Accreditation

Responsible Unit: OIE | Executive lead: President
Created: 2/25/2025 | Reviewed/Revised: N/A | Effective: 10/7/2025
Compliance: NWCCU Accreditation Liaison Officer Policy
Approving Body: ELT | Classification: Institution-wide

Policy: 
PNWU is committed to achieving and maintaining institutional and programmatic accreditation through continuous improvement compliance, robust record-keeping, transparent reporting, and proactive preparedness. The University requires alignment between institutional and programmatic standards and policies, timely reporting of all specialized/professional accreditations, centralized archival of accreditation records, and mock site-visits to be conducted (preferably by outside consultants) prior to any institutional or programmatic official initial accreditation or reaccreditation site visit.

As mandated in the NWCCU Accreditation Liaison Officer Policy, the University President and the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) serve as the official points of contact between PNWU and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The ALO, who is appointed by the President, works with NWCCU on all matters related to accreditation. As such, the ALO and ALO Delegate are responsible for ensuring required notifications, reports, program inventory updates, and substantive change requests are submitted to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) on time and as prescribed.

To ensure alignment with university standards and policies:

  • The ALO and ALO Delegate are responsible for reviewing and providing constructive feedback on a program’s draft self-study report prior to submission. The ALO and ALO delegate will work with the program to determine the process and timeframe for the review to take place.
  • After the self-study report has been submitted to the accreditor and post-accreditation site visit, the Deans/Program Directors must provide final copies of all self-study/site visit related reports and accreditor notifications (e.g., final self-study report, site visit report, accreditor action letter, corrective action plans) for recordkeeping purposes to the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) and ALO Delegate within 30 business days of submission to or 5 business days of receipt from the accreditor.
  • The Deans/Program Directors are responsible for ensuring the ALO and ALO Delegate are notified of any other accreditation correspondence, status changes, sanctions, substantive changes, or scheduled reviews within five (5) business days of receipt or initiation and must provide copies (if available) for central records.

Definitions:

  • Institutional Accreditation: Institutional accreditation is granted by an accrediting agency within a scope of authority approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Institutional accreditation applies to the institution as a whole, not individual programs or units within the institution.
  • Programmatic (Specialized) Accreditation: Specialized accreditation of certain professional schools and individual educational programs is granted by a number of national organizations, each representing a professional area such as business, law, engineering, medicine, or nursing. Though each of these organizations has its distinctive definitions of eligibility, criteria for accreditation, and operating procedures, accreditation by a specialized accrediting agency is one means of assuring quality of the accredited programs.
  • Transparent Reporting: Transparent reporting is consistent, accurate, and accessible disclosure of information that demonstrates institutional or programmatic performance, accountability, and compliance with accreditation standards. It involves providing stakeholders – including students, faculty, accreditors, governing boards, and the public with clear, timely, and verifiable data related to:
    • Student learning outcomes
    • Institutional effectiveness
    • Resource allocation and governance
    • Accreditation status and actions

Transparent reporting ensures that the information is not only accurate and comprehensive, but also understandable and accessible to its intended audiences. In accreditation, it is both a compliance requirement and a demonstration of institutional integrity, building trust that the institution is accountable to its mission, students, and the public.

  • Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO): University Designee who serves as primary contact with the institutional accreditor and coordinates institutional accreditation activities.
  • Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) Delegate: University designee who assists and acts as backup to the ALO when the ALO is not available or present.
  • Mock Site-Visit: A simulated accreditation visit (agenda, interviews, document review, facilities review) conducted by qualified internal or external reviewers to assess institutional or program readiness for or compliance with accreditation and identify any areas for improvement prior to a scheduled initial accreditation or reaccreditation visit.
  • Official Site Visit: A visit conducted by the accrediting body’s peer review team.

Procedure:  
N/A 

Related Documents: 
Accreditation Procedure (in development)

Establishing, Changing, or Closing an Academic Program Policy

Establishing, Changing, or Closing an Academic Program Procedure (in development)

PNWU Accreditation Timeline

NWCCU Accreditation Liaison Officer Policy

NWCCU Annual Reports Policy

NWCCU Substantive Change Policy

Handbook for Accreditation Liaison Officers

Policy Resources

For assistance with policies and procedures contact:

Deidre Dennis
ddennis@pnwu.edu