NWCCU Reaffirms USU's 7-Year Accreditation, Gives Commendations

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University has had its accreditation reaffirmed by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The routinely scheduled accreditation site visit was performed in April, both on the USU campus in Logan as well as the USU Eastern campus in Price. The commission issued the formal accreditation decision in August.

"Accreditation by the NWCCU represents the commission’s judgement that an institution is satisfactorily achieving its mission and educational purposes and that it meets or exceeds NWCCU standards of quality and effectiveness,” said Jeff Aird, chief data analytics officer, who spearheaded USU’s efforts for reaffirmed accreditation. “USU has been continuously accredited for more than 100 years.”

During the comprehensive evaluation process, representatives from the NWCCU offered glowing commendations on USU’s operations and procedures, while offering constructive recommendations for the future.

“During their visit in April, we received high praise for our work and strong integration across our vast mission,” said USU Interim President Alan L. Smith. “The NWCCU’s recommendations aligned closely with our ongoing efforts and goals and will help us move forward in productive ways. This process reaffirms that USU is a great place to receive an education.”

During the evaluation, NWCCU representatives met with various faculty, staff and students at the university, both in Logan and Price. While evaluating USU and its mission, these reviewers commended the university.

The university faculty and staff were praised for their commitment to being a student-centered institution that continually works to foster engaged learning, support student relationships and to create a caring environment where students can thrive and feel heard and valued. USU was also commended for its ability to navigate and provide resources and infrastructure to its complex mission as Utah’s land-grant university and its prioritization of student success for all students, no matter their program of study or location.

“Part of USU’s land-grant mission is to provide access to education to individuals across the state, no matter where they are,” Aird said. “We are a complex system of technical colleges, statewide campuses, and an R1 research institution. The NWCCU peer evaluators were amazed by how USU navigates its intricate organization while always putting students at the center and making it as simple and easy as possible for them to navigate and succeed.”

As part of their accreditation letter, the commission also offered recommendations on how USU can continue to meet standards of excellence. According to Aird, these recommendations were welcomed and were closely aligned with goals already identified by USU leadership as ways to continue to provide an exceptional educational experience for students.

The NWCCU conducts a comprehensive site visit to institutions for accreditation every seven years. Prior to this year, the commission last reaffirmed accreditation of Utah State University in 2018. USU has been continuously accredited by the NWCCU since 1924.

Utah State University is a premier land- and space-grant institution committed to excellence, access, and inclusion. Since its founding in 1888, USU has evolved from a small agricultural college tucked away in the Northern Utah mountains to a thriving, R1 research university with locations serving the entire state of Utah and known throughout the world for its intellectual and technological leadership.