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Policy Review

2026-2027 Policies Under Review by NWCCU

For the 2026-2027 Academic Year, the NWCCU Bylaws, Standards, and Policies Committee will be undertaking review of the following policies. For each policy under review, a brief description of the proposed changes and the reason for review is identified. A form to submit feedback on the policies currently under review is included at the end of this webpage.

Policy Name Reason for Review
Accreditation for System Institutions Policy Regular cycle.
Annual Report Policy Regular cycle. Considering requesting additional data from institutions as part of an enhanced Annual Report.
Commissioner Qualifications and Responsibilities Policies Regular cycle.
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Policy Regular cycle.
Conflict of Interest Policy Regular cycle. Ensure clarity for Commissioners, peer evaluators, and NWCCU staff.
Credit Hour Policy Regular cycle.
E&G Expenditures and Institutional Dues Policy Regular cycle. Reviewing institutional dues and fees model.
Institutions Accredited by Another Accreditor Policy Regular cycle. Ensure clarity for interested institutions and alignment with 34 CFR § 600.11 and May 2025 Dear Colleague Letter.
Legal Costs and Obligations Policy Regular cycle.
Matters Under Litigation Policy Regular cycle.
New: AI Policy Considering development of new Artificial Intelligence Policy to promote appropriate AI Policies at institutions.
Procedures to Close a Program, Branch Campus or Institution Policy Considering potential separation of policies to more clearly delineate between processes for procedures to close an institution and processes to close a program or branch campus/additional location.
Records Retention Policy Regular cycle.
Transfer and Award of Academic Credit Policy Considering significant changes to this policy, including separation of concurrent/dual enrollment procedures and identifying policies that promote improved clarity and student success for transfer students and students with credit for prior learning.
Travel Expense Reimbursement Policy Regular cycle.
Whistleblower Policy Regular cycle.

The following policies have recently been revised by the Commission, their full text can be found on the Policies page but a summary of changes is linked below.

 

 

Date Change Approved Policy Changed Change Summary
2025.05.08 Administrative Procedures Policy Review Summary
2025.05.19 Accreditation Criteria Policy Review Summary
2025.05.19 Accreditation Liaison Policy Policy Review Summary
2025.05.19 Arbitration Policy Policy Review Summary
2025.07.08 Related Entities Policy Policy Review Summary
2025.07.11 Bylaws Policy Review Summary
2025.08.22 Distance Education and Correspondence Education Policy Policy Review Summary
2025.08.22 Substantive Change Policy Policy Review Summary
2026.03.13 Antitrust Policy Policy Review Summary
2026.03.13 Contracts for Education-Related Services Policy Policy Review Summary
2026.03.13 Gift Policy Policy Review Summary
2026.03.13 Receipt of Unsolicited Information Policy Policy Review Summary
2026.05.08 Significant Growth Policy Policy Review Summary
2026.09.21 Complaints Regarding Member or Candidate Institutions Policy Policy Review Summary

Feedback for NWCCU Policies Under Review

Each year, NWCCU's Bylaws, Standards, and Policies (BSP) Committee conducts a review of a subset of the Commission's policies. For 2026-2027 the BSP Committee is reviewing the following policies:
  • Accreditation for System Institutions Policy
  • Annual Report Policy
  • Commissioner Qualifications and Responsibilities Policies
  • Complaints Regarding Member or Candidate Institutions Policy
  • Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Policy
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Credit Hour Policy
  • E&G Expenditures and Institutional Dues Policy
  • Institutions Accredited by Another Accreditor Policy
  • Legal Costs and Obligations Policy
  • Matters Under Litigation Policy
  • New: AI Policy
  • Procedures to Close a Program, Branch Campus or Institution Policy
  • Records Retention Policy
  • Transfer and Award of Academic Credit Policy
  • Travel Expense Reimbursement Policy
  • Whistleblower Policy
This form has been made available for general feedback to be provided for any of the above policies. You can provide feedback on more than one policy by clicking the "Add another response" link.
Optional: Contact Information
You can, optionally, provide us with contact information so that we can reach out with any follow-ups or questions. 
Policy Feedback



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