Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

NWCCU logo

NWCCU operational area
Abbreviation NWCCU
Formation 1917
Legal status Association
Purpose Educational accreditation
Headquarters Redmond, Washington
Region served
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington
Membership
163 institutions
President
 Dr. Sandra E. Elman
Main organ
 Board of Commissioners
Website www.nwccu.org

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is an independent, non-profit membership organization recognized by the United States Department of Education since 1952[1] as the regional authority on educational quality and institutional effectiveness of higher education institutions in the seven-state Northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. It fulfills its mission by establishing accreditation criteria and evaluation procedures by which institutions are reviewed. The commission dropped its association with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and as of May 2012, is not listed in CHEA's database of recognized accrediting agencies; it is shown as one that was formerly recognized. The agency is still the regional accrediting agency for the Pacific Northwest states, as CHEA recognition is not required in order for accrediting agencies to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Commission oversees regional accreditation for 156 institutions. Its decision-making body consists of twenty-six Commissioners who represent the public and the diversity of higher education institutions within the Northwest region.

The organization traces its history to 1917 when the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools was formed. In 1974 the association changed its name to the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, which included two divisions, one being the Northwest Association of Colleges and Universities. The Northwest Association of Colleges and Universities split from the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools to create two separate organizations in 2002, changing the name of the organization to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. NWCCU handles the accreditation of institutions of higher education and the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools handles the accreditation of primary and secondary schools.[2]

The NWCCU also accredits non-US institutions. Capilano University of British Columbia, Canada received accreditation in 2013.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "U.S. Department of Education". Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  2. ↑ History of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities History, accessed February 5, 2007.
  3. ↑ Tamburri, Rosanna (2013-06-19). "More Canadian universities seek U.S. accreditation". University Affairs. Retrieved 9 November 2014.




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