Dear Colleagues,
I’m pleased to share updates from our January 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting, where the Commission advanced significant priorities for our organization and the institutions we serve.
Winter 2026 Board Meeting
Action letters will be issued within 30 days of the meeting, and we always post a summary of the Accreditation Actions to NWCCU’s website as soon as they are issued.
Action letters will be issued within 30 days of the meeting, and we always post a summary of the Accreditation Actions to NWCCU’s website as soon as they are issued.
The Commission welcomed Dr. Bruce Kusch as its newest member. Dr. Kusch serves as President of Ensign College, where he has led institutional transformation including the introduction of Bachelor of Applied Science degrees and three-year bachelor’s degree programs. President Kusch is completing Dr. Laurie Sharp’s term through July 2028.
The Commission approved three governance changes to strengthen organizational capacity. First, Commissioners will serve staggered terms to ensure leadership continuity. Second, the Board will expand from 21 to up to twenty-six members to broaden representation. Third, the Commission will hold an additional meeting annually, dedicated to strategic planning and organizational governance.
Separately, the Commission authorized NWCCU to explore a potential name change that better reflects our evolving role and the institutions we serve. A branding firm will conduct stakeholder research and develop recommendations for Commission review. NWCCU’s standing committees continue to advance critical work. The Nominations Committee is preparing for spring elections, the Strategic Pathways Committee is conducting strategic planning work, and the Bylaws, Standards, and Policies Committee continues its leadership on policy updates and the Standards revision work.
NWCCU’s federal recognition renewal remains on track, with a compliance review by NACIQI scheduled for March 2026, and our document submission process is due in July 2026 as part of our 2028 re-recognition.
Standards Revision Update
The latest draft of the 2027 Standards is now available for review on our website, along with a revision guide and slides from the recent Standards update meeting. We are hosting listening sessions organized by institution type from February 17 through March 4. Sessions will focus on what you like about the draft, your concerns, and what might be missing or unnecessary. Public comment remains open through our website, and a second draft will be available for review and comment in April. Following feedback this spring, we’ll finalize the draft for Board action in July and a membership vote in August-September, with implementation beginning in 2027.
The latest draft of the 2027 Standards is now available for review on our website, along with a revision guide and slides from the recent Standards update meeting. We are hosting listening sessions organized by institution type from February 17 through March 4. Sessions will focus on what you like about the draft, your concerns, and what might be missing or unnecessary. Public comment remains open through our website, and a second draft will be available for review and comment in April. Following feedback this spring, we’ll finalize the draft for Board action in July and a membership vote in August-September, with implementation beginning in 2027.
Visit the Standards Revision webpage to review the draft and revision guide, register for listening sessions, or submit feedback.
NWCCU is Hiring Senior Research Analyst
NWCCU is seeking a Senior Research Analyst to strengthen our data capabilities in support of member institutions and the accreditation process. This role will lead efforts to ensure accuracy and accessibility of institutional data while developing dashboards, reports, and visualizations that provide meaningful insights to staff, peer evaluators, and Commissioners. Learn more at: Job Posting
NWCCU is seeking a Senior Research Analyst to strengthen our data capabilities in support of member institutions and the accreditation process. This role will lead efforts to ensure accuracy and accessibility of institutional data while developing dashboards, reports, and visualizations that provide meaningful insights to staff, peer evaluators, and Commissioners. Learn more at: Job Posting
Thank you for your continued partnership in this important work. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or my staff with any questions.
Selena M. Grace, PhD
President
