Commission provides commendations.

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) is pleased to announce that the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), a regional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, has formally reaffirmed accreditation for the University following the 2020 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness, which included an institutional self-evaluation report and comprehensive peer-evaluation.

The reaffirmation of accreditation is the first since RMUoHP initially received its institutional accreditation by the NWCCU in 2010. The next evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness will be held in the spring of 2027.

“We are very pleased to achieve the formal status of reaffirmed accreditation from the NWCCU,” said Dr. Richard P. Nielsen, founding president and CEO of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. “Accreditation recognizes the quality of our evidence-based graduate healthcare education, which is essential to our students as they pursue their healthcare education programs and embark in their careers as healthcare providers in their chosen healthcare specialties.”

According to the official letter of reaffirmation, the NWCCU commended RMUoHP for its:

  • “Profound sense of student centeredness that contributes to the institution’s success. From the moment students inquire about RMUoHP programs systems are in place to engage with them through matriculation, providing resources that they need to be successful, whether as a residential student or a limited residential student. The Evaluation Team was impressed with the breadth of institutional support that continues post-graduation to support them as alumni.”
  • “High quality support systems to assist the campus community. Specifically, the Evaluation Team commends the staff that has developed the institution’s technology infrastructure and systems, including the user training required for optimal utilization of the systems that are in place, commends the Library and the Writing Center for their timely responses to requests for their help, and to the administration and staff for directing resources into these support systems. The Evaluation team also commends RMUoHP for establishing a robust faculty development system.”
  • “Campus culture conducive to strong positive morale among all campus constituencies. The Evaluation Team believes that the development of the shared governance model will help to maintain the morale, as the campus grows in complexity into the future.”

“This reaffirmation of accreditation is an important and strategic moment for RMUoHP,” said Sandra L. Pennington, PhD, RN, Chief of Staff for the Office of the President at RMUoHP, and Accreditation Liaison Officer to NWCCU. “It truly speaks to President Nielsen’s vision to support students, staff, and faculty, and to the mission of the University. It also positions us to continue providing the high-quality education we are known to deliver — far into the future.”

RMUoHP currently enrolls more than 1,000 students and offers nearly 60 advanced healthcare degrees, concentration tracks, certifications, and continuing education programs.

“Our current and future students can be assured RMUoHP is offering the most innovative healthcare education available anywhere in the country,” said Mark Horacek, PT, PhD, MS, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Accreditation by NWCCU ensures RMUoHP is meeting the highest standards possible for a university and positions RMUoHP among the upper echelon of great institutions providing advanced healthcare learning.”