Background
In 2025, the legislation prohibiting UNC constituent institutions and North Carolina community colleges from receiving accreditation by an accrediting agency for consecutive accreditation cycles was eliminated. The new law also added the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE) as a preferred accrediting agency.
There is no mandate from the UNC System Office requiring institutions to seek accreditation by CPHE. Accreditation by CPHE is completely optional and voluntary for an institution. At this time, there are three UNC System institutions in the first CPHE cohort:
- Appalachian State University
- North Carolina Central University
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
tIMELINE
| Date | Accreditation Action |
|---|---|
| Sept 2025 | NC Session Law 2025-92 went into effect eliminating the requirement listed in NC Session Law 2023-132. The law also added CPHE as a preferred accrediting agency. |
| Oct 2023 | North Carolina Session Law 2023-132 went into effect, prohibiting UNC institutions and NC community colleges from receiving accreditation by an accrediting agency for consecutive accreditation cycles |
| Dec 2023 | UNC and NC Community Colleges system offices issued joint Request for Information (RFI) seeking accrediting agencies’ interest in adding NC’s institutions to their portfolios. |
| Jan 2024 | System offices met with the U.S. Department of Education (USED) staff to discuss timelines and processes. |
| Feb 2024 | Two accreditors responded to the RFI: · Higher Learning Commission (HLC) · Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) |
Resources
- Session Law 2025-92
- Session Law 2023-132
- Request for Information
- UNC Accreditation Memo (03/28/24)
- ED letter to accreditors regarding voluntary requirements
- ED letter (GEN-22-10) Guidance for Institutions Seeking to Change or Add Accrediting Agencies
- ED letter (GEN-22-11) Procedures for Institutions Seeking Approval of a Request to Change or Add Accrediting Agencies (Updated Sept. 26, 2022)
- ED Letter (GEN-25-03) Changes to the Approval Process for Changing Accrediting Agencies (Updated May 1, 2025)
- UNC Policy 400.1.1[R] Regulation for Academic Program Planning and Evaluation
- UNC Policy 400.1.13[R] Regulation on Required Notifications from the University of North Carolina System Constituent Institutions
Anticipated Institutional reaffirmation Schedule
Accreditation Expiring in 2026:
- University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Accreditation Expiring in 2027:
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Western Carolina University
Accreditation Expiring in 2029:
- North Carolina Central University
Accreditation Expiring in 2031:
- Elizabeth City State University
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- University of North Carolina Pembroke
- Winston-Salem State University
Accreditation Expiring in 2032:
- Fayetteville State University
Accreditation Expiring in 2033:
- East Carolina University
- University of North Carolina Asheville
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of North Carolina Wilmington
Accreditation Expiring in 2034:
- Appalachian State University
- NC State University
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro