Good morning NMC community,
I am pleased to share an important update regarding the college’s accreditation cycle, including results from the recent mid-cycle assurance review.
As you know, in 2019 NMC started on an Open Pathway to maintain accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC.) This is a 10-year cycle focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. The Open Pathway option includes regular monitoring, a mid cycle Assurance Review, a Quality Initiative project and an end of cycle Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation.
We are now on the other side of our Mid-Cycle Assurance Review point. I am pleased to share that HLC formally notified us in January that NMC “Met” all Core Components of the Criteria for Accreditation. This result indicates the strength of the college in meeting the HLC expectations in all areas. The next step along the pathway is for NMC to propose a Quality Initiative project between September 1, 2023 and June 2025. Once the proposal is approved by the HLC, we will begin work on our project. The completed project is due no later than June 1, 2028. Stay tuned for more information as we co-create this important college project.
While our accreditation truly takes a college-wide effort, I want to specifically thank Joy Goodchild, NMC’s Accreditation Liaison Officer, for her leadership and role in authoring the Assurance Argument, as well as Lisa Balbach and Nick Roster in their significant contributions in authorship. I also want to thank those who provided their support leading to our successful review: Shelly Grant, Stephen Siciliano, Wayne Moody, and Michael Anderson.
I look forward to engaging our college community around the next phase of this important work!
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
