Pathway to Accreditation

For its next accreditation, Nicolet Area Technical College will again be taking part in the Higher Learning Commission’s Open Pathway, Ten-Year Cycle. Below is a chart that presents this cycle. Note the activities that are due each year as well as the reviewers who will be reviewing them.

Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
INSTITUTIONAL UPDATE Submitted each year. The IU is a survey showing organizational health of the college.	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities
MULTI-LOCATION VISIT Years 3 and 8 Required by institutions with three or more active locations Year 3 – Completed December 2017 Year 8 – TBD during AY2022-23			Nicolet Activities Peer Review Activities					Nicolet Activities Peer Review Activities
OPEN PATHWAY EVALUATION Assurance Argument Narrative & Onsite Visit – Completed July 2019 Comprehensive Evaluation Narrative TBD March 2025 Onsite Visit TBD June 2025				HLC Decision Making Activities						HLC Decision Making Activities
QUALITY INITIATIVE Assessment Academy 4-Year Project Fulfils Quality Initiative					Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities	Nicolet Activities Assessment Academy Yr 1	Nicolet Activities Assessment Academy Yr 2	Nicolet Activities Assessment Academy Yr 3

During Years 2 and 3, we will contribute documents to the evidence file.

During Years 3 and 8, peer reviewers will conduct a multi-location visit. This visit is required by institutions with three or more active locations. The visit confirms the institution’s continued effective oversight of its additional locations.

During Year 4, we will submit Assurance Filing (Assurance and Evidence File). The Assurance Argument is a narrative that demonstrates the ways in which the institution meets the Criteria for Accreditation. The Evidence File contains the actual evidence that the institution meets the Criteria for Accreditation.

During the Assurance Review, peer-reviewers will view these documents. If approved, HLC will accept the assurance review. (This step requires no campus visit.)

During years 5–9, we will continue contributing to the Evidence

During year 8, we will start the Assessment Academy, a four-year project. Participation in the Assessment Academy fulfills the Quality Initiative.

At year 10, we will submit our Comprehensive Evaluation Materials. Peer reviewers will visit campus to explore evidence, and a decision will be made by HLC concerning the college’s comprehensive evaluation and reaffirmation for accreditation.

Click here to visit the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) website that explains the Open Pathways Accreditation process in much greater detail.