Just as the effectiveness of the peer-review system requires the institutional members to be involved and committed to the accreditation process, the Commission is also dedicated to the integrity of the process, for the member institutions and for the public that relies on accreditation as a trustworthy authority of educational quality. The responsibilities of the Commission include:
The Commission is charged with establishing accreditation criteria, evaluating institutions against that criteria, and approving the institutions that meet that criteria. As part of that process, NWCCU provides expert analysis by peer evaluators, and, later, commendations for accomplishments and recommendations for improvement. Since the accreditation status of an institution is reviewed periodically, institutions are encouraged toward continued self-study and improvement. NWCCU staff provide counsel and assistance to established and developing institutions throughout this continuous process.