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.
North Idaho College received a sanction of Warning by NWCCU on April 1, 2022. The NWCCU Commissioners concluded that NIC is out of compliance with Eligibility Requirement 9 - Governing Board and Standards 2.A.1 Governance, and 2.D.2 Institutional Integrity. The Action Letter issued by NWCCU was a result of a special evaluation visit on January 18, 2022.
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
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 here:
- 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 here:
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]
Frequently Asked Questions
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Should you or your student attend North Idaho College?
Yes. North Idaho College maintained its status as an accredited institution of higher education and serves nearly 20,000 people a year through its diverse offerings, including courses and programs for academic transfer, career and technical education, workforce training, continuing education, developmental education, and social service programs. -
Will North Idaho College continue to offer students access to financial aid?
Yes. NIC students have access to a full array of federal, state, and local financial aid programs. The college provides extensive support services to help students secure financial aid, housing and other programs. Last year, NIC's Foundation awarded over $1 million in scholarships. -
Is North Idaho College continuing to develop new programs?
Absolutely. This fall NIC will offer multiple start dates, flexible scheduling, and accelerated courses that include face-to-face instruction, hybrid, and fully online learning. The college is adding to its large array of evening offerings, including a one-year Business Management Entrepreneurship Basic Certificate. For more information about NIC programs, visit www.nic.edu -
Why, then, did the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities issue a warning to North Idaho College?
On April 1, 2022, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities issued a warning in Letter of Action to North Idaho College. The letter stated that NIC is out of compliance with Eligibility Requirements and Standards related to its governance and institutional integrity. Those deficiencies are being addressed.
NIC was found in compliance in all operational and instructional areas. -
Why is the Idaho State Board of Education involved?
The Idaho State Board of Education provides general supervision of the state educational institutions. The State Board of Education is empowered by Idaho code to fill vacancies if a community college board has two or fewer members. The Board interviewed candidates and named three new trustees in May. -
Will college credits earned at North Idaho College transfer to other schools?
Yes. NIC credits transfer just as they always did. Nothing has changed for students with transfer credits. -
Will the "Warning" status affect students' eligibility to sit for certification exams?
No. NIC retains its full accreditation during this period. Nothing has changed for students seeking certification. -
Can NIC lose accreditation during the next academic year?
No. The accreditation process gives NIC the opportunity to address board governance and institutional integrity issues. The timeline would not allow NIC to lose accreditation during the upcoming academic year, unless there was an egregious and unexpected act committed by NIC. -
Is North Idaho College going to lose its accreditation?
That's not likely. First, there are processes in place that allow institutions with a sanction a period of time to make the necessary changes. Also, NIC and its partners are doing all they can to address the issues that drew the Warning so that the college remains accredited. -
What's next?
The College has made progress with recommendations and requirements from the Letter of Action. A permanent president was named in June. The Board of Trustees voted in new officers. The trustees have voted a new Orientation Policy and now considers a Consent Agenda, including operational policy changes, during their regular meetings. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities will return for a Mid-Cycle visit on April 17-18, 2023, at which time the Warning could be removed if all conditions set out in the Letter of Action are met.