HLC Accreditation Reaffirmation
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation Reaffirmation 2026
On November 16-17, 2026, University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) will host a Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Peer Review Team for a Standard Pathway Comprehensive Evaluation Site Visit. During the visit, peer reviewers will assess whether the University continues to meet the HLC Criteria for Accreditation and remains committed to academic quality and continuous improvement.
Accreditation by the HLC affirms that UDM meets nationally recognized standards of quality and integrity and ensures eligibility for federal financial aid, transfer of academic credit, and recognition of its degrees.
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Accreditation History
UDM is accredited by the HLC, an independent accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The University has a long and distinguished history of institutional accreditation. The University of Detroit received initial accreditation in 1931, Mercy College was initially accredited in 1951, and the consolidated institution, University of Detroit Mercy, achieved initial accreditation in 1991. The University remains accredited by the HLC through 2026.
Please visit Accreditation & Academic Compliance for more information about institutional and program-level accreditation.
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Criterion & Core Components
The HLC Criteria for Accreditation articulate the standards of quality by which the Commission evaluates institutions for accreditation and reaffirmation. These Criteria recognize the diversity of institutional missions across HLC’s membership while establishing shared expectations for educational quality, integrity, and institutional effectiveness.
The HLC Core Criterion are:
- Criterion 1: Mission
- Criterion 2: Integrity — Ethical and Responsible Conduct
- Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning for Student Success — Quality, Resources, and Support
- Criterion 4: Sustainability — Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning
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Self-Study & Site Visit
Federal Compliance Requirements
As part of the reaffirmation visit, the HLC reviews the University’s compliance with applicable federal requirements. This review evaluates institutional policies and documentation related to areas such as financial aid, campus safety, consumer information, and student rights to ensure ongoing accountability and compliance. For more information see the HLC website for federal compliance requirements.
Federal Compliance Committee
Shelley Wagnon, Chair
Executive Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness
Megan Novell
Executive Director of Office of Equal Opportunity
Jessica Rouser
Director of Scholarship & Financial Aid
Amy Wisniewski
Associate Vice President and University Registrar
HLC Reaffirmation Committee
Chair:
Shelley Wagnon
Executive Director IR&E and HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer
Criterion 1: Mission
Jocelyn Boryczka
Dean, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
Joe Eisenhauer
Dean, College of Business Administration
Charles Oduke
Vice President for Mission Integration
Criterion 2: Integrity – Ethical and Responsible Conduct
Kate Harger
Dean of University Libraries
Ahmed Radwan
Dean, College of Health Professions
Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning – Quality, Resources, and Support
Karen Lee
Associate Vice President for Academic Administration
Noah Resnick
Associate Dean, School of Architecture & Community Development
Kathi R. Shepherd
Assistant Dean, Educational Development and Assessment, School of Dentistry
Criterion 4: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning
Dennis Carlesso
Vice President for University Advancement
Tom Manceor
Vice President for Finance & Administration
Pamela Zarkowski
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
The Visit at a Glance
A team of HLC peer reviewers will be on campus November 16-17, 2026, to decide whether Detroit Mercy continues to meet the Criteria for Accreditation.
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Item |
Detail |
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Visit dates |
November 16-17, 2026 |
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Visit type |
Standard Pathway Comprehensive Evaluation Site Visit |
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What reviewers decide |
Whether the university continues to meet the HLC Criteria for Accreditation and remains committed to academic quality and continuous improvement |
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Also reviewed |
Federal compliance requirements, such as financial aid, campus safety, consumer information and student rights |
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Last reaffirmation |
December 2016, with an assessment focused visit accepted in June 2023 |
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Current status |
Accredited through 2026, with the next reaffirmation in 2026-27 |
Peer reviewers are faculty and staff from other institutions. They typically read the university's self-study first, then use the visit to check it against what they hear in meetings with faculty, staff, students, administrators and trustees.
Questions Peer Reviewers May Ask:
Peer reviewers may ask questions in formal meetings, open sessions, or casual conversations on campus. These samples are for preparation, not a script. The best answer is an honest one grounded in your own experience.
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For University Community
Criterion 1: Mission
- What is the university's mission, and how does your work advance it?
- How do the Jesuit and Mercy traditions show up in the student experience or in your daily work?
- How does Detroit Mercy serve Detroit and the public good?
- How do diversity and civic engagement show up in your area's work with students?
Criterion 2: Integrity
- Where would you find the policies that apply to your role, and are they applied consistently?
- How do you know what the university tells students and the public about its programs is accurate?
- How is academic freedom protected here?
- Whom would you go to with an ethical concern, and how confident are you it would be handled well?
Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning for Student Success
- How do you know students are learning what a program intends, and what is done with assessment results?
- How are programs reviewed, and what has changed because of a review?
- Does your area have enough faculty and staff to serve students well?
- What support is available to students, and how would you refer a student who needs it?
- How does the university track outcomes such as retention and completion, and what is it doing in response?
- Is quality consistent across online, in-person and off-campus offerings?
Criterion 4: Sustainability
- How are budget and resource decisions made, and how do they connect to the strategic plan?
- How do you take part in shared governance at the department, college and university levels?
- How is data used to make decisions in your area?
- What are the university's biggest challenges, and how is it planning for them?
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For Faculty
- What is the faculty's role in curriculum and in ensuring academic quality?
- What resources support your teaching, scholarship and professional development, and are they enough?
- How would you describe the relationship between faculty and administration?
- What is the role of faculty governance in decisions that affect your program?
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For Staff
- What is it like to work at Detroit Mercy?
- How are staff evaluated, and what training and development are available?
- How are staff involved in campus decision making?
- How would you describe the relationship between staff and administration?
If a reviewer asks you a question:
Reviewers want real, informed answers, not rehearsed ones. A few habits help:
- Answer from your own experience and give a specific example, such as a student you supported or a process you use.
- Speak to your own role. You are not expected to know every part of the university.
- If you do not know, say so and name who would. That is a good answer.
- Know where to find the basics: the mission, the strategic plan, and the policies that apply to your work.
- Be candid about challenges and about what is being done to address them.
Resources and Contacts
Questions about the visit go to Shelley Wagnon, Executive Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness and HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer, at wagnonsm@udmercy.edu.