NWCCU Board Authorizes Exploration of Name Change

I am writing to share important news about the future direction of our organization. At its January 27-30, 2026, meeting, the NWCCU Board of Commissioners authorized me to begin exploring options to change our organization’s name to better reflect our national scope and the evolving landscape of higher education accreditation.

Since 2020, following the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to remove regional designations for accreditors, NWCCU has functioned as an institutional accreditor with authority to serve colleges and universities throughout the United States—not only in the Northwest region. A potential name change would align our identity with this expanded scope while upholding our unwavering commitment to quality assurance and student success.

As Dr. Scott Finnie, Chair of our Board of Commissioners, noted: “The higher education landscape has transformed significantly in recent years, and it’s essential that our organization’s name reflects who we are today and where we’re headed tomorrow. We are deeply proud of our 109-year history serving the Northwest region, but our current name no longer captures the full scope of our mission or our capacity to serve institutions across the nation.”

Let me be absolutely clear: this potential name change represents an evolution in identity, not a departure from NWCCU’s foundational values.

Our commitment to high-touch, personalized support for our member institutions remains unwavering. We will continue to be a partner that knows your institution, understands your unique challenges, and works collaboratively with you on your journey of continuous improvement. What changes is our name—what remains constant is our dedication to the success of every institution we serve.

Whether your institution has been with us for decades or you’re a new member of our community, you can count on the same responsive, supportive partnership that has defined our work for more than a century.

We have initiated a comprehensive review process that will include:

Your voice matters in this process. We will be reaching out in the coming weeks with opportunities for you to provide input and ask questions. We are committed to transparency and collaboration as we navigate this important decision together.

We are committed to moving thoughtfully and efficiently through this process with an anticipated final decision by the July 2026 Commission meeting, allowing sufficient time for thorough research, meaningful stakeholder consultation, and careful consideration while maintaining momentum toward this important strategic step.

We recognize the importance of acting decisively while ensuring every voice is heard. We will keep you informed at every step of the process.

In today’s environment—marked by rapid technological change, evolving student needs, and increasing accountability demands—accreditors must be agile, responsive, and clearly positioned to support institutions. Our name should open doors, not create artificial barriers based on outdated geographic designations.

This potential change is about positioning NWCCU for the future while honoring our past and strengthening our relationships with the institutions we serve. We want to ensure that every institution seeking a trusted accreditation partner knows that we are here to serve them, regardless of geographic location, with the personalized attention and collaborative spirit that sets us apart.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your NWCCU liaison or to me directly if you have questions or concerns. We are here for you.

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust as we embark on this important journey together.

Cordially,

Dr. Selena M. Grace

President

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities