The Office of the Provost oversees all accreditation activities across WashU.
WashU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1913. The HLC is an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities. The HLC assesses the institution as a whole, including the soundness of its governance and administration, adherence to mission, the sustainability of its finances, and the sufficiency of its resources.
WashU participates in the HLC’s Open Pathway accreditation process. This process features a ten-year cycle which focuses on both assurance and improvement. Our current 10-year cycle takes place between 2025 and 2035. There are Assurance Reviews in Years 4 and 10. Between Years 5 and 9 of the ten-year cycle, WashU will propose and complete a Quality Initiative. In year 10, WashU will undergo a comprehensive evaluation. Components of the 2024 comprehensive evaluation can be found here.
In addition to the university-wide accreditation, each of WashU’s professional schools are accredited by their school’s professional organization.
WashU is authorized to deliver postsecondary education in Missouri as required under federal Title IV regulations as an independent institution by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
In addition, WashU’s undergraduate and graduate level teacher certification programs are accredited by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and are authorized to offer coursework and to recommend candidates for certification in the following content areas: Elementary Education (Grades 1-6), Middle School Education (Grades 5-9) in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Science, Secondary Education (Grades 9-12) in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Science, Grades K-12 for Art, Dance, and World Languages (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish), as well as our Master of Science degree program in Deaf Education through the PACS Program in the School of Medicine for students interested in pursuing special education certification to teach children with hearing impairments. The Missouri State Board of Education accredits educator preparation programs based on recognition of the commitment that faculty and staff have to the children of Missouri and upon data generated by the Annual Performance Reports for Educator Preparation Programs (APR-EPP).
Accreditation Contacts
Jennifer Smith, Vice Provost for Educational Initiatives
Heidi Kolk, Assistant Vice Provost for Assessment
Mark Valenzuela, Project Manager, Academic Compliance and Accreditation