The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) invites applications and nominations as the Commission searches for the next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Commission seeks a collaborative, forward-thinking, and innovative President/CEO who will be a respected voice in the national and international conversation for independent accreditation in the rapidly changing higher education landscape.
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) provides institutional accreditation for public and private institutions of higher education, including Tribal and Faith-Based, throughout the United States and internationally. The overriding purpose of NWCCU accreditation is to assure stakeholders that an NWCCU-accredited institution has been rigorously evaluated and that it meets or exceeds the criteria required to maintain accreditation. In addition, NWCCU promotes a culture of data- and evidence-informed continuous institutional improvement, validates institutional integrity, and provides opportunities for feedback that improve the accreditation process.
The Commission is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) as an accreditor of higher education institutions throughout the United States. NWCCU is a Washington State nonprofit corporation, recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Further details regarding NWCCU can be found in its bylaws and a full list of institutions accredited by NWCCU can be found in its directory.
The NWCCU Board consists of up to twenty-six Commissioners, serving staggered three-year terms without compensation, with a majority representing institutions accredited by NWCCU, at least one representing tribal colleges, one-seventh representing the general public, and two commissioners from non-member institutions. The NWCCU Board currently consists of 19 commissioners and the president, who is ex-officio.
The Position
The president is the chief executive officer of the organization, reporting to the NWCCU Board of Commissioners and providing strategic leadership to the Commission in matters of research and policy development in accreditation and administrative effectiveness. The president contributes regionally and nationally to ongoing discussions on quality assurance in postsecondary education.
The president will manage a professional and administrative staff of fourteen, seven of which are vice presidents who serve as institutional liaisons and perform other commission work. The seven administrative staff members support the accreditation processes and institutional reviews, serve as staff to the Commission, and offer programs and support to help institutions enhance their effectiveness.
Qualifications
The president will possess an earned terminal degree and extensive experience in administration and accreditation and will have:
- Passion for the support of student learning and student retention and completion;
- Broad and deep understanding of the higher education environment (non-profit, proprietary, and online education, for example), as well as the contemporary issues facing higher education providers;
- Experience with accreditation and a grounded sense of student, faculty, and institutional interests in its enactment;
- Extensive administrative experience, including some at a senior level, preferably at a regionally accredited academic institution;
- Appreciation of the diversity of institutions within NWCCU and a demonstrated commitment to fostering access and belonging in higher education;
- Familiarity with current statutes and regulations related to accreditation and a willingness to stay current and contribute to ongoing changes in the legislative and regulatory landscapes;
- Proven record of success in working with engaged and active boards;
- Ability and willingness to lead and oversee changes needed in the Commission’s standards and procedures that align with the needs and demands of current and future students;
- Evidence of incorporating strategic approaches to problem-solving;
- Ability to balance the leadership and management of internal commission operations and engagement in national issues and activities;
- Disposition and political acumen to provide leadership for national conversations about accreditation’s role in quality assurance;
- Integrity, diplomacy, and presence to represent the Commission before multiple audiences and constituencies;
- Demonstrated leadership skills that will advance a commission-led association with institutional membership and volunteers;
- Strong managerial and supervisory skills;
- Demonstrated ability to attract, retain, and inspire talented staff and volunteers in the ongoing work of institutional review and to build and manage successful teams;
- Compassion and respect for co-workers at all levels of the organization;
- Excellent written, analytic, and communication skills; and
- Willingness and ability to engage in significant travel.
More information about the position and the NWCCU can be found in the institutional profile linked here.
How to Apply
Applications should consist of a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, and a list of five professional references with full contact information. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate.
The position is open until filled but only applications received by Monday, May 5, 2025, can be assured full consideration. The Commission is being assisted by Academic Search. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting lead consultants Ann Hasselmo and Chris Butler. Further information about NWCCU is available at https://nwccu.org/. The anticipated salary range for this position is $425,000-475,000.
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is committed to equal employment opportunity and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. It will not discriminate based on race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, and medical condition (including pregnancy or childbirth), genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.