NIC: Can’t shop for accreditation

I don’t know what Don Thompson found so offensive on the NWCCU website in his recent letter to the editor. Perhaps reading through the website would help understand the purpose of accreditation standards and the role of NWCCU.

His accusation that NWCCU is affiliated with a DEI organization or that it somehow plays a role in admissions makes no sense. The ideals of diversity, equality, and inclusion are not a literal institution or organization. It’s a philosophy of being tolerant of those who look and think different than you. NIC is required by Idaho state law to be accredited by the NWCCU, so you can’t just shop around for a more sympathetic accreditor.

The notion that DEI is the cause of the accreditation issues is ludicrous. It’s entirely about failed board governance. If you want the unvarnished truth, it’s all documented on the NIC website at https://www.nic.edu/accreditation. Click the accreditation-communications link on the top right to read the actual letters from the NWCCU and NIC responses.  

The NIC accreditation problem requires fixing the board of trustees. It’s clear that two trustees aren’t interested in correcting the problem as they won’t even show up to the board governance training they voted for. The answer to NIC’s woes is the upcoming election where we have a chance to remove the cancer that has infected the board and elect competent trustees instead of “rated-and-vetted” trustees.  

ZEKE WINCHESTER

Hayden