Provost

NWCCU Accreditation

The University of Montana has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1932.

The University of Montana has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1932. Accreditation is not granted permanently; it is reaffirmed periodically through a recurring cycle of self-study and peer evaluation. UM's accreditation was last reaffirmed on July 12, 2024, following our Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE) self-study and site visit.

Accreditation Cycle

Current Status: Fall 2026 Mid-Cycle Review

UM is preparing its Year Three Mid-Cycle Self-Evaluation Report, due to NWCCU by August 24, 2026, with a peer evaluation team visit anticipated in early October 2026. The report addresses UM's mission fulfillment, student achievement, and programmatic assessment, and is prepared with input from across the university.

Review Standards

Accreditation standards are intended to guide institutions in a process of self-reflection that blends analysis and synthesis in a holistic examination of:

• The institution's Mission;
• The translation of the Mission into assessable objectives supported by programs and services;
• The appraisal of the institution's potential to fulfill the Mission;
• The planning and implementation involved in achieving and assessing the desired outcomes of programs and services; and
• An evaluation of the results of the institution's efforts to fulfill the Mission and assess its ability to monitor its environment, adapt, and sustain itself as a viable institution.

For more about NWCCU Standards visit their website.

Recent Accreditation Documents

Current accreditation documents:

• July 2024 letter from NWCCU reaffirming accreditation
• UM's Year 7 (Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness) Self-Evaluation Report (2024)
• UM's Year 6 (Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review Self-study) Accreditation Report (2023)
• UM's Year 3 (Mid-cycle evaluation) Accreditation Report (2020)

If you have questions about UM's accreditation by NWCCU, please contact John DeBoer, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer.