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

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 (SBHE) Policy 406.1, calendars include at least 160 class days, excluding holidays and orientation, registration, and commencement days. The fall semester is sixteen weeks, including one week for final exams. The spring semester is seventeen weeks, including one week for final exams and excluding one week for spring break. Early and late eight-week sessions are offered in fall and spring. The summer semester is eight weeks, except certain laboratory courses that are ten weeks, and the Peace Officer Training program, which is 14 weeks. LRSC Policy 300.05 assigns calendar responsibility to the president, in consultation with the Administrative Council and other appropriate persons. The calendar must be published at least six months before the academic year begins.

SBHE Policy 403.2 allows each institution to modify courses to provide up-to-date, high-quality offerings. This may involve deleting and adding courses to keep the master course catalog current. The Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee approves new courses, modifications, and inactivation's per LRSC Policy 900.02. Instructors submit requests via the New Course, Course Modification, or Course Inactivation Request Forms. Upon approval, the Director of Academic Affairs adds the course to the master catalog in Campus Connection. The course is then added to the class schedule. The Director audits the schedule to ensure course meeting times meet the minimum length for assigned credits. Per LRSC Policy 300.06, the Vice President of Academic Affairs prepares the schedule at least three months before each term.

The Director of Academic Affairs oversees online courses. Faculty qualifications, syllabi, assessment expectations, objectives, student learning outcomes, and curriculum are standardized between online and on-campus courses. Courses follow the highest-level development rubrics, including Online Consortium and Quality Matters. The Instructional Designer reviews courses before they start. Instructors receive training and technology support to ensure online course quality and rigor. In some disciplines, a single assessment method is used across online and on-campus sections. All online instructors have access to in-service opportunities, either face-to-face or virtual.

LRSC offers Associate degrees, Associate in Applied Science degrees, diplomas, certificates, and certificates of completion. LRSC Policy 800.20 specifies minimum credit requirements for each degree type. Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and diplomas require 60 semester hours. Associate in Applied Science degrees require at least 60 semester hours, varying by field. Certificates require a minimum of 9 semester hours, and certificates of completion require fewer than 9. Program length depends on the time needed to deliver all required learning outcomes. Fact sheets detail the curriculum for each program. Fact sheets and additional program information are public 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 set each July for the upcoming academic year. Rates are approved annually by the SBHE per SBHE Policy 805.1. To improve transparency, NDUS institutions follow five principles for tuition models: (1) tuition is a flat rate for 12 or 13 semester hours; (2) tuition and non-mandatory fees are blended together when possible; (3) on-campus and online tuition rates are consistent within residency categories; (4) special institutional/program tuition rates may apply based on unique factors; (5) tuition is assessed based on residency as defined by SBHE.

LRSC's tuition model, effective Fall 2019, follows these principles and explains program and delivery mode fee variances. Program fees, not tuition, differentiate costs between programs. Direct costs are calculated for each high-cost program and divided by projected enrollment. For example, the Peace Officer Training program has the same tuition as the Associate in Arts program but a program fee covers operational costs. Program fees require SBHE approval.

Per NDUS Procedure 513,  the SBHE delegates authority to NDUS college and university officials to resolve student and other complaints. If no law or policy provides another remedy, the first step is to attempt resolution with the institution’s administration. Every NDUS institution must establish, publish, and enforce policies for addressing complaints and grievances. With limited exceptions, persons contacting NDUS about complaints are referred to the responsible college or university officials.

Lake Region State College takes pride in providing quality service, instruction, and opportunities for students. Student complaints are usually brought informally to the instructor, staff member, or administrator in charge. Most complaints are resolved informally. Major student misconduct and formal complaints are very rare at LRSC. Minor complaints occur daily but are typically handled at the mid-management level and resolved informally.

LRSC Policy 800.31 details student complaints and grievance procedures. It covers financial appeals, academic appeals, minor misconduct investigations and adjudications, and major misconduct investigations and adjudications. The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs handles financial and academic appeals. The Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs handles minor and major misconduct complaints.

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

All LRSC policies and procedures on student complaints are published in the Student Handbook for easy reference.

Acceptance of transfer credits for programs or to satisfy degree requirements is governed by institution policies and articulation agreements. It is also guided by the Common Course Numbering (CCN) matrix and the General Education Requirements Transfer Agreement (GERTA).

Transfer policies are available to the public on LRSC's Policies and Procedures Manual webpage. LRSC Policy 800.17 explains the ways to establish credit and details what will and will not transfer.

GERTA and the CCN Matrix are systems designed to improve student access to degrees. They help avoid course duplication or credit loss when students transfer. Detailed information about these systems is available on the Registrar's Office page; click GERTA or CCN Matrix.

LRSC provides information about its articulation agreements with other institutions on the Registrar's Office page. Click the Articulation Agreements tab to view the details.

The Director of Academic Affairs ensures LRSC follows the U.S. Higher Education Opportunity Act on student identity in distance learning.

The methods LRSC uses to verify student identity in all distance education courses and programs include:

• Secure login and password. Students also use a two-factor authentication process called Duo.
• Video monitoring occurs within the Learning Management System, Blackboard. Faculty can use Blackboard Collaborate or Microsoft Teams to view students live. They can also proctor exams, record speeches, and build community in online classes.

To protect student privacy when verifying student identity, all LRSC employees follow strict policies and procedures. These policies ensure compliance with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). They also follow Payment Card Industry security standards (PCI) and the Identity Theft Prevention Program (Red Flag). The 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 student education records. It safeguards the privacy of these records and governs who can access them. LRSC Policy 800.13 defines an educational record, identifies public and nonpublic information, explains making records nonpublic, and outlines FERPA administration. All employees must complete annual Data Privacy Training provided by the North Dakota University System.

The Director of Academic Affairs manages the collection, analysis, and archiving of information to support decision-making, planning, and reporting. For student outcome data, the director calculates and publishes summary information via Quick Data. Quick Data includes enrollment numbers, student demographics, credits generated, ACT scores, placement, retention rates, and graduation rates. Various data reports are available on the Student Outcomes and Institutional Data pages of the LRSC website. These reports provide the campus community information on student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

The Department of Education requires institutions to disclose information on policies, procedures, operations, and costs. This information is found on the Campus Health, Safety, & Security page.

Below is a list of LRSC’s relationships with specialized, professional, or institutional accreditors, including governing or coordinating state bodies. 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 ACEN Board of Commissioners recently granted continuing accreditation for the Associate Degree Nursing program 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. Colleges and universities must have state and federal authorization to offer online courses and degree programs outside their home state. The list of NC-SARA-approved states is available on the Online & Distance Learning page of the LRSC website.