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Accreditation & Assessment

The institution has an NWCCU Mid-Cycle (Year 3) evaluation
October 12-14, 2023

Regional accreditation is a process of recognizing educational institutions for performance, integrity, and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public. In the United States this recognition is extended largely through nongovernmental, voluntary membership associations that establish accreditation criteria, evaluate institutions against that criteria, and approve institutions that meet the criteria. 

Snow College is accredited by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). As an accredited institution, Snow College is required to examine its  mission, goals, operations, and achievements. On a seven year cycle, Snow College is provided analysis by peer evaluators, and, later, commendations for accomplishments and recommendations for improvement. Snow College is committed to meeting fully the accreditation standards of the Northwest Commission.  It is also committed to building and sustaining a culture of assessment and evidence-based institutional effectiveness to sustain high-quality student learning and achievement and to enable the institution to fulfill its mission. 

Planning and Assessment Model

Mission fulfillment at Snow College refers to the achievement of the college's mission statement and the successful implementation of its educational goals and objectives. The Snow College mission affirms a tradition of academic excellence, encourages a culture of innovation, and cultivates an atmosphere of engagement to advance students in the achievement of their educational goals.  This mission is operationalized by the Snow College Strategic Plan using the five central themes of 

  • Student Success
  • Academics
  • Recruitment and Retention
  • Employees
  • Infrastructure and Community.

Key metrics in each theme area help Snow College measure the successful implementation of the college's educational goals and objectives, inform decision-making, and drive plans for continuous improvement. A total of 17 key performance indicators (KPIs) along with performance measures from integrated department and unit strategic plans provide the structure by which Snow College assess mission fulfillment and overall college performance. Several of these KPIs are associated with the Aspen College Excellence Program and Award and state-wide (USHE) performance metrics.

Accreditation Quick Links

Snow College also has specialized accreditation for the following programs: