Harrington College of Design Granted Regional Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association

Harrington College of Design announced today that The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools has granted the college institutional accreditation with the next visit to occur in 2014-2015.

"Achieving HLC regional accreditation demonstrates Harrington’s commitment to developing high quality design programs that meet the needs of today’s employers and our students,” said Tom Segal, chair of the governing board at Harrington College of Design.

The application by Harrington College of Design for initial accreditation was supported by an institutional Self-Study Report, the product of a two-year rigorous self-examination of the college’s programs and services as well as visits by HLC review teams. Accreditation by HLC is intended to indicate to other colleges and universities and to the public that an institution meets the HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation.

"This is a significant accomplishment and, combined with our accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation distinguishes Harrington College of Design as a prominent Midwest design school,” said Harrington President Erik Parks. "It is the hard work of our faculty, staff, board and administrators who contribute to our students’ success every day that has gained us this recognition.”

The Higher Learning Commission is an independent membership organization founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission accredits degree-granting educational institutions located in the following states: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming. HLC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority regarding the quality of education or training offered by the institutions it accredits.

About Harrington College of Design

Established in 1931, Harrington College of Design is a four-year college that seeks to foster an environment that maximizes students’ intellectual and artistic potential. Offering a master of interior design, master of arts in interior design, bachelor of fine arts in interior design, communication design, and commercial photography and an associate of applied sciences in interior design and digital photography, Harrington is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; additional information is available at 312-263-0456 or www.ncahlc.org.

Additionally, Harrington is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award associate, bachelor's and master’s degrees. Harrington is recognized as a private college by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and is authorized by the IBHE to confer associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees. The Interior Design Program leading to the bachelor of fine arts degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER). Harrington College of Design recently received re-accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Harrington is part of the Career Education Corporation network of schools (NASDAQ: CECO). Harrington does not guarantee employment or salary. For more information on Harrington College of Design, call 312.939.4975 or visit www.harringtoncollege.com.