Accreditation
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 Accreditation
Portland State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Accreditation by the NWCCU 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.
Because accreditation by the NWCCU refers to the institution as a whole, 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.
Accreditation of PSU
Accreditation of Portland State University was reaffirmed in Spring 2023, after submission of a comprehensive Year Seven Self Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness, a peer review by external reviewers, and review by the NWCCU commissioners.
Contact
Inquiries regarding an institution's accredited status by the NWCCU should be directed to Brian Sandlin,
Accreditation and Compliance Coordinator, 503-725-5252, bsandlin@pdx.edu.
Individuals may also contact NWCCU:
Northwest Commission on College and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 200
Redmond, WA. 98052
(425) 558-4224
www.nwccu.org
Process for Filing a Complaint about PSU to the NWCCU
Accreditation Update
We are pleased to announce that the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities has reaffirmed our accreditation for the next seven years. This decision follows a rigorous review process that evaluates our institution's effectiveness, academic programs, student support services, facilities, governance, and financial stability.
Accreditation is a vital aspect of our commitment to providing high-quality education to our students. It serves as a recognition of the excellence of our programs and our faculty and staff's hard work and dedication to our mission. Accreditation also assures prospective students, parents, and employers that our degrees meet rigorous standards and that our graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their chosen careers.
The NWCCCU accreditation review process involved a comprehensive self-study report, an on-site evaluation by a team of peer evaluators, and a review by the NWCCCU Commissioners. The process allowed us to reflect on our strengths and weaknesses and identify areas for improvement. We are grateful to the faculty, staff, and students who contributed to the self-study report and the on-site evaluation and who demonstrate their commitment to our institution every day.
At the end of their review, the NWCCU provided three commendations and four recommendations in their reaffirmation letter.
Commendations:
1. The meaningful, intentional commitment across the campus to racial and social justice, and equity as expressed through meaningful action and commitment of significant resources.
2. Creating the Students First program, which stands as a strong example of how cross-campus collaboration can result in data-sharing, problem identification, development of common solutions, and improvement of outcomes for students across the institution.
3. The widespread evidence of program assessment activity across graduate and undergraduate programs and the use of assessment data to make significant changes to better serve students.
Recommendations:
1. Improve the planning process to be more inclusive, offer opportunities for comment by appropriate constituencies, and allocate necessary resources to improve institutional effectiveness. (2020 Standard(s) 1.B.3)
2. Provide for the consideration of the views of staff and improve the process for the consideration of the views of faculty, administrators, and students in decision-making structures and processes. (2020 Standard(s) 2.A.4)
3. Improve access to meaningful opportunities for participation by stakeholders in financial planning, including ensuring the availability of adequate funds, realistic development of financial resources, and comprehensive risk management to ensure short-term financial health and long-term financial stability and sustainability. (2020 Standard(s) 2.E.2)
4. Improve transparent management of fiscal resources within the context of faculty and administrative governance structures. (2020 Standard(s) 2.E.3)
Future Evaluations:
• Ad Hoc Report with Visit Fall 2024
Recommendation 2: Fall 2022 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness
Recommendation 4: Fall 2022 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness
• Ad Hoc Report with Visit Spring 2025
Recommendation 1: Fall 2022 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness
Recommendation 3: Fall 2022 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness
• Mid-Cycle Review Fall 2025
• Year 6 - Standard 2 - Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review Fall 2028
• Year 7 - Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness Fall 2029
For questions relating to Portland State's accreditation with the NWCCU, please contact Brian Sandlin at bsandlin@pdx.edu.
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