Additional Locations and Branch Campuses

Based on the federal definition, an additional location is a physical facility that is geographically separate from the main campus of an institution, where instruction takes place, and it is possible for students to do one or more of the following:
• Complete 50% or more of the courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate or other recognized educational credential.
• Complete 50% or more of a degree completion program (even if the degree completion program provides less than 50% of the courses leading to the degree).
• Additional location definition now includes a correctional facility where instruction takes place according to any of the 50 % thresholds identified above, even if such instruction takes place primarily through distance education or correspondence courses at that location
An additional location may be at a facility the institution does not own, such as an office building, a high school, or the campus of another institution. Typically, the location does not offer a full range of services to students; such services are provided from the main campus or another campus. See the HLC glossary for a complete definition of an additional location.

See Additional Locations overview (pdf) requires UIC login

The University reports on the status of its additional locations at a minimum once a year. An additional location that is open may have an active or inactive status. An additional location has an active status when students are enrolled at the location. Its status is inactive when students are not enrolled at the location. The status of an additional location can change between active and inactive without approval from HLC. However, a location may only be classified as inactive with no student enrollment at the location for a maximum of two consecutive years. At that point, HLC requires the institution to close the location. Closing a total program location requires confirmation that the students are no longer earning degrees at the additional location, or a teach-out plan is required.

Additional Locations are not program specific. UIC’s approved Additional Locations may be used by any college or program to deliver courses or entire programs through those locations. However, any program- or college-initiated activity must be reported to the Office of Accreditation at least 6 months prior to the start of the activity.

Under the federal definition, a branch campus is a physical facility that is geographically separate from and independent of the institution’s main campus. HLC considers a location of an institution to be independent of the main campus if it has all four of the following attributes:
• It is permanent in nature
• It offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate or other recognized educational credential
• It has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization
• It has its own budgetary and hiring authority
Per the federal definition, a branch campus must be within the same ownership structure of the institution. A branch campus may be at a facility that the institution does not own.

UIC requires prior approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to establish a new additional location, whether in-state, within the United States, or internationally. Please contact the Director of Accreditation (ritus@uic.edu) with any questions regarding new additional locations.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has 10 geographic higher education regions that include specific community college districts. The Map of Institutions by Region and County provides a detailed view of institutions by region. UIC falls within Region 10- Chicago. IBHE’s Degree Program Inventory dashboard provides the current status for the university’s program approval by region.