INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION

Western Oregon University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

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 an institution’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

Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities refers to the institution as a whole. Therefore, statements like “fully accredited” or “this program is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities” or “this degree is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities” are incorrect and should not be used.

NWCCU Documents

• Mid-Cycle Report (March 2019) including
  • Updates to Recommendations 4, 6, and 7 as required by NWCCU
  • Response to Recommendation 5 as required by NWCCU
• Ad Hoc Report (September 2017)
• Year One Mission and Core Themes Report (March 2017) & Responses to Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 as required by NWCCU
• NWCCU Eligibility and Accreditation Standards
• NWCCU Reaffirmation of Accreditation with Recommendations (July 2016) (WOU login required)
• NWCCU Evaluation Committee Recommendation Report (May 2016) (WOU login required)

State Authorization

Western Oregon University is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and is authorized to enroll students residing in all 50 states, as well as several territories, of the United States. For more information, visit our State Authorization information page.

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

Teacher Education Programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education.

American Sign Language/English Interpreting program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education.