February 8, 2021 - Volume 3 Issue 3
Data Driven Decisions
If you can’t measure it …

Sonny Ramaswamy, President, NWCCU

NWCCU’s intent is to help create quantitative data and analytical systems along with a culture of quality.

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it,” a quote attributed to management guru, Peter Drucker, is a mantra the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) subscribes to with passion.
Beacon Award Winner:
Subject Matter Immersion at Ensign College
Bruce C. Kusch, President, Ensign College, Salt Lake City, Utah,

Ensign College was named a recipient of the 2020 Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. (NWCCU) Beacon Award for Excellence in Student Achievement and Success for its adoption of Subject Matter Immersion in the classroom.
Beacon Award Winner: Oregon State University’s
Faculty-Student Mentoring Program (FSMP)
Gloria Crisp, Professor and Chair of the Adult and Higher Education programs, Oregon State University.

Oregon State University is celebrating the success of its Faculty,-Student Mentoring Program (FSMP), which received the 2020 Beacon Award for Excellence in Student Achievement and Success from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Beacon Award Winner: The 4 Connections at
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Sally Heilstedt, Dean of Instruction - Engagement and Learning, Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech)

The 2020 Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) Beacon Award for Excellence in Student Achievement and Success was awarded to Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) for its 4 Connections framework.
NWCCU Quality Culture Project:
From Invitation to Inclusion
Alana Hoare, Quality Assurance and Accreditation Liaison Officer, Thompson Rivers University

Pamela Goad, Executive Vice President, NWCCU

An in-depth research paper on the NWCCU Quality Culture Project–an initiative aimed at understanding how higher education stakeholders in the Northwest region understand quality assurance (QA) processes; what underpins their views; and, the internal and external factors that may curtail the positive intentions of assuring institutional effectiveness and student success.
Survey results on 2020 actions and concerns
Survey results of COVID related actions and concerns at the NWCCU member institutions.
What exactly is equity-mindedness?
A focus on equity-mindedness and the Equity Resources Library tools.
Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP) Accelerator Launches
Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP) Accelerator Launches to help colleges and universities more easily understand student educational progress and outcomes.
Updated Policies and Bylaws
NWCCU Policies and Bylaws updated by the Board of Commissioners in a December 2020 Special Session.
Reflecting on the 2020 NWCCU Annual Conference
Thank you to all those that joined us for the 2020 NWCCU Annual Conference; held virtually on Zoom, November 18-20, 2020.
New Presidents in the Northwest

Join us in welcoming the newest presidents in the Northwest! Learn who is new to Western Seminary and Central Washington University.
Upcoming Reminders and Events

Join us for the 2021 NWCCU Winter webinars, or new interactive workshops.

NWCCU Webinars: Engaging Your Campus Community in Accreditation
(February 12, 2021; 12:00 PM Pacific Time). This Friday!


Thank you
The Beacon is NWCCU's quarterly newsletter to inform its member institutions and other stakeholders of updates, news, resources, and information pertaining to accreditation and higher education issues. Please send your comments, as well as inquiries for a contribution to the Beacon: thebeacon@nwccu.org.
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