Highline Accreditation
When is our Midcycle accreditation visit from peer evaluators?
October 2023. Four NWCCU peer evaluators read our Midcycle Report, visited our campus, and provided formative assessment to support our efforts at self-evaluation and improvement, and our efforts to have a successful Year Seven accreditation visit. While the college historically used Core Themes, we now use Strategic Goals — as seen in our reports.
When is our Year Seven comprehensive accreditation visit from peer evaluators?
October, 2027. Six NWCCU peer evaluators will read our comprehensive report, and visit our campus. You will be invited to join forums and/or meetings depending on your work at the college. However, Highline will submit short reports the the NWCCU annually, and larger reports in 2023 and 2026, to show we are assessing our progress toward our goals and making improvements.
What Is Accreditation?
The process by which a private, non-governmental body (like NWCCU) evaluates an educational institution or program of study and formally recognizes it as having met certain predetermined criteria or standards. The process involves initial and periodic self-study and evaluation by peers. Accreditation implies stimulation toward quality improvement beyond the minimum standards specified by the accrediting body. The essential purpose of the accreditation process is to provide a professional judgment as to the quality of the educational institution or program offered and to encourage continual improvement thereof. (from nwccu.org). The self-study helps each college/program to reflect on its programs, policies, and procedures, to improve methods to accomplish its educational mission and goals.
Why participate?
In addition to the benefits of a continual self assessment, participation allows us to provide federal financial aid to qualifying students; to be accepted as a partner for Direct Transfer Agreements, and to be viewed by the community as a valued source of higher education.
Who grants accreditation status?
Highline College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the Secretary of the United States Department of Education.