The College also receives full reaccreditation for business administration and education programs and is recognized by the Higher Learning Commission for civic engagement leadership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fulton, Mo. – June 16, 2025: Westminster recently received formal notification from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) that the College is fully accredited through the 2034-2035 academic year.
HLC-accredited organizations undergo reaccreditation every 10 years through actions taken by the HLC’s Institutional Actions Council ― a complicated and thorough process that can result in additional documentation and compliance requirements or frequent site visits if standards are not fully met.
Donald P. Lofe, Jr., Westminster’s President and Chief Transformation Officer, said the decade-long accreditation achievement is worthy of significant recognition.
“I speak on behalf of Westminster when I say the reaffirmation of our 10-year accreditation by the HLC is the result of exceptional teamwork by many from the College community under the leadership of Dr. David Jones, our Chief Accreditation Officer and Accreditation Liaison Officer,” Lofe said. “I want to thank Dr. Jones and the many individuals whose substantial efforts over the past two years, in preparation for this process, have ultimately resulted in this positive outcome for the College.”
Lofe added that the HLC’s reaccreditation of the College “reflects Westminster’s strength as a vibrant institution poised to meet the educational demands of tomorrow.”
In his capacity working with the HLC, Jones has become quite familiar with all aspects of Westminster’s accreditation. He and points out that the College has been continually accredited since 1916, when colleges and universities across the United States first adopted outside affirmation of institutional quality.
Since that time, the HLC’s reaccreditation process has become more involved, requiring countless hours of committee work, hundreds of pages of documents and a lengthy, comprehensive site visit, which took place in December 2024.
Leading into the next decade, the College will be required to provide a routine interim report to the HLC in 2027. A site visit, which is customary during the 10-year accreditation period, will take place during the 2028-2029 academic year.
Jones reflected, “We are well on our way towards meeting future accreditation requirements. Westminster has worked hard since last being accredited by the HLC in 2015, and we fully intend to continue meeting the criteria and high standards that the HLC requires.”
Business and Education Programs Reaccredited
The HLC announcement coincided with other positive reaccreditation news: Westminster was recently informed by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) that the College’s business administration programs were reaccredited for 10 years. Additionally, the Missouri State Board of Education reaccredited the College’s teacher preparation programs through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Read more here and here.
Recognized for Civic Engagement Curriculum
Westminster is now one of just 37 institutions nationwide to be fully aligned with the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition (CLDE). This recognition affirms the College’s commitment to teaching civic principles across academic and co-curricular experiences — from coursework and student clubs to community-based initiatives and research opportunities.
ABOUT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: Founded in 1851 and home of Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech, Westminster College is ranked prestigiously by The Princeton Review as one of 151 “Best Colleges in the Midwest” for 2026 and is one of only 37 full-participation institutions nationwide with the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition as recognized by the Higher Learning Commission. New graduates experience a more than 90% placement rate within six months of graduation, while Westminster alumni are in the top 16% nationwide for graduate earnings. The only National Liberal Arts college in Missouri, Westminster has long been recognized for its focus on educating and inspiring students to make an impact on the world around them. Find out more about Westminster College by visiting our website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Sarah Backer at 573-220-9038 or Sarah.Backer@WCMO.edu.
Sarah Rummel Backer is the Director of Media Relations and Senior Writer at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. A proud Westminster graduate, Sarah has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and strategic communications in the areas of higher education, medicine, agriculture, and the private business sector.
