Accreditation & Academic Compliance

The purpose of academic compliance is to ensure that quality standards are met and maintained by institutions providing education and granting degrees. To ensure compliance universities create governing bodies and standards as well as obtain external accreditation. Accreditation is a voluntary, peer review process. It serves four main purposes: (1) assure quality to the public, (2) ease student transfer between institutions by signaling quality, (3) provide institutions with access to federal financial aid, and (4) certify a graduate’s credentials to employers. An “accredited” university meets the standards for accreditation established by an accrediting agency. The standards ensure that an institution has appropriate and clear goals, sufficient resources to achieve them, is fulfilling its objectives, and will continue to do so. The process provides colleges and universities with an opportunity for reflection, honest assessment of strengths and weaknesses, along with a chance to develop strategies for continued improvement.

University of Detroit Mercy and many of its individual programs participate regularly in rigorous internal and external review processes for the purpose of maintaining accreditation. Outcomes from those standards are then provided to the institution’s students through transparency requirements.  

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    Institutional Accreditation

    Institution-wide accreditation is governed by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). HLC is a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education that oversees more than 1,000 colleges and universities in 19 states. All HLC member institutions are required to undergo a full accreditation review every 10 years.

    HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer:

    Shelley Wagnon

    Executive Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness
    Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation Liaison Officer
    (313)993-1588
    wagnonsm@udmercy.edu

    Next Visit:

    Detroit Mercy's next Comprehensive Evaluation Visit will be conducted in 2026-2027.

    Contact HLC:

    Higher Learning Commission
    230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
    Chicago, IL 60604-1411
    www.hlcommission.org 

    Please contact the HLC only in relation to the University’s compliance with accreditation requirements. Normal inquiries about admission requirements, educational programs, and financial aid should be directed to the University.

     Please see our Statement of Academic Standing SAS on the HLC website for information regarding our current status. 

     

     

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    Academic Program Accreditation and Recognition

    Vital to the University's public accountability are its accreditations. The University of Detroit Mercy is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In addition to the University's institutional accreditation, a large number of academic programs are accredited. Accredited academic programs consist of undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs across the University.

    Academic Programs Recognized by Professional Accrediting Bodies

    Degree School or College External Entity
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration College of Business Administration Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
    Master of Business Administration College of Business Administration Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
    Bachelor of Architectural Engineering College of Engineering & Science ABET
    Bachelor of Civil Engineering College of Engineering & Science ABET
    Bachelor of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering & Science ABET
    Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering College of Engineering & Science ABET
    Bachelor of Robotics & Mechatronic Systems Engineering College of Engineering & Science ABET
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
    Master of Health Services Administration College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management (CAHME)
    Master of Science
    Major: Physician Assistant
    College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing Accreditation Review Commission for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)
    Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesiology - Doctor of Nursing Practice, Entry Level College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COACRNA)
    Master of Science in Nursing College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
    Doctor of Nursing Practice College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
    Bachelor of Social Work College of Liberal Arts & Education Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
    Master of Arts
    Major: Addiction Counseling
    College of Liberal Arts & Education Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
    Master of Arts
    Major: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
    College of Liberal Arts & Education Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
    Master of Arts
    Major: School Counseling
    College of Liberal Arts & Education Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
    Doctor of Philosophy
    Major: Clinical Psychology
    College of Liberal Arts & Education American Psychological Association (APA)
    Master of Architecture School of Architecture & Community Development National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
    Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene School of Dentistry Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
    Master of Science
    Major: Endodontics
    School of Dentistry Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
    Master of Science
    Major: Orthodontics
    School of Dentistry Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
    Master of Science
    Major: Periodontics
    School of Dentistry Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
    Certificate in Advanced Education General Dentistry School of Dentistry Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
    Doctor of Dental Surgery School of Dentistry Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
    Juris Doctor School of Law American Bar Association

    Academic Programs Recognized by Professional Organizations

    Degree School or College External Entity
    Bachelor of Science
    Major: Chemistry
    College of Engineering & Science American Chemical Society (ACS)
    Emergency Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAENP)
    Master of Science in Information Assurance
    Major: Cybersecurity
    College of Liberal Arts & Education: Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
    Specialist in School Psychology College of Liberal Arts & Education National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
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    Student Consumer Information

    The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 is a federal law enacted on August 14, 2008. It reauthorized the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended HEA requires higher education institutions to report and disclose information from various administrative areas and make its information readily available to interested parties via this website.

    This information can be found on the Detroit Mercy Consumer Information website. If you have questions, please contact the department responsible for the information.

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    Additional Information

    Academic Affairs

    The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for the leadership and management of academic programs and a number of related academic support services at Detroit Mercy. This office supports the campus infrastructure and operations and provides support for teaching and learning. Many committees have been created by the Office of Academic Affairs to support the University's goals while remaining in compliance with all accrediting bodies. See here for more on Academic Affairs.

    Title IX Compliance

    The Title IX of the Education Amendments of the 1972 Civil Rights Act and the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2012 (VAWA) prohibited conduct includes discrimination on the basis of gender (sex), sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. Our Title IX coordinator is responsible for managing all responsibilities associated with the University's compliance obligations. For more information, see the Title IX website.

    Office for Sponsored Programs and Research Activities (OSPRA)

    The OSPRA is a unit within the Office of Academic Affairs created to support research and other scholarly activities of faculty, students, and staff. The OSPRA website contains important information concerning opportunities for funding, useful information for applying for funding, and policies and procedures that support research and grant activity at University of Detroit Mercy. For more information, please visit the OSPRA website.