The University of Toledo is seeking public comments about the University in preparation for its comprehensive evaluation visit Feb. 27-29, 2012, by a site team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

UT has been accredited by the HLC since 1922. The former Medical College of Ohio/Medical University of Ohio had been accredited since 1980.

The upcoming site visit will establish UT’s continued accreditation, based on its ability to meet five criteria established by the HLC.

As part of this evaluation, the public is invited to submit third-party comments regarding UT to:
Public Comment on The University of Toledo
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411

Comments also may be submitted electronically to: ncahlc.org/information-for-the-public/third-party-comment.html.

Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of UT as a whole or to its academic programs. They must be submitted in writing and signed; they will not be treated as confidential. Comments should include the name, address and telephone number of the person providing the feedback.

Feedback must be received by Jan. 27, 2012, to be considered for the upcoming evaluation. The HLC cannot guarantee comments received after that date will be included in UT’s continuing accreditation process.

UT has been engaged in an intensive self-evaluation process since fall 2009 in preparation for the Feb. 27-29 site visit. A comprehensive self study report gleaned from more than 18 months of research, evaluation and feedback from the University community is available at utoledo.edu/accreditation/pdf/selfstudy.pdf.

The self study report addresses UT’s compliance with HLC criteria, which include: mission and integrity; planning for the future; student learning and effective teaching; acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge, and engagement and service.

“The University of Toledo is an institution that is here to serve. Our commitment is to make life better for future generations throughteaching, research and patient care,” UT President Lloyd Jacobs said. “The accreditation process is extremely valuable because it gives us the opportunity to ask ourselves how we can serve our students, our patients and our other customers better.”

Accreditation by the HLC is connected to educational quality, financial aid, ability to transfer academic credits, post-college career opportunities, and academic and research funding, among other considerations. Only accredited institutions may receive federal funds for higher education. In addition, some institutions accept transfer credits only from accredited universities, and some graduate schools accept only students with degrees from accredited schools.

For more information about the accreditation process at UT, contact the HLC Self Study Office at

Media Coverage
The Independent Collegian (Feb. 23, 2012)