Coffeyville, KS – Coffeyville Community College (CCC) is proud to announce that its accreditation has been reaffirmed by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) through the 2034-2035 academic year. This significant milestone underscores CCC’s commitment to academic excellence, institutional integrity, and continuous improvement in serving its students and the broader Southeast Kansas region.
The reaffirmation follows a comprehensive HLC site visit conducted in November 2024. A five-member peer review team, composed of higher education professionals from across the Midwest, spent several days evaluating CCC’s programs, services, and operations. During the visit, reviewers met with students, faculty, staff, and members of the CCC Board of Trustees. The team also visited the main campus in Coffeyville and
the branch campuses in Coffeyville and Columbus.
The peer review team concluded that CCC met all federal compliance standards and accreditation criteria. The team highlighted several areas of institutional strength, including:
● CCC’s continuous focus on enhancing student learning and success;
● A strong culture of faculty-led assessment and curricular improvement;
● Vibrant co-curricular programming that supports student engagement and development;
● A clear commitment to shared governance across all levels of the institution.

“This is an important achievement for our college and our community,” said Dr. Marlon Thornburg, President of CCC. “We are fortunate to have had strong leadership from our Vice President for Academics, Dr. Aron Potter, whose knowledge of HLC standards and dedication to student success guided the college through this critical review.

The peer review team was especially complimentary of CCC’s financial stability, the quality of our academic programs, and the remarkable support we receive from local businesses, industry partners, and the community.”

Preparations for the accreditation review began more than two years in advance. Led by Dr. Potter and a dedicated internal writing team, faculty and staff compiled extensive documentation and evidence to demonstrate CCC’s ongoing commitment to meeting HLC’s high standards. Their hard work paid off, as the visiting team noted that this was the strongest review CCC has received in the last 25 years.
The reaffirmation of accreditation not only affirms the quality of CCC’s educational offerings but also ensures the college remains eligible for federal funding, financial aid programs, and continued transferability of credits for students.

To learn more about Coffeyville Community College and its commitment to academic excellence, visit
www.coffeyville.edu/hlc.