Twin Cities & Rochester Institutional Accreditation
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Rochester campuses follow the Higher Learning Commission’s Open Pathway accreditation process. The Open Pathway follows a ten-year comprehensive review cycle and is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement, ensuring that institutions meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. The ten-year cycle includes:
Regular Monitoring: An annual Institutional Update to ensure compliance with federal requirements.
Year 4: An Assurance Review to ensure HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation and Core Components are still being met.
Years 5-9: A Quality Initiative project identified by the institution.
Year 10: Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation involving both a written "assurance argument" and a campus visit.
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities’ last comprehensive review and reaffirmation took place in October of 2015 and the next one is scheduled for 2025-26. The Rochester campus, founded in 2006, was reviewed along with the Twin Cities campus during the reaffirmation of accreditation, a process overseen by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
HLC Statement of Accreditation Status
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities/RO Official Mark of Accreditation can be found at: https://twin-cities.umn.edu/about-us
In 2025-2026, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Rochester campuses will undergo a comprehensive review to reaffirm our accreditation status. This review will include submission of an assurance argument in August 2025 and a follow-up site visit with a peer review team likely late fall semester 2025 or early spring semester 2026.
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate in this process. Information about our comprehensive review will be posted on this page and continually updated as the process takes shape.
Questions related to HLC accreditation and the process of preparing for the comprehensive review should be directed to Erin Slattengren, Assistant to the Provost and Accreditation Liaison Officer for the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses.