North Idaho College will remain accredited through early 2025, but a high-stakes site visit looms in the fall.
In a March 1 letter, regional accreditors called off an April visit to NIC’s Coeur d’Alene campus. Instead, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities will make what it called a “highly focused” site visit in October.
An accreditation cloud has hung over NIC since April 2022, when the commission warned the college that its status was in jeopardy. If NIC loses its accreditation, students would no longer be able to transfer their credits, or qualify for state financial aid.
In a recent action plan to the college, NWCCU “recognizes the good work of the faculty, staff, and administrators” during the college’s two-year accreditation review. However, the accreditors also complain of a “lack of demonstrated progress” on several topics:
- Improving trustee conduct, focusing on areas such as professionalism, ethics and “respectful discourse.”
- Improving the relationship between the board and President Nick Swayne.
- Building “inclusivity” into the board process, and addressing the repeated no-confidence votes campus groups have directed at trustees.
- Reducing risks to NIC, through employee turnover or lawsuits.
“This plan will hopefully create a clear path for North Idaho College and its board of trustees,” NWCCU says in its plan.
