The HLC Accreditation and Self Study Process As a University, we seek accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association (NCA). The NCA is an organization comprised of member schools from nineteen states. The HLC is one of the Commissions of the NCA and oversees the accreditation of degree-granting colleges and Universities. Within the NCA, the HLC accredits organizations as a whole. Besides assessing formal educational activities, it evaluates such things as governance and administration, financial stability, admissions and student services, institutional resources, student learning, institutional effectiveness, and relationships with internal and external constituencies. Each accreditation process requires the University seeking accreditation to conduct an evaluative self study as well as participate in a Survey Visit by an HLC-sponsored accreditation team. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Sciences was visited by a Survey Team in April 2008 and was granted continued accreditation status by the HLC Board of Trustees on October 29, 2008. The focus of an accreditation Survey Visit historically has been on the Self Study Report generated by the University and the response to that Report from the HLC. The RFUMS accreditation process points also to a focus of self-reflection, evaluation, and improvement. The self study process affords us the opportunity to collectively come to understand what we, as a University, are doing, how well we are doing it, why we are doing it, and what we can do better. In responding to the HLC's criteria for accreditaiton, the Self Study Report was reliant on data and information-based analysis, evaluation, and empirically-supported recommendations for improvement.