The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.

CORE COMPONENTS

1.A. Mission Alignment
The institution’s educational programs, enrollment profile and scope of operations align with its publicly articulated mission.

1.B. Mission and Public Good
The institution’s operation of the academic enterprise demonstrates its commitment to serving the public good.

1.C. Mission and Diversity of Society
The institution provides opportunities for civic engagement in a diverse, multicultural society and globally connected world, as appropriate within its mission and for the constituencies it serves.

In fulfilling its mission, the institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.

CORE COMPONENTs

2.A. Integrity
Actions taken by the institution’s governing board, administration, faculty and staff demonstrate adherence to established policies and procedures.

2.B. Transparency
The institution presents itself accurately and completely to students and the public with respect to its educational programs and any claims it makes related to the educational experience.

2.C. Board Governance
In discharging its fiduciary duties, the institution’s governing board is free from undue external influence and empowered to act in the best interests of the institution, including the students it serves.

2.D. Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression
The institution supports academic freedom and freedom of expression in the pursuit of knowledge as integral to high-quality teaching, learning and research.

2.E. Knowledge Acquisition, Discovery and Application
The institution adheres to policies and procedures that ensure responsible acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge.
 

The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness in fulfilling its mission. The rigor and quality of each educational program is consistent regardless of modality, location or other differentiating factors.
 

CORE COMPONENTS

3.A. Educational Programs
The institution maintains learning goals and outcomes that reflect a level of rigor commensurate with college-level work, including by program level and the content of each of its educational programs.

3.B. Exercise of Intellectual Inquiry
The institution’s educational programs engage students in collecting, analyzing and communicating information; in practicing modes of intellectual inquiry or creative work; and in developing skills adaptable to changing environments.

3.C. Sufficiency of Faculty and Staff
The institution has the faculty and staff needed for effective, high-quality programs and student services.

3.D. Support for Student Learning and Resources for Teaching
The institution provides student support services that address the needs of its student populations, as well as the teaching resources and infrastructure necessary for student success.

3.E. Assessment of Student Learning
The institution improves the quality of educational programs based on its assessment of student learning.

3.F. Program Review
The institution improves its curriculum based on periodic program review.

3.G. Student Success Outcomes
The institution’s student success outcomes demonstrate continuous improvement, taking into account the student populations it serves and benchmarks that reference peer institutions.

The institution’s resources, structures, policies, procedures and planning enable it to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational programs, and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

CORE COMPONENTS

4.A. Effective Administrative Structures
The institution’s administrative structures are effective and facilitate collaborative processes such as shared governance; data-informed decision making; and engagement with internal and external constituencies as appropriate.

4.B. Resource Base and Sustainability
The institution’s financial and personnel resources effectively support its current operations. The institution’s financial management balances short-term needs with long-term commitments and ensures its ongoing sustainability.

4.C. Planning for Quality Improvement
The institution engages in systematic strategic planning for quality improvement. It relies on data, integrating its insights from enrollment forecasts, financial capacity, student learning assessment, institutional operations and the external environment

Policy History

Last Revised: June 2024, effective September 2025
First Adopted: August 1992
Revision History: August 1998 (Criterion 3), February 2002, February 2007, February 2003 (effective January 2005), February 2012 (effective January 2013), June 2014, February 2019 (effective September 2020), June 2024 (effective September 2025)
Notes: Former Policy Number: 1.1(a), 2013 – 1.1 Part A, 1.1 Part B. In February 2021, references to the Higher Learning Commission as “the Commission” were replaced with the term “HLC.”

Credits are recorded on the official academic transcript in semester credit hours. LRSC uses the federal definition of a credit hour. Per LRSC Policy 800.05, one credit hour is equal to:

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester; or
2. At least an equivalent amount of instruction and other academic activity as established by LRSC. This may include laboratory work, internship, practicum, studio work, and other academic activities, including online learning, leading to the award of credit hours.

LRSC operates under a common academic calendar produced by the North Dakota University System (NDUS). Per North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) Policy 406.1, academic calendars include at least 160 class days, including test days and excluding holidays and days reserved for orientation, registration, and commencement. The fall semester is sixteen total weeks in length, including one week for final exams. The spring semester is seventeen total weeks in length, including one week for final exams and excluding one week for spring break. During the fall and spring semesters, early and late eight-week sessions are offered. The summer semester is eight weeks in length with the exception of certain laboratory courses that are ten weeks and the Peace Officer Training program is 14 weeks. LRSC Policy 300.05 designates responsibility of the academic calendar to the president, in consultation with the Administrative Council and other appropriate persons. The calendar must be published at least six months prior to the beginning of each academic year.

SBHE Policy 403.2 allows each institution to modify its course offerings as necessary to provide up-to-date, high-quality courses and programs for its students. This process is expected to involve both the deletion and addition of courses, resulting in a master course catalog that accurately reflects the current course offering. The Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee, a subcommittee of the Faculty Senate, grants approval for new courses, course modifications, and course inactivation per LRSC Policy 900.02. A request for a new course, course modification, or course deletion is initiated by the instructor via the New Course Request Form, Course Modification Request Form, or Course Inactivation Request Form. Upon approval, the course is added to the master course catalog in Campus Connection by the Director of Academic Affairs. Following this process, the course can be added to the class schedule. When the term schedule is created for each semester, the credit hours carry over from the master course catalog to the class schedule. The Director of Academic Affairs audits the class schedule to ensure that course meeting times meet the minimum length for the number of credits assigned. Per LRSC Policy 300.06, the class schedule is prepared by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and other appropriate persons at least three school calendar months prior to the beginning of each term/semester.

Courses offered online are overseen by the Director of Academic Affairs. To ensure instructional equivalencies between on-campus and online courses, faculty qualifications, syllabi requirements, assessment expectations, course objectives, student learning outcomes, and curriculum are all standard. Online courses are developed at the highest level of course development rubrics, including Online Consortium and Quality Matters, and are reviewed by the Instructional Designer prior to the course starting. Online instructors are provided training and technology to ensure the quality of online courses in terms of standards and rigor. In some cases, instructors within the same discipline will utilize a one-course assessment method between online and on-campus course sections. All online instructors have access to in-service opportunities in either a face-to-face or virtual setting.

LRSC offers Associate degrees, Associate in Applied Science degrees, diplomas, certificates, and certificates of completion. LRSC Policy 800.20 specifies the required minimum number of credits for each degree type. The Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Science degree, and diploma are 60 semester hours. Associate in Applied Science degrees in career and technical education fields are a minimum of 60 semester hours and vary in length. Certificates are a minimum of 9 semester hours and certificates of completion are less than 9 semester hours; both vary in length. The program length of Associate in Applied Science degrees, certificates, and certificates of completion depends on the time necessary to deliver all students' learning outcomes required for program completion. Each program has a fact sheet that details the curriculum required to complete the program. The fact sheets, along with additional program information, are publicized on the Programs page of the LRSC website.

Per LRSC Policy 900.01, requests for new programs must be approved by LRSC Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee and Administrative Council. Upon institution approval, the request is progressed to the NDUS Academic Affairs Council (AAC) via a two-step process as detailed in NDUS Procedure 421. First, LRSC must announce its intent to offer a new academic program and complete the new academic program exploration form, which provides a brief program description, explains the relationship of the proposed program to the institution's mission and strategic plan, and briefly describes the anticipated student enrollment and employer demand for graduates of the program. Once this process is complete, LRSC can proceed to step two and complete the New Academic Program Request Form. This requires an in-depth review of the needs of the program, alignment of the program, the relationship of the program to other programs, cost of program implementation, accreditations associated with the program, and what new courses need to be created. Upon approval from AAC, the request advances to the chancellor's cabinet and then to the State Board of Higher Education as required by SBHE Policy 421. Upon approval, LRSC's Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee assumes responsibility for curricular matters. Changes to the approved program curriculum are presented to the committee by the program faculty via the Curriculum Change Form.

Tuition and fee rates are established each July for the upcoming academic year and are approved annually by the SBHE as detailed in SBHE Policy 805.1. To increase transparency to students about the cost of attending college, the SBHE mandated NDUS institutions to create tuition models that would meet five principles: (1) tuition will be charged at a flat rate to be accessed at either 12 or 13 semester hours; (2) to the greatest extent possible, blend together tuition and non-mandatory fees; (3) to the greatest extent possible, on-campus and online tuition rates should be the same and consistent within residency categories; (4) the SBHE may consider special institutional/program tuition rates based on unique markets, geographic location, enrollment considerations and/or the variable cost of unique academic programs; (5) assess tuition based on residency as defined by SBHE.

LRSC's tuition model, which went into effect Fall Semester 2019, addresses all of these principles and explains variances in fees based on program and delivery mode. A program fee, rather than the tuition rate, is the factor that differentiates the cost to a student between the various programs. Direct costs are calculated for each high-cost program and divided by projected enrollment to determine the program fee. For example, the Peace Officer Training program has the same tuition rate as the Associate in Arts degree program but has a program fee to cover the high cost of consumables and other operational costs. Program fees must be approved by the SBHE.

Per NDUS Procedure 513, the SBHE has delegated to NDUS college and university officials authority and responsibility to resolve student and other complaints. Absent applicable law or policy establishing another remedy, the first step in resolving student or other complaints or grievances is to attempt to resolve the matter directly with the administration of the involved institution under established institution complaint or grievance procedures. Every NDUS institution is required to establish, publish, and enforce policies related to the redress of complaints and grievances. With limited exceptions, a student or other person who contacts the NDUS office regarding complaints regarding NDUS institutions will be referred to college or university officials responsible for resolving those matters.

Lake Region State College takes pride in providing quality service, instruction, and opportunities for students. Student complaints are most often informally brought to the attention of the instructor, staff member, or administrator in charge of a class, service, or activity and are resolved informally. Major student misconduct and associated problems are very rare at LRSC. Likewise, formal complaints, grievances, and related formal resolution documents are equally rare. While there are minor complaints that occur daily throughout the institution, almost all are handled at the mid-management level and resolved informally.

LRSC Policy 800.31 details student complaints and grievance procedures. This policy addresses financial appeal, academic appeal, minor misconduct investigative, adjudication, and appeal, and major misconduct investigative, adjudication, and appeal. The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs receives, tracks, and handles financial and academic appeals. The Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs receives, tracks, and handles minor and major misconduct complaints.

Complaints regarding sexual misconduct or sexual harassment are addressed in LRSC Policy 1500.09. The Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator receive, track, and handle Title IX reports.

All LRSC policies and procedures pertaining to student complaints are publicized in the Student Handbook for easy reference.

Acceptance of transfer credits for specific programs or to satisfy degree requirements is governed by institution policies, articulation agreements, system-wide Common Course Numbering (CNN) matrix, and General Education Requirements Transfer Agreement (GERTA)t.

Transfer policies are disclosed to the public on LRSC's Policies and Procedures Manual webpage. Specifically, LRSC Policy 800.17 details several means of establishing credit and includes what will and will not transfer.

GERTA and CCN Matrix, are all systems that are designed to improve student access to institutional degrees and avoid course duplication or loss of credit when students transfer. Detailed information about these transfer systems is on the Registrar's Office page of the LRSC website; click on GERTA or CCN Matrix.

LRSC lists information about its articulation agreements with other institutions on the Registrar's Office page of the LRSC website; click on the Articulation Agreements tab.

The Director of Academic Affairs is responsible for ensuring that LRSC operates in compliance with the provisions of the United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) concerning the student identity in distance learning. The methods used by LRSC to ensure that all courses and programs offered through distance education verify that the student who registers for a distance education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives academic credit include:

• Secure login and password along with a two-factor authentication process called Duo.
• Video monitoring services within its Learning Management System, Blackboard.  Faculty can utilize Blackboard Collaborate and Microsoft Teams to view students in a live environment, proctor exams, record speeches, and build community within their online classes.

To protect student privacy in verifying student identity, all LRSC employees abide by policies and procedures that ensure compliance with Gramm-Leach-Bliley ACT (GLB), Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Payment Card Industry security standards (PCI), Identity Theft Prevention Program (Red Flag). These policies and procedures are available in Section 1500 of the LRSC Policy and Procedure Manual.

LRSC enforces the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. LRSC Policy 800.13 defines an educational record, the information that is public and non public, the process for making a public record non public, and LRSC's administration of FERPA. All employees are required to complete annual Data Privacy Training provided by the North Dakota University System.

The Director of Academic Affairs is responsible for the collection, management, analysis, and archiving of information in support of decision-making, planning, and reporting. Specific to student outcome data, the director calculates and publicizes summary information via Quick Data, which details enrollment numbers, student demographics, credits generated, ACT scores, placement, retention rates, and graduation rates. Various data reports are published on the Student Outcomes and Institutional Data pages of the LRSC website to provide the campus community with information on student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

The Department of Education requires institutions to disclose information and reports on various aspects of the institution's policies, procedures, operations, and costs. This information is accessible on the Campus Health, Safety, & Security page.

Below is the list of relationships LRSC has with specialized, professional, or institutional accreditors, including any governing or coordinating bodies in states in which the LRSC has a presence. The list notes whether LRSC is in good standing with the state agency or accrediting body.

Automotive Technology

• Accredited by the National Institution for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

Fitness Trainer Technician

• Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through 2028.
• Award Letter

Nursing

• Curriculum approved by the N.D. State Board of Nursing.
• The Associate Degree Nursing program at Lake Region State College located in Devils Lake, ND is accredited by the:
  Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
  3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
  Atlanta, GA 30326
  (404) 975-5000
• The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree Nursing program is continuing accreditation through Fall 2028.
• Award Letter

 Peace Officer Training

• Curriculum approved by the N.D. Peace Officer Standards and Training (NDPOST) Board.

SARA

Lake Region State College has a comprehensive online program offering courses and complete degree programs. Online courses and degrees are available to out-of-state students based on state authorization. State and federal laws require authorization for colleges and universities to offer online courses and degree programs in states other than their own. The list of NC-SARA-approved states is available on the Online & Distance Learning page of the LRSC website.