Washington University in St. Louis has successfully reaffirmed its accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) following a comprehensive review of its academic practices. The HLC, which has accredited the university since 1913, conducts an accreditation review every ten years. The recent evaluation included a site visit in October 2024, during which reviewers identified the need for updates to the university’s academic credit policy.
While the review highlighted WashU’s strong commitment to academic excellence, it also pointed out that the university’s methods for awarding and documenting credit hours required revision. Credit hours are a fundamental unit in higher education used to assess student progress toward earning a degree.
In response to these findings, the Office of the Provost organized seven committees comprising over 60 faculty and staff members from all schools within the university. Their task was to develop recommendations for necessary changes to academic practices and policies. Following a thorough review by campus leadership, the updated policy received endorsement from the Faculty Senate Council in October, paving the way for its implementation in fall 2026.
“Our academic mission guides us,” said Mark D. West, Provost of Washington University. “The updates we are making in response to the accreditation review will ensure our rigorous academic standards are upheld no matter the course, major, or professor involved.”
The revisions to the credit policy will influence the academic calendar and may impact planning for the upcoming fall semester in 2026 for faculty, staff, and students. One significant change involves adding an additional instructional day to both fall and spring full-semester courses, which will accommodate university holidays that fall on a Monday. This additional day will replace a previously scheduled reading day before final exams.
For more information on the updates to the credit policy, faculty, staff, and students can visit the Office of the Provost’s website.
