Higher Learning Commission, Henry Ford College Accreditation Visit 2025
HFC Community: This website provides important information as we prepare for a Fall 2025 visit from a review team on behalf of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The Higher Learning Commission is an accrediting body for post-secondary education institutions in the central United States. The HLC reviews Henry Ford College on a 10-year cycle, with on-site visits every fourth and tenth years to verify our continued accreditation. The HLC is scheduled to visit HFC on October 27-28, 2025.
On-Campus Review Committee Visit Schedule: Public Sessions, Oct. 27 and 28
All members of the HFC community are welcome to attend any of the sessions listed below unless otherwise noted.
Monday, October 27, 2025
| Time of Session | Area of Focus | Location of Session |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. | Criterion One - Mission | Berry Amphitheater, L (ASCC) Building, First Floor |
| 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Criterion Two - Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct | Berry Amphitheater, L (ASCC) Building, First Floor |
| 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. | Student and Student Leaders Luncheon Students only | Kuhlman Dining Room, M Building (Student and Culinary Arts Center) |
| 1:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. | Criterion Four - Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning | Berry Amphitheater, L (ASCC) Building, First Floor |
| 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Criterion Three - Teaching and Learning for Student Success | Rosenau Board Rooms A/B, L (ASCC) Building, First Floor |
| 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Drop-in visit with HLC Review Committee | Rosenau Board Rooms A/B, L (ASCC) Building, First Floor |
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
| Time of Session | Area of Focus | Location of Session |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. | Area of Focus – Early College, Dual Enrollment, and Distance Education (changed) The visit team has requested that faculty, mentors, and supervisors attend this session. | Rosenau Board Rooms A/B, L (ASCC) Building, First Floor |
| 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. | Pathway Forward: Budgeting in the Current Environment, Strategic Plan | Berry Amphitheater, L (ASCC) Building, First Floor |
Importance of the HLC
Accreditation by the HLC assures the public that our college meets a set of quality standards (Mission, Integrity, Teaching and Learning for Student Success, and Sustainability and Planning) and is prepared to serve our stakeholders now and in the future. While other agencies accredit our individual degree programs, such as Nursing and Culinary Arts, the HLC accredits the entire institution. This accreditation is how HFC is eligible for financial supports like federal financial aid, and ensures our credits transfer to other accredited institutions. Because more than half of the student population at HFC uses some form of federal aid, the College would lose at least half of our enrollment if we were not accredited.
What does the HLC review?
The first step to any accreditation visit is writing an Assurance Argument and gathering evidence to show that we meet the Criteria for Accreditation. The Assurance Argument must be submitted to the HLC one month prior to the on-site visit, along with supporting evidence files. Evidence files may be anything that documents how we go about our work at HFC, including committee reports, meeting minutes, news articles, etc. A team of reviewers will read our Assurance Argument and will then visit the campus October 27-28, 2025 to speak to groups of faculty and staff.
HFC Accreditation Committee
Under the co-leadership of Vice President Lori Gonko and English faculty member Betsy Cohn, an Accreditation Committee consisting of faculty and staff from across the College has been selected to prepare the Assurance Argument. While Betsy Cohn will be the primary writer of the Assurance Argument, other committee members will assist with gathering evidence, providing feedback on the draft, and educating the College about the visit.
The Accreditation Committee consists of the following individuals:
| Team | Members |
|---|---|
| Criterion 1: Mission | Sam Bazzi - FT Faculty |
| Tracye Davis - Executive Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging | |
| Courtney Matthews - FT Faculty | |
| Criterion 2: Integrity | Erin Moss Ferguson - Vice President, Legal Services |
| Mike Hill - FT Faculty | |
| Sommer Sterud - FT Faculty | |
| Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning | Vicki Bessette - Manager, eLearning |
| Cassandra Fluker - FT Faculty | |
| Eric Gackenbach - FT Faculty | |
| Ruth Haller - FT Faculty | |
| Rosemary Miketa - FT Faculty | |
| Hassan Mohseni Nameghi - FT Faculty | |
| Cyndi Scheuer - Dean, School of Health and Human Services | |
| Pamela Stewart - Associate Dean, School of Liberal Arts | |
| Scott Still - FT Faculty | |
| Criterion 4: Sustainability and Planning | Bryan Bame - Associate Director, Financial Research and Budgeting |
| Eric Rader - FT Faculty | |
| Jason Young - Director, Institutional Reporting, Research, and Planning |
Their work will begin this month and will continue through October 2025.
How can you get involved?
While the initial committee has been identified, anyone who would like to participate is welcome. Please contact VP Lori Gonko at lmgonko@hfcc.edu if you would like to join the committee. Please be aware that being on the committee requires a substantial time commitment and is not the only way to be involved. Accreditation requires support from across the institution. Committee members will be speaking to faculty and staff from all areas of the College to understand and document the good work that is happening College-wide. There will also be forums and accreditation-specific meetings during which input from all College employees will be welcome.