NIC gets extension, sanction reduced to probation

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College is “positioned to remedy” a handful of remaining accreditation issues within the next year, according to a Monday letter from NIC’s accreditor.

“While we still have work to do, this is a step in the right direction,” NIC President Nick Swayne said in a news release.

Since early 2022, NIC has operated under a show cause sanction, the last step before loss of accreditation, largely due to governance problems on the board of trustees. 

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, NIC’s accreditor, has reduced that sanction to probation and granted NIC a one-year extension to get back into compliance with three accreditation standards: 

• Resolve the issues underpinning numerous votes of no confidence from faculty, staff and student constituent groups 

• Adhere to institutional and board policies, particularly those pertaining to appropriate roles and responsibilities, expectations, professional conduct and ethics and grievance procedures 

• Demonstrate a commitment from the board and college president to an environment respectful of meaningful discourse 

Student learning is not compromised at NIC, the letter noted, and NIC has demonstrated improvement on the majority of noncompliant issues during the past seven months. NIC has also provided teach-out plans and agreements in accordance with the NWCCU’s policy and timelines. 

“Through its established policies, robust board training, and application of improved board practices in recent meetings, the institution has demonstrated a reasonable plan for coming into compliance with all standards and eligibility requirements in the timeframe,” the letter said. 

Swayne said efforts are underway to bring the outstanding areas into compliance.

“We’re happy they recognized all the efforts and good work being done at NIC,” Swayne said. “We look forward to putting this completely behind us.”

NIC must address the remaining issues during a mid-cycle report and visit in the fall.