Skip to Main Content

Accreditation

The University of Alaska southeast has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1983. This accreditation includes the Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka campuses.

Institutional accreditation is regularly reviewed and reaffirmed by the NWCCU. This reaffirmation focuses on a process of continuous improvement. Such improvement aligned with standards occurs through regular reports and site visits conducted by peer evaluators. In addition to these reports and visits, the institution also communicates regularly with the NWCCU about substantive program changes including additions, suspensions, and deletions as well as about changes to institutional leaders and organizational structure.

At UAS, the Provost serves as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) and is the primary point of contact for information regarding accreditation. The provost's office can be contacted at 907-796-6147 or [email protected].

Year 7 - Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability - Reaffirmation of UAS Accreditation - July 2019.

The University of Alaska Southeast is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

Inquiries regarding an institution’s accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100

Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 558-4224 www.nwccu.org

Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities refers to the institution as a whole. Therefore, statements like “fully accredited” or “this program is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities” or “this degree is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities” are incorrect and should not be used.

Specialized Accreditations

Teacher Education

The School of Education at the University of Alaska Southeast received its accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) which has since been consolidated into the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

This accreditation covers initial and advanced teacher preparation programs. However, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relicensure, or other purposes. CAEP is recognized by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel.

Health Information Management

The Health Information Management Associate Degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Medical Assisting Certificate

The University of Alaska Southeast is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org)
9355   113th St. N, #7709
Seminole,  FL 33775-7709
727-210-2350

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

The Certificate, Associate, and Baccalaureate degree programs in the UAS Department of Business and Public Administration have been accredited by ACBSP, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. 

ACBSP
U.S. World Headquarters
11520 West 119th Street Overland Park, KS 66213

Additional Information

Please visit the Program Review site for additional reports on Accreditation

September 2014 - UAS Report to Board of Regents on Institutional and Programmatic Accreditation

Our Year Seven Self-Evaluation report is now available online.

A site visit by a team of Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) evaluators occurred April 24-26, 2019.

The NWCCU votes on UAS accreditation status June 19-20, 2019.

Accreditation Reaffirmation - July 2019.

2011 Year One Self Evaluation Report

UAS 2013 Year Three Self Evaluation Report

Below are the table of contents for the 2013 Year Three Self Evaluation Report. Below is a list of bookmarks for navigation within the PDF document above.

Pg #
INSTITUTIONAL OVERVIEW1
PREFACE3
Institutional Changes Since the Last Report3
Strategic Planning3
Leadership and Reorganization3
Student Success3
Assessment4
Infrastructure4
Response to Recommendations5
CHAPTER ONE -- STANDARD 1: MISSION, CORE THEME, AND EXPECTATIONS6
Executive Summary of Eligibility Requirements 2 and 36
Eligibility Requirement 2: Authority6
Eligibility Requirement 3: Mission and Core Themes6
Standard 1.A Mission6
Standard 1.A.16
Core Themes7
Vision7
Values7
Interpretation of Mission Fulfillment8
Standard 1.A.28
Articulation of an Acceptable Threshold, Extent, or Degree of Mission Fulfillment8
Core Themes, Objectives, Outcome, and Indicators9
Core Theme One: Student Success9
Core Theme Two: Teaching and Learning12
Core Theme Three: Community Engagement15
Core Theme Four: Research and Creative Expression16
CHAPTER TWO -- STANDARD 2: RESOURCES AND CAPACITY19
Introduction19
Core Theme One: Student Success19
Core Theme Two: Teaching and Learning20
Core Theme Three: Community Engagement21
Core Theme Four: Research and Creative Activity22
2.A—Governance23
2.B—Human Resources38
2.C– Human Resources50
2.D– Student Support Resources68
2.E– Library and Information Resources83
2.F– Financial Resources86
2.G– Physical and Technological Infrastructure92
CONCLUSION101
APPENDIX ONE102
Executive Summary of Eligibility Requirements 4 through 21102
Eligibility Requirement 4 Operational Focus and Independence102
Eligibility Requirement 5 Non-Discrimination102
Eligibility Requirement 6 Institutional Integrity102
Eligibility Requirement 7 Governing Board103
Eligibility Requirement 8 Chief Executive Officer103
Eligibility Requirement 9 Administration104
Eligibility Requirement 10 Faculty104
Eligibility Requirement 11 Educational Program104
Eligibility Requirement 12 General Education And Related Instruction105
Eligibility Requirement 13 Library and Information Resources106
Eligibility Requirement 14 Physical and Technological Infrastructure106
Eligibility Requirement 15 Academic Freedom106
Eligibility Requirement 16 Admissions107
Eligibility Requirement 17 Public Information107
Eligibility Requirement 18 Financial Resources108
Eligibility Requirement 19 Financial Accountability109
Eligibility Requirement 20 Disclosure109
Eligibility Requirement 21 Relationship with the Accreditation Commission109
APPENDIX TWO110
Mission Fulfillment Foundations110
Organizational Charts123
Basic Institutional Data Form140
UAS Financial Statements146

Helpful Links

UAS Strategic and Assessment Plan 2010-2017
UAS Campus Master Plan
UAS Academic Catalog 2013-14
Faculty Handbooks
Accreditation Reports: Regional and Specialized
UAS Program Review
UA Graduate Study 2012
UAS Student Retention Study 2012
2009 Self Study Cover

UAS 2009 Self Study Report

Below are the table of contents for the 2009 Self Study Report. (1.8Mb). There is an extensive list of bookmarks for navigation within the PDF document above.  To read the NWCCU's response to the 2009 Self Study Report, click here.

SectionPg #
Standard One: Institutional Mission and Goals, Planning, and Effectiveness
1.A Mission and Goals 11
1.B Planning and Effectiveness4
Standard Two: Educational Program and its Effectiveness
2.A General Requirements1
2.B Educational Program Planning and Assessment8
2.C Undergraduate Program19
2.D Graduate Programs57
2.E Graduate Faculty and Related Resources62
2.F Graduate Records and Academic Credit65
2.G Continuing Education and Special Learning Activities66
2.H Non Credit Programs and Courses72
Standard Three: Students
3.A Purpose and Organization1
3.B General Responsibilities4
3.C Academic Credit and Records9
3.D Student Services12
Standard Four: Faculty
4.A Faculty Selection, Evaluation, Roles, Welfare, and Development1
4.B Scholarship, Research, and Artistic Creation16
Standard Five: Library and Information Resources
5.A Purpose and Scope1
5.B Information Resources and Services5
5.C Facilities and Access12
5.D Personnel and Management14
5.E Planning and Evaluation18
Standard Six: Governance and Administration
6.A Governance System1
6.B Governing Board3
6.C Leadership and Management6
6.D Faculty Role in Governance11
6.E Student Role in Governance13
Standard Seven: Finance
7.A Financial Planning1
7.B Adequacy of Financial Resources5
7.C Financial Management9
7.D Fundraising and Development12
Standard Eight: Physical Resources
8.A Instructional and Support Facilities1
8.B Equipment and Materials7
8.C Physical Resources Planning8
Standard Nine: Institutional Integrity
9.A Commitment to High Ethical Standards1