Dec 13, 2024  
2020-2021 Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Accreditation


Accreditation is the process whereby a professional association or nongovernmental agency grants recognition to a school or program the ability to meet predetermined established criteria or standards. Accreditation includes approval of governance, curriculum, and quality of its faculty, adequacy of facilities, library, equipment, laboratories, and assessment. To assure its stature and academic excellence, a college obtains accreditation from both regional and national agencies and professional organizations and joins certain accrediting organizations.

College Accreditation Agency

The Higher Commission of the North Central Association (HLC)
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411
(800) 621-7440
www.hlcommission.org

Pierpont Community & Technical College was recognized as an independent institution and separately and fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in April 2008. Pierpont received reaffirmation and continued accreditation in July 2014. Pierpont will host its next comprehensive evaluation in 2023-2024.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation, which was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission accredits, and thereby grants membership in the Commission, to degree-granting educational institutions in the North Central region: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Contact information:
www.hlcommission.org
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
800.621.7440
info@hlcommission.org

The complaint process is designed to identify substantive problems with an institution’s ability to meet the Criteria for Accreditation. HLC’s policy on complaints provides a full description of the type of complaints that HLC will review.

View the HLC website to file a complaint.

Programs with Specialized Accreditation Agencies

Dietetic Technician Program (AAS)
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 899-0040; Ext. 5400
(3012) 899-4817 Fax
http://www.eatrightpro.org/ACEND


Emergency Medical Services (AAS)
Committee on Accreditation for the EMS Professional (CoAEMSP)
3301 Lakeview Parkway
Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
(214) 703-8445
(214) 703-8992 Fax
www.coaemsp.org


Drafting & Design (AAS), Graphics Technology (AAS)
Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)
1390 Eisenhower Place
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 677-0720
www.ATMAE.org


Food Service Management (AAS)
American Culinary Federation Education Foundation’s Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC)
180 Center Place Way
St. Augustine, FL 32095
(800) 624-9458
www.acfchefs.org


Health Information Technology (AAS)
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
200 East Randolph Street, Suite 100
Chicago, IL 60601-5800
www.cahiim.org


Medical Laboratory Technology (AAS)
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
(847) 939-3597
http://www.naacls.org


Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS)
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Telephone: (703) 706-3245
Email: accreditation.apta.org
Website: http://www.capteonline.org/home.aspx


Respiratory Care (AAS) (Provisional Accreditation)
Commission on the Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC)
P.O. Box 54876
Hurst, TX 76054-4876
(817) 283-2835
(817) 354-8519 Fax
www.coarc.com


Veterinary Technology (AAS) (Probationary Status)
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 
1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4361
(800) 248-2862
www.avma.org


Licensed Practical Nursing (CAS)
West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses (WVBELPA)
101 Dee Drive
Charleston, WV 25311
(877) 558-LPNS
www.lpnboard.state.wv.us


Technical Studies, Radiologic Technology (Partnership Program with Accreditations held by WVU Hospital & United Hospital Center)
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
20 N. Wacker Drive
Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
(312) 704-5300
www.jrcert.org