a higher education environment
Specialized accreditation demands that a program meet more rigorous standards above regional accreditation. This accreditation ensures that the curricula and qualifications of the program in a specific field are aligned with industry standards.
"The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) works to ensure that college courses offered by high school teachers are as rigorous as courses offered on the sponsoring college campus. As the sole accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships, NACEP helps these programs adhere to the highest standards so students experience a seamless transition to college and teachers benefit from meaningful, ongoing professional development." Riverland is committed to helping secondary students successfully transition to college, beginning as early as high school, by participating in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO/Concurrent) program. Through this program high school students can receive both high school and college credit for college-level courses completed at their high school, taught by select high school teachers. Riverland is proud that our Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO/Concurrent) program is accredited by the NACEP. For more information about NACEP go to http://nacep.org/.