Augustana College receives reaffirmed accreditation from Higher Learning Commission

Augustana College has earned reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, affirming the college’s academic quality, student-centered mission and long-term commitment to continuous improvement.

Approved January 28, the reaffirmation extends Augustana’s accreditation through 2035 and follows a multi-stage evaluation process that concluded in fall 2025.

Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission confirms that Augustana meets rigorous standards for academic quality, institutional effectiveness and ethical leadership, reinforcing the college’s focus on student success and engaged learning.

“This outcome affirms our values in action — academic excellence, integrity and an unwavering commitment to our students,” said Dr. Dianna Shandy, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “It reflects the strength of our learning environment and the shared responsibility we embrace across the college.”

For students and families, the reaffirmation provides added confidence in the value of an Augustana degree and the college’s ability to prepare graduates for meaningful lives and careers in a changing world.

As part of the review, a team of five peer reviewers visited campus in November 2025, hosting open forums and evaluating evidence related to mission, integrity, ethical and responsible conduct, institutional effectiveness, sustainability, resources and planning. Their findings were documented in a report of more than 50 pages, which concluded that Augustana met all criteria for reaffirmation with no monitoring requirements.

“This result reflects the collective work of our faculty, staff and leadership,” Dr. Shandy said. “Accreditation is a shared endeavor, and this review shows what is possible when a community is aligned around purpose and student success.”

President Andrea Talentino said the outcome underscores the college’s effectiveness in advancing its mission.

“Accreditation offers an opportunity to examine how well an institution is fulfilling its mission and supporting student outcomes,” President Talentino said. “Receiving reaffirmation with no recommendations for follow-up monitoring is uncommon and speaks to the quality of work happening across our campus."