Accreditation FAQs

Accreditation is always a top priority at North Idaho College.

NIC and its partners work to meet the high educational standards for accreditation and address any issues of concern to ensure students aren’t negatively affected.

North Idaho College is a fully accredited college dedicated to student success and educational excellence.

• What is accreditation? What does it mean for me?

  • Accreditation is the recognition from an accrediting agency (the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities – NWCCU) that an institution maintains a certain level of educational standards.
  • For credits to transfer to other colleges, NIC must be accredited. NIC remains accredited and any credits and degrees earned under NIC’s accreditation are valid, valuable and transferrable.

• Has NIC lost its accreditation?

  No, NIC is accredited.

• Is NIC going to lose its accreditation? What happened?

  • The NWCCU, the college’s accrediting commission, wants to work with NIC and has no desire to take away the college’s accreditation. There are multiple processes in place that allow a sanctioned institution a multi-year period to address the NWCCU’s concerns and work toward compliance with accreditation requirements and standards.
  • On Feb. 9, 2023, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) issued a sanction of show cause in a letter to NIC. This stated that NIC is out of compliance with Eligibility Requirements and Standards related to its governance. Those deficiencies are being addressed by the NIC Board of Trustees. No issues about the academic experiences for students at NIC are of concern.
  • NIC’s instructional programs are solid and in compliance. Instruction and program quality are not in question; this matter relates to the NIC Board of Trustees’ governance of the college.

• What does the sanction of show cause from the NWCCU mean?

  A sanction of show cause notes that NIC is out of compliance with standards of accreditation and requires that evidence be presented that NIC is addressing the NWCCU’s specific concerns and acting toward compliance with accreditation requirements and standards. This also requires an on-site visit by the NWCCU to verify progress. NIC remains accredited during this time.

• What are our next steps after the show cause letter?

  • NIC must submit a show cause report to the NWCCU in March. The NWCCU will conduct an on-site visit in April. NIC remains accredited throughout this process.
  • If the NWCCU decides to take any adverse action regarding NIC’s accreditation after their on-site visit, the college will be able to appeal the decision in July 2023.

• I am a potential student. What does this mean for me?

  North Idaho College remains a quality and affordable option for higher education that welcomes all students. There is a variety of pathways available to match your needs. If interested in attending, please apply.

• I am current student. What does this mean for me?

  • Current students do not need to take any immediate action. All classes that you are currently enrolled in are accredited and will transfer to other institutions, if desired.
  • Please continue to watch your Cardinal mail for any future updates.
  • If you have any questions/concerns, please reach out to your advisor.

• I am a former student. Should I be concerned about my credits?

  Degrees and credits already earned while an institution is accredited are not impacted by a loss of accreditation. Degrees and credits do not ‘disappear’ if an institution loses accreditation

• I am a parent. What should I do?

  • NIC maintains its status as an accredited institution and serves nearly 20,000 people a year through a variety of programs, including transfer programs, career and technical education and workforce training.
  • Continue to work with your student to determine what path is best for them.
  • Reach out to NIC's Accreditation Liaison Officer, Steve Kurtz, at steve.kurtz@nic.edu.

• What steps is NIC taking to maintain accreditation?

  • NIC is working with the NWCCU to meet all specific requirements as laid out by the NWCCU.
  • The college is working with the Idaho State Board of Education to ensure students remain a priority and that there is no impact to teaching and learning at NIC.

• How is NIC’s leadership addressing accreditation?

  The NIC Board of Trustees has already had several board trainings and will continue to have a series of workshops and trainings for their professional development. Board actions and behavior must immediately demonstrate compliance with NWCCU Eligibility Requirements and Standards.

• What happens if NIC were to lose accreditation? (Worst case scenario)

  The U.S. Department of Education (USDE), NWCCU and the Idaho State Board of Education have explicit tools and requirements to protect students. NIC would have time to develop and deploy with the assistance of NWCCU a teach-out plan and agreement as required by USDE regulations and NWCCU policies. The specific information about that process is unknown at this time. 

• Can NIC lose accreditation during this academic year?

  No. The accreditation process gives NIC the opportunity to address board governance and other specific issues in a show cause report and visit. The timeline would not allow NIC to lose accreditation during this academic year, unless there was an egregious and unexpected act committed by NIC.

• Will the credits I earned at NIC transfer to other schools?

  Yes. NIC credits transfer just as they always have. Nothing has changed for students with transfer credits. Any degrees awarded can never be taken away.

• Does this affect my financial aid, loans, scholarships, etc.?

  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 more than $1 million in scholarships. Financial Aid is not impacted by the show cause status.

• Do the recent letters from NWCCU impact NIC’s accreditation status?

  No, the receipt of the recent letters from NWCCU do not impact NIC’s accreditation status. NIC remains accredited.

• Will the show cause status given by the NWCCU affect students’ eligibility to sit for certification exams?

  No. NIC retains its accreditation during this period. Nothing has changed for students seeking certification.

• Is NIC continuing to develop new programs?

  Absolutely. Last fall, NIC offered 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 nic.edu.

Updated: Thursday, Mar. 16