News
HLC removes Luna from probation - College on interim monitoring
Luna Community College is happy to announce that the Higher Learning Commission board of trustees has determined that the college is no longer out of compliance with criteria for accreditation and removed the college from probation. The college has been assigned interim monitoring. Luna received the good news from the HLC via electronic mail earlier this week.
“We want to thank all stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, administrators, board of trustees and community members who have assisted and been patient with us throughout the entire process,” says Luna President Dr. Edward Martinez. “We are committed to moving forward and continue to meet the needs of our students and our service area. We will continue to make Luna the best we can, always putting our students first. Luna has and will continue to play an important role in higher education, especially for students in our service area.”
As part of the letter received by the college, the HLC wrote, in taking this action, the Board considered materials from the most recent comprehensive evaluation, including, but not limited to: the Assurance Filing the Institution submitted, the report from the comprehensive evaluation team, the report of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) Hearing Committee, and the institutional responses to these reports.
“This is a positive step forward for Luna. We’re thankful for the hard work of many individuals that made this possible,” said Luna nursing director Maxine Hughes. Hughes has been at Luna for 27 years.
Luna had operated under HLC sanctions since November 2017, when the Chicago-based regional accrediting agency issued a show-cause order. The college’s initial response to the show-cause order, accompanied by an outpouring of testimonials, resulted in the HLC lifting the order and placing Luna on probation starting in June 2018. Sanctions were lifted during a brief period beginning in late November 2020, however, about a year later Luna was placed back on probation.
“We are committed as a college to do everything we can to remain in compliance with the HLC,” says Dr. Martinez. “This has been a tough road and we are grateful of the HLC decision. We have learned a lot over the course of the last few years and the faculty, staff, administration and board of trustees are prepared to continue to do the hard work needed to make this a better college for our students and communities.”
In a summary of the action taken by the HLC, the (HLC) Board determined that the Institution is no longer out of compliance with the Criteria for Accreditation and removed the Institution from Probation and assigned interim monitoring. This action also resulted in a reaffirmation of the Institution’s accreditation, as outlined. The Institution meets Core Components 4.A, 4.B, 5.B and 5.C with concerns. The Institution is required to host a Focused Visit, no later than November 2025.0
“I am happy for LCC to be off of probationary status. Congratulations to all of LCC,” says Luna computer science instructor Nichole Collins. “The work to get here won’t stop as LCC is an asset to our students and communities.
“It was a lot of hard work by everyone on campus. I feel that we have shown HLC and the community that Luna is a solid institution in higher learning,” says Luna welding instructor Gene Martinez.
Over the years, Luna has continued efforts to address the areas of deficiency raised in the original show-cause order and probation. This past fall semester, Luna hosted an HLC team focused visit. Soon after, the college prepared a report that updated reviewers on ongoing work to meet the areas of concern.
For the past few years, Luna administrators, faculty, staff and board of trustees have attended the HLC conference in Chicago to learn more about the HLC accreditation expectations.
As part of the comprehensive evaluation, the Institution has been placed on the Standard Pathway with its next comprehensive evaluation for reaffirmation of accreditation in 2027-28.
“It’s a big sigh of relief,” said Emily Ulibarri, Santa Rosa Satellite manager. “Now the college is in a position to continue to move forward.”
The Higher Learning Commission accredits approximately 1,000 colleges and universities that have a home base in one of 19 states that stretch from West Virginia to Arizona. HLC is a private, non-profit accrediting agency. It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Luna has been accredited by the HLC since 1982. The college offers approximately 30 certificate and associate degree programs in seven departments – Allied Health Sciences and Public Service, Business, Career and Technical Education, Early Childhood Education, Humanities, Nursing and STEM.
“We want to thank the Higher Learning Commission for providing the guidance to make Luna a stronger institution,” said Dr. Martinez.
Luna has remained accredited throughout the college’s Show Cause and probationary status. For more on the HLC summary of action letter, please visit Luna’s website at luna.edu or the HLC website at https://www.hlcommission.org.
“I think that the journey we’ve had for the last six years has opened up many people’s eyes as to what’s expected of an institution of higher learning,” said Matthew Griego, Luna’s life safety and physical plant director. “This journey will enable Luna to move forward in efficacious way.”