Accreditation

Path to Accreditation:

Generally, the path to Full Accreditation status for new institutions of higher education is a 10-year exercise that begins with an institution submitting an application for candidacy to its accrediting agency. In 2004, Nevada State College – together with the University of Nevada, Reno as NSC’s sponsoring institution – submitted an extensive application for consideration for candidacy to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The NWCCU, a non-profit agency recognized by the Department of Education, oversees the performance of colleges and universities in seven states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

In July 2006, following a comprehensive self-study and on-site evaluation, the NWCCU approved NSC as a Candidate for accreditation.

As part of the overall pathway to full institutional accreditation or renewal of accreditation (which takes place every ten years once an institution is fully accredited), colleges and universities conduct self-evaluations in preparation for on-site visits by the accreditors. These evaluations are designed to summarize an institution’s improvement and performance based on accrediting organizations’ standards.

NWCCU evaluates an institution’s performance in nine areas (termed “standards” according to the accrediting body). They are: 

• Institutional Mission & Goals, Planning & Effectiveness 
• Educational Program and Its Effectiveness 
• Students 
• Facility 
• Library and Information Resources 
• Governance & Administration 
• Finance 
• Physical Resources 
• Institutional Integrity