Accreditation
North Idaho College has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (the NWCCU) since 1947. The NWCCU is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The college’s most recent comprehensive review by the commission was its Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability evaluation in spring 2020. In June 2020, the NWCCU reaffirmed North Idaho College’s accreditation
On January 26, 2023, the NWCCU voted to issue NIC a Sanction of Show Cause. The College submitted a Show Cause Report on March 30, 2023, on why NWCCU membership should not be withdrawn. NIC continues to be under heighted monitoring by the NWCCU with ad hoc reports due following all meetings of the Board of Trustees. The College is also required to submit semester enrollment reports to NWCCU immediately following each census date.
The concerns stated in the Show Cause letter relate to board governance and institutional integrity, specifically, the Board of Trustees. The letter identifies eight different areas of risk that must be addressed in the report as well as demonstrating evidence of compliance with 10 eligibility requirements and 16 standards. See NIC’s Quick Reference Guide to the NWCCU Standards and Eligibility Requirements, including the areas of risk identified by the NWCCU’s show cause sanction. Even though the main concern is with governance and institutional integrity, NIC will have to readdress eligibility requirements and standards relating to academic freedom, departures from the college’s administrative and academic leadership ranks, and financial sustainability, as these areas were noted as a concern from the April 1, 2022 Action Letter (see below)
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the NWCCU indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one that has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. Accreditation by the NWCCU is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
An inquiry regarding North Idaho College’s accredited status by the NWCCU should be directed to the administrative staff of the college. Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E.
Suite 200
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 558-4224
www.nwccu.org
Accreditation Communications
NIC received the final Peer-Evaluation Report on May 17 from the peer team representing the NWCCU, who conducted a site visit, April 26-27. Receipt of the report is the next step in NIC’s accreditation review process. Next month, the NWCCU will deliberate at their June 20-23 meeting. A team of NIC leadership will have the opportunity to attend and meet with the commission to discuss not only the Peer-Evaluation Report but other progress NIC and the Board of Trustees are making to address issues raised in the Show-Cause report.
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities released a statement regarding the April 26-27 onsite visit by a peer evaluation team. The statement includes general information about the visit, as well as information about the next steps in the review process (peer evaluation team report; deliberation by the NWCCU at their June 20-23 meeting; notice to NIC of the NWCCU's decision by late July).
North Idaho College submitted a response to the NWCCU’s show cause sanction on Thursday, March 30. The college’s response addresses eight areas of risk identified by the NWCCU in its Feb. 9 show cause sanction. NIC was required to include an overarching teach-out plan – not a formal teach-out agreement – with its show cause response. NIC's teach-out plan was submitted as a separate document with the show cause response but has not been made public as it contains student information protected under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Read NIC’s response below:
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) conducted an unannounced site visit to NIC Feb. 27-28, 2023. The JRCERT policies and procedures required the unannounced visit after the issuance of the show cause sanction by NWCCU. On March 14, JCERT issued NIC a report of that visit.
Interim President Greg South provided an ad hoc report to the NWCCU following the NIC Board of Trustees’ Feb 22 meeting. The letter provides an update on board development. The letter and report can be viewed in full below:
The NWCCU sent NIC a letter February 16 to reschedule upcoming dates. The date for NIC to submit its response to the show cause letter is now March 31, and the NWCCU’s on-site visit has been rescheduled to April 26 and 27. The letter can be viewed below:
Interim President Greg South sent the NWCCU two letters in early February updating the commission on recent opportunities in which the NIC Board of Trustees participated in constructive, meaningful training in an effort to fulfill its governance responsibilities outlined by the NWCCU Standards and Eligibility Requirements. The letters can be viewed below:
The NWCCU sent a letter to North Idaho College at the end of the day on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 4:42 p.m. PST. This letter recognizes that the NWCCU reviewed the college’s response letter sent in early January and the Commission’s continued watch of recent actions of the NIC Board of Trustees.
The letter issues NIC a Sanction of Show Cause and requires the college to submit a Show Cause Report, due March 13, 2023. The letter sent may be viewed below:
- NWCCU February 9 Letter to NIC
(The NWCCU changed the due date for NIC's show cause response to March 31, 2023.)
North Idaho College responded to the NWCCU’s letter from December 15, 2022. The college’s response letter sent to the NWCCU on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 may be viewed below:
- North Idaho College January 4, 2023 response to the NWCCU.
(Letter amended Jan. 12, 2023, due to a meeting date error.)
The NWCCU Executive Committee met on December 16, 2022, to discuss recent actions of NIC’s Board of Trustees. They sent a letter to NIC because of that meeting. The letter sent to NIC on Saturday, December 17, 2022 may be viewed below:
The Idaho State Board of Education message to Region 1 counselors and advisors released on April 20, 2022 may be viewed below:
The Action Letter of April 1, 2022 may be viewed below:
The 2020 Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability Report and NWCCU's Reaffirmation Letter may be viewed below:
- Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability Report, 2020 [PDF]
- 2020 Year Seven Reaffirmation Letter [PDF]
The 2018 Ad-Hoc Report, and the NWCCU’s approval letter may be viewed below:
- North Idaho College 2018 Ad Hoc Report to Commission [PDF]
- 2018 Ad-Hoc Report Approval Letter from NWCCU [PDF]
The 2016 Mid-Cycle Report and the NWCCU's approval letter may be viewed below. The Mid-Cycle Review is a progress report and does not result in recommendations or commendations.
The 2014 Year One Self-Study Report, Ad-Hoc Report, and the NWCCU's approval letter may be viewed below. There were no recommendations or commendations as a result of these reports.
- Year One Self-Study Report, March 2014 [PDF]
- Year One Self-Study Ad-Hoc Report [PDF]
- Year One NWCCU Approval Letter [PDF]
The 2013 Year Seven Self-Study Report, the Evaluation Team’s Recommendations and Commendations, and the NWCCU's Reaffirmation Letter may be viewed below:
- Year Seven Self-Study Report, March 2013 [PDF]
- Year Seven Self-Study Report Appendices [PDF]
- Year Seven Evaluation Team's Recommendations and Commendations [PDF]
- Year Seven NWCCU Reaffirmation Letter [PDF]