Accreditation
Welcome! This page includes where we are in the planning process, ways to get involved, a description of the accreditation process, why it's important and Lane's accredited status.
During Fall 2018, a Coordinating Team began the planning process. In Winter 2019, the initial Leadership Team members met. Now, we are ready to invite your participation to begin the work. Current opportunities are listed below. Future opportunities will include joining topical work groups and applying for the faculty technical writer position. Stay tuned for more info.
Do you enjoy communications? Join our Accreditation Communication and Engagement Team!
Our team purpose is to increase awareness of continuous improvement and accreditation collegewide using multiple communication methods and creating lively, engaging and fun games, activities and events that we design and host. All students as well as part-time and full-time staff and faculty are invited to participate in our team.
- Students: Apply for this paid position online. Two positions are available. View the job descriptions.
- Staff and Faculty: Apply for this opportunity by sending a brief letter of interest to starkt@lanecc.edu. We are recruiting for one staff and one faculty position. Read about team purpose and objectives here.
Do you like gathering evidence, working in a team? Join our Accreditation Leadership Team!
Our team purpose is to provide support, a functional structure and resources to ensure work tasks are done. We are responsible for documenting the College’s progress toward meeting NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities) standards and requirements. The outcomes are to complete and submit year 7 report (~June 2021), prepare for and host NWCCU members (~Oct 2021) and develop a continuous improvement mindset.
To accomplish this goal, we need your help! We invite part-time and full-time staff and faculty to join our team. Several positions available. Prior knowledge about accreditation is not required.
- Staff and Faculty: Apply for this opportunity by sending a brief letter of interest to starkt@lanecc.edu. View the Invitation to learn more about the responsibilities.
For more info, contact Tammie Stark, Accreditation Project Manager, starkt@lanecc.edu, (541) 463-3257.
What is Accreditation? What does the process include?
As defined by the Department of Education, the goal of accreditation is to ensure that higher education institutions meet acceptable levels of quality. Lane is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental, self-regulatory process of quality assurance and institutional improvement. It is a continuous improvement cycle that begins anew each 7 years.
The purpose of Lane’s process and teams is to guide continuous improvement efforts across the college to achieve mission fulfillment. The accreditation outcomes are to: align with Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, complete and submit year 7 report by ~June 2021, prepare for and host NWCCU members in ~Oct 2021 and raise awareness about continuous improvement and accreditation. Here's a visual illustration of Lane's organizational structure, a visual illustration of the timeline and an online presentation about the process.
Why are continuous improvement and accreditation important?
The process provides a valuable opportunity to:
- Revisit what we do well and what needs attention, which is central to teaching and learning and institutional effectiveness
- Build shared vision and clear direction
- Highlight the excellent work done at Lane
- Remain eligible to receive federal and other funding
- Fine tune our focus on meeting the College mission
- Ensure the process remains self-governing
About Lane's Accredited Status
Lane Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution. For more information about Lane’s accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities please contact the Accreditation Liaison Officer or the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100 Redmond, WA 98052, (425) 558‐4224 www.nwccu.org.