Academic Quality Improvement Program
NMU no longer launches AQIP projects. If you have an idea for a potential project, email Daniel Cullen.
Northern Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, located at 230 South LaSalle St. Suite 7-500 Chicago, Illinois.
NMU's current status with our accreditor is described on the main accreditation page.
Previously, NMU adopted the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) method of accreditation formerly offered as an option by HLC. With AQIP, an institution demonstrated it met accreditation standards and expectations through sequences of events aligned with those ongoing activities that characterize organizations striving to improve their performance.
Under AQIP until 2016, every four years NMU submitted a Systems Portfolio -- a sort of procedures and evidence manual -- with a question-and-answer approach based upon the HLC Criteria. A team of accreditation reviewers from peer institutions evaluated the Systems Portfolio and provided detailed feedback in a Systems Appraisal. As an AQIP institution, NMU participated in an AQIP Strategy Forum with other AQIP institutions at HLC. NMU chose its own focus based upon the Systems Appraisal and current quality culture needs. After the last System Portfolio review, NMU transitioned from the AQIP Pathway to HLC's Open Pathway.
When AQIP was a major HLC Pathway for accreditation, on a continuous basis, every participating institution had at least three Action Projects underway. Annually, service units and academic programs completed outcomes assessment reports and plans. NMU currently engages in Continuous Quality Improvement work; information about Action Projects dating to the AQIP accreditation period remains available on this webpage. Other NMU AQIP documents are archived here.
NMU is now accredited by HLC on the Open Pathway. Current information can be found at www.nmu.edu/institutionalresearch/nmu-accreditation.