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GRAND RAPIDS - Van Andel Institute Graduate School (VAIGS) offers a program of study leading to a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology of human disease. VAIGS is seeking accreditation from Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. As part of the accreditation process, VAIGS invites comments from the public prior to an on-site evaluation visit by a team from HLC. Comments can be submitted online or by mail and are due by May 13, 2011.

In the United States, colleges and universities voluntarily seek accreditation from nongovernmental bodies. The Higher Learning Commission is one of six regional organizations that conduct institutional accreditation. To make the accreditation process responsive to a broad range of constituents, HLC has integrated into its regular accrediting processes the third-party comment process mandated by the federal Higher Education Act Amendments.

Comments should address substantive matters related to the quality of VAIGS and its academic programs. Comments should include the name and address of the person(s) providing the comments, and will not be treated as confidential. Comments should be submitted by May 13, 2011, either online at http://www.ncahlc.org/information-for-the-public/third-party-comment.html or by regular mail to:

Public Comment on Van Andel Institute Graduate School
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604

Further information about the Higher Learning Commission can be obtained through their website at www.ncahlc.org. The VAIGS website is found at http://www.vai.org/Education/GraduateSchool.aspx.