Accreditation

Overview

Accreditation is a form of independent review, designed to establish the uniform quality of educational programs. The most recognized accreditation in higher education is administered by regional accrediting associations that are ratified by the United States Department of Education.

Olympic College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges *, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. The Northwest Association accredits colleges and universities in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

In the Fall of 2001, Olympic College completed the comprehensive 10-year re-accreditation evaluation. Our accreditation was reaffirmed in 2001.

Olympic College is also approved by the Veterans Administration for attendance by veterans under Public Law 550 and 894.

Olympic College is a public, Washington State two-year postsecondary institution serving the people of Kitsap and Mason Counties (Community College District 3).

Announcements

Olympic College Accreditation Visit Scheduled

Olympic College is scheduled to receive an accreditation visit from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities on October 14-16, 2009. At that time, a team of peers from various accredited institutions within the Northwest region but outside the state of Washington will visit all branches of Olympic College in order to conduct a comprehensive evaluation visit to confirm Olympic College's status as an accredited institution.

Olympic College was previously reaffirmed accreditation status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities after an interim visit in April 2006.

The public is invited to comment on this process by contacting the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities at 8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100, Redmond, Washington, 98052-3981, (425) 558-4224, and may be reached via the web at www.nwccu.org.

Signed comments will be considered with regard to Olympic College's qualification for accreditation. Any general comments received by Olympic College will be forwarded as received to the evaluation committee and Commission.

The public can obtain a copy of the Commission Policy A-5, Public Notification and Third Party Comments Regarding Full-Scale Evaluations (either via the Standards and Policies and then Operational Policies links on the Commission's website at www.nwccu.org or by contacting the Commission office at (425) 558-4224.)