The Accreditation Process

Overview

Accreditation is best understood as a process that provides a college the opportunity to complete a thorough self-study of how it meets its mission and serves its community. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) currently requires a 7-year cycle. Colleges complete a Year One Self-Evaluation Report during the first year of the cycle, a Mid-Cycle Evaluation Report during the third year of the cycle, and a complete self-study in the seventh year of the cycle. Site visits are held for both the mid-cycle and year-seven evaluations.

We completed and submitted our Year One Self-Evaluation Report in September 2015, and it was accepted by NWCCU in February 2016. We also completed and submitted an Ad Hoc Report, required in response to our Year Seven Self-Evaulation Report, in March 2016.

Lane is beginning its year 3, mid-cycle evaluation process. The report will be due in fall 2017.

Descriptions of Evaluations and Reports

Year 1

We complete Standard One in the accreditation process by identifying our mission, core themes, and expectations. Part of this process includes submitting a report to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) that describe the ways we measure our success in achieving Lane's mission, core themes, and expectations.

Year 3

We undertake our mid-cycle evaluation, looking specifically at assessment of student learning. In addition to describing our assessment plan, we provide two examples at the course, program, or institutional level. We also identify areas for improvement as we move toward the year 7 evaluation. 

Year 7

We address Standards One through Five. Standard Two describes capacity. Standard Three focuses on how we plan and implement programs and policies to meet our mission, core themes, and expectations. Standard Four gives us an opportunity to examine the ways we assess our programs for effectiveness. The focus of Standard Five is mission fulfillment. It includes examining how we inform the community about our progress in fulfilling our mission, as well as the ways we plan institutional improvement.