The Higher Learning Commission’s revised accreditation approach is shifting institutions from process compliance toward demonstrable learner outcomes, with penalties tied directly to performance metrics. Under the HLC framework described in a new paper, schools in the lowest fifth percentile may be required to submit a three-year Student Success Improvement Plan. The paper ties the accountability change to concrete measures such as first-year retention and graduation rates at 150% of program time, alongside evidence of institutional responsiveness when performance gaps appear. It also positions instructional quality as a sustainability lever, not just an assurance activity. Quality Matters is presented as a foundational resource that academic leaders can strengthen with engagement practices designed to connect course quality to measurable student outcomes.