Institutional Accreditation
Great Falls College Accreditation Liaison Officer to the NWCCU
Contact Information
Eleazar Ortega, Ed.D.
Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness
Ph: (406) 771-5136
Great Falls College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), representing Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and British Columbia, along with other domestic and international geographic areas. Other accreditation regions can be seen on the accreditation regions map.
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 that 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 an institution’s accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals also may contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 558‐4224
www.nwccu.org
2023-29 Accreditation Cycle
Great Falls College will host peer evaluators from the Northwest Commission on College and Universities in April 2025 for the mid-cycle evaluation. In spring 2028, we will complete the Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review (PRFR – Year six) report, and in spring 2029 we will complete the Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness report (EIE – Year seven) and host peer evaluators.
2016-22 Accreditation Cycle
2021 |
2019 |
2018 |
2019 Ad Hoc Report on the Mid-Cycle Report & Visit of 2018 NWCCU Letter re Action Taken Spring 2018 |
2016 |
2011-15 Accreditation Cycle
NCWCCU Reaffirmation of Accreditation
2015 |
Year Seven Report – March 2015 – Web Year Seven Report – March 2015 – Print Current Self Evaluation and Evidence Report (Archived Page) |
2012 |
2011 |
2005-2010 Accreditation Cycle
Accreditation Terms
NWCCU or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities: an accreditor of higher education recognized by the Department of Education to accredit colleges and universities throughout the U.S. The commission also accredits institutions in British Columbia.
Its decision-making body consists of up to twenty-six Commissioners who represent the public and the diversity of its accredited higher education institutions.” (NWCCU web site)
The commissioners are volunteers who serve three-year terms. The commission’s work is conducted by its staff, including its president Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy and the commission’s liaison to Great Falls College is Dr. Mac Powell. The commission is based in Redmond, WA.
Recommendations: Formal directives the college needs to address to fully comply with the accreditation standards. These are typically written by a peer evaluation team after reviewing a self-evaluation report and/or following a site visit.
Self-evaluation Report – Year 7 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (also called Year 7 report): Self-evaluation report written by the college in response to NWCCU Standard One and submitted for review by a peer evaluation team and the NWCCU commission.
Self-evaluation Report – Year 6 Policies, Regulations and Financial Review: Self-evaluation report written by the college in response to NWCCU Standard Two.
Standards: Conditions colleges and universities must meet to qualify for accreditation by the NWCCU. The commission has two main standards, each of which has subparts.
Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Great Falls College has College Learning Outcomes, Program Learning Outcomes and Course Learning Outcomes. Faculty assess course learning outcomes, which are mapped to program and college learning outcomes in annual reviews. Details about assessment are on the Assessment web site.
