Grand Valley is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), having undergone a successful Year 4 Assurance Review in June 2023. The HLC is one of seven regional accreditors in the United States. The HLC accredits degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions in the United States using four main Criteria for Accreditation, which contain a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status. The assurance review argument addresses the following core components:

• Criterion 1. Mission
• Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
• Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning for Student Success
• Criterion 4. Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning

Every single claim made in the assurance argument requires links to evidence supporting the claim. Our 35,000-word argument had hundreds and hundreds of pieces of evidence. The most recent argument was submitted in early June of 2023 (thereby, addressing the criteria effective September 2020-August 2024). By July, an HLC peer review team provided GVSU with a 43-page report. The summary included the following snippet: Grand Valley State University presented an excellent assurance argument and sufficient evidence to show convincingly that the institution met all core components.

More information regarding undergraduate accreditation can be found here: University Accreditation - Strategic Planning, Assessment, & Accreditation - Grand Valley State University