SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – South Suburban College officially received its full accreditation for the maximum period of ten years from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Ron Kawanna, Associate Vice President of Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness, delivered the news to the Board of Trustees in a presentation at the college’s September Board Meeting.

“The 10-year reaccreditation is a testament to the high level of professionalism of everyone at the college,” said Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli. “Everyone came together and worked hard during the self‐study process, and I congratulate you.” This reaccreditation marks Zuccarelli’s fourth during his tenure serving on the Board.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region, which includes Illinois and 18 other states. HLC accreditation is a critical component for credentialing degrees and transferable college credit.

SSC’s new Executive Leadership Team led by Dr. Lynette D. Stokes, President, in partnership with the Board of Trustees, led the reaccreditation process with the HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) culminating with a site visit in March. IAC confirmed in a letter to the college announcing the “maximum Reaffirmation of Accreditation of South Suburban College through fiscal year 2028.”

“It is with much enthusiasm that we announce our reaccreditation success,” said President Stokes. “A big thank you to faculty, staff and administrators who worked tirelessly to write the HLC report and provide evidence of compliance, and special thank you to our students for participating in the open forum and focus group session. We appreciate their candid conversations and recommendations of how to move SSC closer to becoming the premier institution of higher learning in the Southland community.”

HLC published information about this action on its website at www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/recent-actions.html.

SSC is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois, and with an extension site in Oak Forest, serving 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and northwest Indiana. SSC provides a variety of support services and leadership opportunities in addition to a wide range of academic programs to support student success.