Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation

Garden City Community has been accredited continuously by the Higher Learning Commission since 1975.

HLC accreditation applies to the entire institution. It includes all programs and all locations. HLC criteria includes standards related to academic programs, student services, financial stability, ongoing evaluation and improvement, governance, access to consumer information, institutional integrity, and mission and planning - to name a few.


Institutional Accreditation

Institutional accreditation is important for various reasons. It provides quality assurance for prospective students, the public, and elected officials. As such, accreditation status is highly valued. Accreditation is also a necessary prerequisite for institutional participation in the federal student financial assistance program.

Institutional accreditation is reviewed for reaffirmation every 10 years with a comprehensive evaluation at year 4. 

Garden City Community College (GCCC) is accredited by HLC to award associate degrees as well as certificates.

What is accreditation? As defined by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, "Accreditation is both a process and a status. It is the process of reviewing colleges, universities, institutions and programs to judge their educational quality - how well they serve students and society. The result of the process, if successful, is the award of 'accredited status'."

Why is an accredited status important to students? As explained by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, "'Accredited status' means that students and the public can expect that a school or program lives up to its promises. It means that a student can have confidence that a degree or credential has value. Accreditation signals that the public can have confidence in the worth of an institution or program."  Please watch this video and peruse the CHEA website for more information. Garden City Community College is an Institutional Member of CHEA.

CHEA Accredited Institution

Questions about Garden City Community College's accreditation? Contact the College's HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) or the association directly at:

Higher Learning Commission,
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500,
Chicago, IL  60604-1411
312.263.0456  800.621.7440  
Fax:312.263.7462  hlcommission.org

HLC Letter

In addition, the GCCC Practical Nursing Program is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing, and the Associate Degree Program is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). See our nursing accreditation page for further detail. Certain GCCC programs have also obtained other specific individual accreditation. GCCC has been accepted for the continuous quality improvement accreditation model by the national Academic Quality Improvement Project.

The GCCC Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 25400 US Highway 19 N Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763 727-210-2350 To Contact CoAEMSP 8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312 Rowlett, TX 75088 214-703-8445 FAX 214-703-8992