Accreditation
Welcome! This page includes a description of accreditation, our outcomes, where we are in the process, ways to get involved, why it's important and Lane's accredited status.
What is Accreditation?
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.
Our outcomes are to: align effort 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 of accreditation and continuous improvement.
Lane's Process
For an overview of the process, here's an online presentation about the process. For a high-level timeline (from Fall 2018 - Fall 2021), here's a visual timeline.
So, where are we now? During Fall 2018, a Coordinating Team began the planning process and in Winter 2019, initial Leadership Team members continued planning the work. During Winter and Spring terms, we recruited staff and faculty for the Leadership Team. The Communication and Engagement Team is recruiting members now, please see below. Future opportunities will include joining topical work groups and will be announced in the Fall 2020.
The Accreditation Communication and Engagement Team is Recruiting!
Join us 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. Part-time and full-time staff and faculty are invited to join our team. Read team purpose and objectives here. If you would like to join our team, please contact Tammie Stark, starkt@lanecc.edu.
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.