John Carroll University has received official notification from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) that its institutional accreditation has been reaffirmed without conditions, continuing a tradition of accreditation that has been in place since 1922.
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Accreditation by an institutional accreditor is one of the key requirements for colleges and universities to operate, ensuring academic quality and institutional stability. Reaffirmation of accreditation occurs every 10 years, and JCU successfully completed this process in spring 2025.
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“For more than a century, John Carroll has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission,” said Dr. Al Miciak, President of John Carroll University. “This latest reaffirmation underscores that John Carroll remains true to its Jesuit mission of forming students of intellect and character, while also meeting the highest standards of academic excellence and institutional strength.”
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In April, John Carroll hosted a team of HLC peer reviewers on campus to evaluate the University’s compliance with HLC’s criteria for accreditation. Their report was overwhelmingly positive and commended John Carroll in several areas, including:
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- Faculty, staff, and students’ commitment to living out the University’s Jesuit mission Ěý
- Strengthened faculty governance, including the creation of the University Curriculum Committee and the University Promotion and Tenure Committee Ěý
- Strong leadership and best practices in the assessment of student learning Ěý
- Excellent outcomes in persistence and retention Ěý
- Outstanding progress in strategic and fiscal planning
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The team further noted that, “Starting with the Board and throughout the organization, there is well-founded optimism, supported by evidence that this institution is making the necessary investments and has the planning and implementation infrastructure needed to continue its positive momentum.”
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“It's an exciting time to be at John Carroll,” said Dr. Bonnie Gunzenhauser, Vice President of Academic Affairs at John Carroll. “We have tremendous momentum, with new academic programs, new facilities, and our largest first-year class in the last five years, all undergirded by our historic commitment to excellence. I'm grateful to all on campus who contributed to our HLC review process, and I'm very pleased that the HLC shares our vision of the university's bright future.”
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Following the visit, the HLC’s Institutional Actions Council reviewed and accepted the team’s findings. In its official letter, the HLC confirmed that John Carroll’s next reaffirmation of accreditation will occur during the 2034-2035 academic year.