Behind UNLV’s reputation for academic excellence and student achievement lies a rigorous and multi-year Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) accreditation process. 

Regional accreditation ensures the programs offered at UNLV meet specific academic standards, providing evidence about the quality of education and effectiveness of the institution in fulfilling its mission and commitment to student achievement, learning, and success.

The NWCCU is a regional accreditor of higher education institutions in the seven-state Northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, as well as British Columbia.

From April 2-4, 2025, external evaluators from the NWCCU will perform a comprehensive Year Seven Accreditation visit to UNLV. During this visit, evaluators will meet with students, faculty, staff and members of the NSHE Board of Regents. 

“UNLV’s accreditation through NWCCU is a marker of quality and reflection of our commitment to continuous improvement and academic excellence,” said Chris Heavey, UNLV Officer in Charge. “We look forward to welcoming the NWCCU evaluators to our campus and sharing the many ways that UNLV is working to uphold high academic standards. This visit is an opportunity to showcase our ongoing efforts to advance our institutional mission.”

The NWCCU Visit and Process

The upcoming Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness site visit aims to assess UNLV’s compliance with NWCCU accreditation standards and eligibility requirements. 

This visit is the final step in a seven-year accreditation cycle, which ensures UNLV maintains its "member" or "accredited" status. 

Before achieving full accreditation, universities typically go through two earlier phases: applicant status, lasting one to three years, and candidate status, lasting up to five years. 

While candidate status is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a step toward accreditation, a university is only officially accredited after successfully completing an initial evaluation and becoming an official member of the NWCCU.

The seven-year accreditation cycle is designed for continuous review. During the phases, NWCCU staff, peer evaluators, and the board of commissioners assess the institution's progress in fulfilling its mission, resolving previously identified issues, enhancing its operations, delivering high-quality education, promoting student success, and closing the achievement gap.

Accreditation is a big deal – it's how UNLV accesses federal money. It affects students who rely on federal loans and faculty who need grants for their research. But more than anything, it's how we show that UNLV is actually delivering a quality education. 

“Accreditation is a critical tool for promoting and assessing excellence in our academic programs through a culture of continuous improvement,” said Kate Korgan, officer in charge for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. “Our faculty regularly evaluate, enhance, and refine curriculum and programs to ensure that students receive the highest quality education and graduate career-ready.”

UNLV stands out among its peer institutions, notably entering this accreditation cycle with the distinct advantage of having no current recommendations for improvement from the NWCCU.

The university’s proactive approach allows evaluators to to focus on UNLV’s present strengths and successes, and its future trajectory. 

You’re Invited to Get Involved

Students, faculty, staff, and members of the NSHE Board of Regents can participate in the accreditation process by meeting with the NWCCU peer evaluation team during the campus visit. 

“For our upcoming accreditation visit, we're holding open forum sessions for faculty, staff, and students,” said Lindsay Couzens, associate vice provost for academic effectiveness. “These forums are a major way for the campus to share their voices in the process. The evaluators want to hear directly from people on campus to truly understand how well we're fulfilling our mission. These are important opportunities for involvement, and we encourage the campus community to participate.”

Additionally, the evaluators are expected to partake in campus tours and may stop faculty, staff, or students to ask questions. The feedback helps UNLV tell its story and shape the future of the university. 

The UNLV Accreditation Award and Mission Fulfillment Grant is another way for faculty and staff to participate in the accreditation process. 

Academic units and departments across campus are encouraged to submit proposals and previously completed projects that demonstrate how their work aligns with UNLV’s mission fulfillment related to the Top Tier 2.0 Strategic Plan. 

The award winners will discuss their projects with NWCCU evaluators during the campus visit. 

What’s Next

UNLV administrative faculty as well as academic faculty, students, and staff are preparing to welcome the NWCCU evaluators to campus next month. It’s a collaborative effort that ensures UNLV remains at the forefront of higher education. 

The campus community is strongly encouraged to participate in the process to continue UNLV’s reputation for academic excellence for years to come. 

Stay connected with NWCCU updates on the Office of Academic Assessment website.