Institutional accreditation provides the stamp of approval necessary for a college to access funding from the federal government. With about 62% of Lane students relying on some form of federal financial aid, accreditation is essential to our financial viability. Beyond providing access to funds, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ (NWCCU) accreditation Standards place student success at the heart of the process and incentivize the College to strive toward continual improvement of our ability to equitably serve students, staff, faculty, administrators, and the community. Accreditation ensures that students:
- receive a quality education
- have access to federal student aid programs
- receive transferable credits
- receive appropriate licensure, certificates, and degrees appropriate to their field
- have access to the programs and services that meet their individual needs as learners
To learn more about why accreditation matters, check out, "Why does accreditation matter to me."
Our Current Understanding:
In May 2020, Provost Paul Jarrell invited Lane employees to participate in a survey to gauge awareness about the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) accreditation process. Survey results show that about 47 percent of the respondents reported a lack of familiarity with the accreditation process, while a majority of them correctly identified aspects of our institutional effectiveness that will be reviewed as part of the accreditation process. The May 2020 survey results pointed to areas of opportunity for future communication to help our campus community understand the impact and purpose of accreditation.
During Fall 2019, the Accreditation Communication and Engagement Team invited Lane employees to participate in the same survey and those results helped the team better understand where to focus its outreach.
It’s the Accreditation Communication and Engagement Team’s goal to raise awareness about the process as we prepare for our 2021 NWCCU site visit. So, over the next year, expect to learn more than you ever wanted to know about accreditation and your role in continuous improvement at Lane!
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.
Inquiries regarding Lane's accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 558‐4224, www.nwccu.org
