Accreditation Concerns

The NWCCU visit to Wenatchee Valley College in Spring 2025 was not part of the regular accreditation cycle. It was a Special Evaluation Visit, initiated because the accrediting commission had ongoing concerns about WVC’s workplace environment, communication, and leadership practices. 

That Special Visit was triggered by ongoing concerns about institutional culture and leadership, including:

• Failures in workplace communication and climate,

• Mishandling of complaints and grievances,

• Insufficient training for administrators and supervisors, and

• Deficiencies in ensuring a respectful, ethical, and non-discriminatory environment.
  
  

This visit was not part of WVC's regular accreditation cycle, but an evaluation to verify whether WVC had corrected earlier concerns NWCCU had flagged.

Those problems were not resolved, and that’s why NWCCU issued the formal Warning sanction following this visit.

Read the NWCCU Special Evaluation Report (April 2025)

Read the NWCCU Commission Letter (July 2025)

Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) remains accredited, but it is on Warning status with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). This means the college is out of compliance with some accreditation standards and must correct those issues to keep its accreditation.

In Spring 2026, NWCCU will conduct a follow-up evaluation to decide whether WVC has made enough progress. During that visit, the Commission will look for real, documented improvement in two key areas:

1. Training for Leaders and Supervisors – All administrators and supervisors must receive regular, high-quality training on ethical management, transparent communication, and fair, consistent handling of complaints and grievances.
   
   

2. Training for All Employees – Every faculty and staff member must complete ongoing training on respectful workplace communication, preventing bullying and discrimination, and understanding how to report and resolve complaints properly.
   
   

If NWCCU determines that WVC has not made sufficient progress by the Spring 2026 review, the Warning sanction can be escalated to a more serious status such as Probation or Show Cause, which could ultimately place the college’s accreditation at risk.

WVC has until August 2029 to fully meet the Commission’s requirements, but the 2026 visit is a critical checkpoint that will determine whether the college is on the right path toward restoring full compliance and rebuilding trust.

Read the NWCCU Commission Letter (July 2025)

Read the WVC Accreditation FAQs