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51���� achieved a significant milestone earlier this year as its accreditation with the was unconditionally reaffirmed. Accreditation is important in ensuring a high-quality educational experience for students, and OHIO has been continuously accredited through the HLC since 1913.

“I’m proud to share that 51����’s accreditation has been reaffirmed for the next decade,” 51���� President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said. “This achievement reflects the tireless work of our Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics team, the dedication of our reaccreditation committees, and, most importantly, the ongoing excellence in teaching and learning demonstrated every day by our faculty, staff and students.”

OHIO’s Comprehensive Evaluation involved all aspects of the University, as HLC reviewers received input from students, faculty, staff and additional stakeholders during the 2024-25 academic year. The reviewers visited OHIO’s main campus in Athens, as well as the Eastern and Lancaster campuses as part of their thorough examination to ensure that OHIO is meeting all of the Criteria for Accreditation.

Executive Vice President and Provost Donald J. Leo said that the accreditation process was a major undertaking that will benefit the University in countless ways.

“This reaffirmation demonstrates the quality of our programs, our shared focus on continuous improvement, and the dedication of our community,” Leo said. “It was truly a University-wide effort, and I’m deeply grateful to all who contributed.”

The final report from the HLC stated that 51����’s mission, vision, and values were clear and evident in the operations of the institution and that OHIO’s has been actively guiding the University’s work.

The report also stated that the reviewers were impressed by the individuals they met with during their on-campus meetings.

“OHIO is striving to provide the highest quality educational experience, support its position as a research university, and have a positive impact in the surrounding region,” the HLC report stated. The report also noted that OHIO “operates in a strong planning environment and solid financial position.”

“The team was impressed with the professionalism, effectiveness, and preparedness of those who the team met throughout the visit,” the report stated. “The evidence conveyed enthusiasm for OHIO by leaders, faculty, staff, and students, confidence in the future, and a sense that OHIO has the capacity to meet the challenges it faces.”

The Comprehensive Evaluation process provided the University with an essential opportunity to assess, improve and demonstrate our institutional effectiveness to a team of peer reviewers from a variety of other public R1 institutions. This review culminated in the reaffirmation of OHIO’s accreditation, and attested to the quality education provided at all locations and modalities.

OHIO’s institutional accreditation can also be key for eligibility for faculty and staff to receive grants, students to receive financial aid, student credit hours and courses to transfer to other institutions, and graduates to sit for licensing examinations and pursue graduate-level education.

For more information on the importance of the reaffirmation of accreditation, and the process 51���� went through to gain this significant status, see the Reaffirmation of Accreditation website.