MHCC Gresham Campus with Mt. Hood i the background

MHCC Accreditation

MHCC is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

The NWCCU is an independent, nonprofit membership organization and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the regional authority on educational quality and institutional effectiveness in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Mt. Hood Community College has continuously maintained its accreditation with NWCCU since 1972. Accreditation through NWCCU means that the MHCC district meets or exceeds the commission's established standards of educational quality and effectiveness. The NWCCU last reaffirmed MHCC's accreditation in Feb. 2017 in conjunction with the district's Year Seven Evaluation.

Have questions about MHCC accreditation?

Inquiries regarding MHCC's accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the President's Office or the Accreditation Liaison Officer. Please email the President's office or call 503-491-7411.

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
425-558-4224
www.nwccu.org

MHCC's Accredited Technical Programs

MHCC offers these Career Technical programs, accredited by the organization listed:

  • Automotive: National Automotive Technician Education Foundation
  • Dental Hygiene: Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association
  • Emergency Medical Technician: Oregon Department of Education
  • Funeral Service Education: American Board of Funeral Service Education
  • Natural Resources Technology - Forest Resources: Society of American Foresters.
  • Nursing: Oregon State Board of Nursing
  • Nursing Assistant: Oregon State Board of Nursing
  • Physical Therapy Assistant: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
  • Surgical Technology: Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology
  • Respiratory Care: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
  • Welding: American Welding Society

2023 Year Seven Evaluation Visit

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) performed a comprehensive accreditation evaluation visit to MHCC from Oct. 18-20, 2023. MHCC has prepared a self-evaluation study.

Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness Report (Fall 2023)
NWCCU Action Letter – Accreditation Reaffirmation (March 2024)

Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review Report 

In Sept. 2022, MHCC submitted its PRFR Report to the commission. This report focuses on Standard 2 of the accreditation standards.

PRFR Report (Fall 2022)
NWCCU Action Letter (Feb. 2023)

Ad-hoc Visit

In Oct. 2021, the MHCC had an Ad-hoc visit related to the outstanding NWCCU recommendation on improving education outcomes assessment processes.

Ad-hoc Report (2021)
NWCCU Action Letter (Feb. 2022)

Mid-cycle Self-evaluation

In Oct. 2019, MHCC held its Mid-Cycle Evaluation. The Mid-Cycle Evaluation is intended to ascertain an institution’s readiness to provide evidence (outcomes) of mission fulfillment and sustainability in the Year Seven. The Mid-Cycle Evaluation includes a visit by a team of evaluators to assist institutions in determining if the process of outcomes assessment will lead them to a successful Year Seven self-evaluation and peer evaluation. It is intended to be a formative and collegial evaluation with the institution in conversation with the evaluators.

Mid-cycle Self-evaluation Report
Mid-cycle NWCCU Letter of Action Taken

Year-one Self-evaluation Report

In Sept. 2017, MHCC submitted the Year One Self-Evaluation report and an Ad-Hoc Report in response to Year Seven Recommendations. An institution’s self-evaluation report is an assessment with respect to the accreditation criteria of its educational quality and institutional effectiveness in regard to its own stated mission and core themes.

Year-one Self-evaluation Report
Ad-hoc Self-evaluation Report to Recommendations
Year-one and Ad-hoc Action Letter

2016 Year Seven Evaluation Visit

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) performed a comprehensive accreditation evaluation visit to MHCC on Nov. 7-9, 2016. The NWCCU evaluation team, led by faculty and staff from peer institutions in the NWCCU region, met with campus students, faculty, staff and Board of Education members to evaluate the college's accreditation status, in conjunction with the college's Year Seven Self-Evaluation Report. This visit is the culminating step in a regular seven-year cycle of review for each member college within the Commission.

Year Seven Self-Evaluation Report (2016)
The Evaluation Committee Report for the NWCCU (Nov. 2016)
Accreditation Reaffirmation (Feb. 2017)

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