Based on a comprehensive evaluation conducted December 7-9, 2009, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Board of Trustees voted to withdraw accreditation from the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI).  However, the HLC granted "candidate for accreditation" status to SIPI.   Candidacy is a pre-accreditation status which enables students to qualify for and receive Federal and New Mexico State Financial Aid and assist in the transferability of credits to another college or university.  While the HLC found that SIPI no longer meets the Criteria for Accreditation; the HLC also found that SIPI's recovery plan indicates that SIPI is likely to meet the Criteria for Accreditation within the period allowed by HLC policy for candidacy.  Therefore, the HLC granted candidacy status.

As a national Indian post-secondary institution, SIPI provides significant access to Native American students to higher educational opportunities. In the interest of preserving this access, SIPI is working with New Mexico two and four-year colleges and universities to insure that they continue accepting transfer credits from SIPI.  SIPI currently lists its courses in several statewide articulation matrices including: General Education, Business Administration, Early Childhood Education, and Engineering. SIPI faculty members have collaborated with their peers in these program areas, and will continue to collaborate to ensure a solid learning experience for Native American students.   SIPI remains committed to addressing issues identified by the HLC.

To learn more about this situation, you can visit the SIPI website and click on the Higher Learning Commissions's Accreditation link.  The link will redirect you to the Commission's SIPI accreditation site.   Under "Accreditation", a statement from the HLC is available in PDF format.

Dr. Sherry Allison
President, SIPI