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About Northwest Indian College

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Our History

With its main campus located on the Lummi Indian Reservation in Washington State, 20 miles south of the Canadian border, Northwest Indian College is the only accredited tribal college serving the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

NWIC grew from the Lummi Indian School of Aquaculture, founded in 1973, a single-purpose training program developed to prepare technicians for employment in Indian-owned and operated fish and shellfish hatcheries throughout the United States and Canada.

In 1983, the Lummi Indian Business Council recognized the need for a more comprehensive post-secondary institution for tribal members, and the college was chartered as Lummi Community College, an Indian-controlled, comprehensive two-year college, designed to serve the post-secondary educational needs of Indian people living in the Pacific Northwest. In June of 1988, Lummi Community College was approved as a candidate for accreditation by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWASC) and, on January 20, 1989, in acknowledgement of its wider mandate to serve Native people through the Northwest, Lummi Community College changed its name to the Northwest Indian College.

Northwest Indian College was granted accreditation at the associate level by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), effective September 1993. In 2010, NWIC became accredited at the baccalaureate level and now offers four bachelor’s degrees. The College’s educational programs have been approved by the US Department of Education, Veteran’s Administration, and the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board for the administration of financial assistance for eligible student. Northwest Indian College is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), the American Association of Community Colleges, and the American Council on Education.

Biennial Report 2020-2022

Published every other year, the Biennial Report is a review of the College’s history and a snapshot of our growth.

NWIC Key Facts

NWIC Key Facts
History
Founded1973
Seven Campuses
Main CampusLummi Nation
Bellingham, WA
Admissions Overall
Annualized Headcount975
Native American91.7%
Gender74.1% Female
Tribes Represented115+
Average Age32
Average Graduate GPA3.31
Student Clubs11
*data from 2020-2021 AY

Academics

Explore our Academic Programs, Degrees, Certificates and Vocational Education programs.

Admissions

Northwest Indian College’s primary focus is on recruiting Native American and First Nations (Canadian) students but follows an “open door” admissions policy.

Our Mission, Vision and Core Values

 

NWIC is guided by its mission, vision, and core values.

NWIC Mission Statement: 
  • Through education, Northwest Indian College promotes Indigenous self-determination and knowledge.
NWIC Vision Statement:  
  • We are committed to our students, the Tribes we serve, and advancing Tribal sovereignty for the protection and enhancement of our homelands and future generations.
NWIC Core Values:
  • Sәla-lexʷ: Our strength comes from the old people. From them we receive our teachings and knowledge and the advice we need for our daily lives.
  • Schtәngәxʷәn: We are responsible to protect our territory. This means we take care of our land and water and everything that is on it and in it.
  • Xwlәmi-chosәn: Our culture is our language. We should strengthen and maintain our language.
  • Leng-e-sot: We take care of ourselves, watch out for ourselves and love and take care of one another.
  • Xaalh: Life balance/sacred

Meet our President

Justin P. Guillory, PhD, was appointed as the President of NWIC in July 2012, after serving for more than five years as NWIC’s Dean of Academics and Distance Learning and Dean of Extended Campus Sites.

Dr. Guillory’s previous professional experience includes serving as the site manager for the NWIC Nez Perce extended campus site on the Nez Perce reservation in Lapwai, Idaho, and as the graduate assistant/mentor program coordinator for the Native American Student Center within the Office of Multicultural Student Services at Washington State University.

Dr. Guillory is a descendant of the Nez Perce Tribe and also has African American and Hispanic ancestry. He received a full-ride football scholarship to Eastern Washington University where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1998 after which he attended graduate school at Washington State University and earned a Master of Arts in Educational Administration in 2000 and consequently a PhD. in Higher Education Administration in 2008.

Justin is married to Sunny (Walker) Guillory, NWIC’s financial literacy coordinator, and they have four children.

Justin P. Guillory, PhD • President, NWIC

Justin P. Guillory, PhD • President, NWIC

Contact President Guillory at president@nwic.edu or (360) 392-4328

About NWIC

With its main campus located on the Lummi Indian Reservation in Washington State, 20 miles south of the Canadian border, Northwest Indian College is the only accredited tribal college serving the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

NWIC Community

Northwest Indian College provides a sanctuary of learning that in many ways reflect the values of the communities in which they are in.

NWIC Admissions

Northwest Indian College’s primary focus is on recruiting Native American and First Nations (Canadian) students but follows an “open door” admissions policy.

NWIC Extended Campus Locations

Northwest Indian College‘s main campus is located at the Lummi Nation. The College also has six full service extended campus sites located at Muckleshoot, Nez Perce, Nisqually, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Swinomish, and Tulalip. Please use the location links to view details for each extended campus site.

Financial Aid

Northwest Indian College administers a broad range of financial aid, scholarships, and work-study programs for students who can demonstrate financial need.

Student Life

NWIC students are encouraged to engage and integrate into the life of the institution. Students are offered opportunities to participate in enrichment activities through Student Affairs, student government, and residence life.

Build Your Future.

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