Welcome to the HEAC Learning Network (HLN)

The HEAC Learning Network (HLN) is a structured learning platform developed to support institutions accredited by or candidates with the Council on Occupational Education (COE). While HLN currently serves the COE community, the platform is intentionally designed to expand over time to support institutions and professionals working within additional accreditation and credentialing frameworks. HLN was developed for professionals responsible for accreditation-related work and who benefit from shared understanding, consistency, and disciplined application of COE policy across the institution. The platform is designed to support thoughtful engagement with accreditation expectations, documentation responsibilities, and institutional processes over time. This page provides an orientation to how the HEAC Learning Network is organized and how it is intended to be used. The HEAC Learning Network is designed as an integrated system rather than a collection of standalone trainings. While individual resources may be accessed independently, the platform is intentionally structured to support continued engagement over time as institutional needs, roles, and accreditation activities evolve. Institutions and professionals may return to HLN at different points in the accreditation cycle to reinforce understanding, maintain alignment, and support continuity across responsibilities.

How the HEAC Learning Network 

Is Designed to Be Used

The HEAC Learning Network is not a linear course sequence and is not intended to be completed from beginning to end.

Instead, HLN is designed to support institutions by providing topic-focused resources that may be accessed based on:

  • Role and area of responsibility
  • Institutional priorities
  • Timing within the accreditation cycle


The platform is structured to allow institutions to engage specific topics as questions arise or as preparation activities move forward. HLN is intended to support informed decision-making and institutional alignment—not to prescribe actions or replace professional judgment.



Where to Begin:

  1.  If you’re newer to a topic, start with the    Maintenance [MA] and Topic-Specific [TO] videos that best match your role and what you’re responsible for right now.

  2. If your need is specific, begin with the Topic-Specific [TO] video that aligns tothe exact process or requirement you’re working on.

  3. For onboarding or role transitions, assign 1–2 Maintenance [MA] videos first, then add Topic-Specific [TO] videos based on duties and timelines.

  4. For accreditation maintenance between visits, focus on Maintenance [MA] videos aligned to your annual review and reporting cycle.

  5. For visit preparation, begin with Visit Prep, then use Maintenance [MA] and Topic-Specific [TO] videos to strengthen execution and close gaps.


Many users begin with one resource aligned to their immediate role or task and later return to HLN to explore additional areas as institutional needs develop. HLN is designed to support this progression by providing consistent framing and shared reference points across topics.

If you’d like deeper support beyond the training, HEAC advisory services are available by request.

| [TO] Topic | [MA] Maintenance | [VP] Visit Prep



Begin with the Introductory Overviews

For those new to the HEAC Learning Network, the introductory overview sessions provide helpful orientation.

These brief overviews are designed to:

  • Provide context for key accreditation topics within the COE framework
  • Explain how specific areas connect to broader institutional responsibilities
  • Support informed engagement before moving into deeper topic-specific content


Introductory overviews are available at no cost and are intended to help orient users to both the platform and the subject matter.



Explore Topic Areas as Needed

The HEAC Learning Network is organized around key accreditation-related focus areas. Institutions may choose where to begin based on current needs, responsibilities, or upcoming activities.

Topic areas include, but are not limited to:

  • Written Plans and Institutional Review Processes
  • Occupational Advisory Committees (OACs)
  • Accreditation Visit Preparation and Follow-Up
  • Institutional Roles, Responsibilities, and Accountability


Engagement with HLN is intended to be flexible. Institutions may return to specific topics as circumstances evolve or as new questions emerge. Institutions often use HLN across multiple roles to support shared understanding, continuity, and consistency in accreditation-related work.

 


Some modules in the HEAC Learning Network are presented in our Legacy Format (Foundations), while newer modules use the HEAC Standard Format (2026–present)—a streamlined visual system designed for clearer on-screen reference and quicker review. The instructional approach and standards-focused guidance remain consistent across both formats.



Relationship to HEAC Advisory Services

The HEAC Learning Network is designed to complement, not replace, advisory services provided by Higher Education Accreditation Consulting.

Institutions may engage with HLN as a standalone resource or alongside advisory support. In all cases, responsibility for interpretation, decision-making, and implementation remains with the institution.



A Note on Use and Expectations

The HEAC Learning Network assumes participants are capable professionals working within the COE framework. Content is designed to support informed application of policy, institutional consistency, and alignment across roles.



Questions You May Have (Quick Answers)

What do I receive when I purchase a video?

You’ll receive individual access for 90 days from the date of purchase; any included downloads or supporting materials are listed on the product page.

 

I purchased a video—how do I access it again later?

Log in to HLN using the email you purchased with and reopen the course from your dashboard; access remains available for 90 days from purchase.

 

Can I share my access with other staff?

HLN purchases are intended for individual use unless otherwise stated; for group options, contact Renée Pellom at [email protected].

 

I’m having trouble logging in or accessing my purchase—what should I do?

First, confirm you’re using the same email you used to purchase, then select “Forgot password.” If the issue continues, email [email protected]. Response times are typically within one business day (excluding holidays and closures).

 

Introductory Overviews

654-322: Your Guide to Navigating the New COE Timeline

Join our course designed for administrators and faculty at COE-accredited institutions, offering a comprehensive guide to navigate the new COE accreditation timeline. Gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and expert advice to align your institution for a successful accreditation visit.

Building and Managing Effective Occupational Advisory Committees (OACs)

Welcome to the series on Occupational Advisory Committees (OACs). Gain insights into structuring committees, selecting members strategically, and optimizing follow-through actions to enhance your programs and compliance with COE standards. Take confident steps towards building powerful OACs that drive institutional success.

Maintaining Accreditation Documentation Between Visits

This course, Maintaining Accreditation Documentation Between Visits, highlights the eight core areas every COE-accredited institution must consistently track and update. You’ll learn why each area matters, how to avoid common pitfalls, and strategies to stay prepared year-round. Perfect for leaders and compliance teams, this course helps you build sustainable systems so your next team visit is smoother, more confident, and more successful.

From Criterion to Coherent Narrative: How to Write the Self-Study






This module walks you through how to write a clear, COE-aligned self-study narrative, determining what belongs in the Introduction, Analysis, Challenges and Solutions, and Conclusion, and the perspective each section is meant to bring. It is designed for anyone new to the self-study process, and/or those responsible for providing input, gathering documentation, organizing, writing, or proofreading any part of the narrative, or for those returning to self-study work after several years, but need a focused refresher.


Connecting Written Plans and People

This course focuses on how institutions organize and evaluate the review of required written plans. It emphasizes who is responsible for reviewing plans, how reviews are documented, and how processes align across the institution.  The course does not address plan content, but rather the structure and consistency of the review process.  It's designed for institutions seeking clarity in demonstrating that written plans are actively reviewed and maintained in compliance.