Throughout its history, The United States Higher Education Department's (USHED) identity has been intimately associated with fostering trust and confidence in higher education. As an institutional accreditor, the Department takes satisfaction in advocating for self-reflection that leads to substantive institutional transformation.

Encouragement of institutional change has never been more crucial than it is today, when institutional actions, rules, or procedures may have uneven effects on a student body that is becoming increasingly diverse. The Department applauds and encourages the efforts of institutions that disclose the results of in-depth self-reflection.