NWCCU Investigation of Complaint
President's Message NWCCU Institutional Response Board Response FAQs
President's Message
Good afternoon Cardinal Family,
Last Friday, Steve Kurtz, Lita Burns, Laura Rumpler and I met with Dr. Ramaswamy and Dr. Larsen from NWCCU to discuss the second NWCCU complaint letter and to develop a clearer understanding of what the January site visit to North Idaho College will look like.
The NWCCU visit is scheduled for Tuesday, January 18. Four evaluators will be present for the visit, and they will have the opportunity to meet with me, the board of trustees, leadership from Instruction, Student Services, Finance, the Foundation, and other areas of the college. They also plan to hold forums to meet with students, staff and faculty.
While the names of members of the visiting team won’t be shared ahead of time, Dr. Ramaswamy has let me know that the evaluators will consist of a current college president, a former president, a CFO, and a current board member.
This week, I plan to meet with our executive accreditation team, to begin helping the board and the college create a written response to the second complaint letter. As we plan for January’s site visit, I will share meeting times and locations with groups the evaluators would like to visit with. The college will also work with the NWCCU to create a form for members of the NIC community to be able to provide confidential online feedback. I have also made the board of trustees aware that they must still provide an ad-hoc report for the first complaint letter by August 1, 2022.
Also, a letter was sent late Friday by the Idaho State Board of Education to the NIC Board of Trustees. I have not had the opportunity to talk to SBOE Executive Director Matt Freeman, who co-signed the letter, but I intend to connect with him soon to better understand what the board and I can do to work with the SBOE. Today, the SBOE put out a news release about this letter. It’s important for our board and our community to recognize the role the SBOE has in helping us execute the delivery of higher education in our region. I will help facilitate discussions between SBOE representatives and our elected trustees, who are the local governing board of our community college. It’s imperative that we listen to one another and work in partnership, putting our students first in all decision-making.
While we have been in the news a great deal lately, I know you are all doing your best to support each other and our students. As I continue to be out and about, I’ve seen more and more of the great work you continue to do in supporting the mission and vision of North Idaho College. I am so proud that through all of this, that hasn’t changed.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michael Sebaaly, Interim President
Dec 6, 2021
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
School Board of Education Letter to Board of Trustees [PDF]
NWCCU's Request for NIC Onsite Review [PDF]
NIC Letter of Complaint 2 [PDF]
NWCCU's Response to NIC's Effort [PDF]
NWCCU's Letter [PDF]
NIC Letter of Complaint [PDF]
Exhibits
Exhibit 1 [PDF]
Exhibit 2 [PDF]
Exhibit 3 [PDF]
Exhibit 4 [PDF]
Exhibit 5-8 [PDF]
Exhibit 9 [PDF]
Cited Eligibility Requirement Under Review
(9) GOVERNING BOARD: The institution has a functioning governing board(s) responsible for the quality and integrity of the institution and for each college/unit within a multiple-unit district or system, to ensure that the institution’s mission is being achieved. The governing board(s) has at least five voting members, a majority of whom have no contractual or employment relationship or personal financial interest with the institution. Institutions that are part of a complex system with multiple boards, a centralized board, or related entities, shall have, with respect to such boards, clearly defined authority, roles, and responsibilities for all entities in a written contract(s). In addition, authority and responsibility between the system and the institution is clearly delineated, in a written contract, described on its website and in its public documents, and provides NWCCU accredited institutions with sufficient autonomy to fulfill its mission.
NIC’s Institutional Response
President MacLennan has begun NIC’s response by tasking the college’s executive accreditation and planning team to lead the institutional response.
NIC's ability to document how we are meeting or effectively resolving the eligibility issues brought into question by the NWCCU is our current core focus. Success will look like the board and president working together to demonstrate confidence and action in making corrections and resolving issues to meet all the NWCCU eligibility requirements.
Cover Letter to NWCCU June 10, 2021 [PDF]
Response Report to NWCCU June 10, 2021 [PDF]
Receipt of Unsolicited Materials Policy Amended Response June 10, 2021 [PDF]
NIC Board of Trustees' Response
The NIC Board of Trustees released a statement in response to the NWCCU investigation at their May 28 regular meeting.