Admissions
Admission, Registration, and Academic Information
Northwest Indian College primarily focuses on recruiting Native-American, Alaska Native, and Canadian First Nations students, but follows an ‘open door’ admissions policy. Anyone who has graduated from high school or the equivalent may be accepted into Northwest Indian College. Students who are under the age of 18 without a High School Diploma or the equivalent must obtain permission from their parent or legal guardian and the school district before enrolling for college-level courses in the Running Start program. Contact the Office of Admissions for more information on the Running Start Program. Students who are not prepared to begin college-level courses are provided with a wide variety of developmental course work designed to prepare them for more advanced study and to pursue programs suited to their interests and aptitude.
Admissions Forms
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation
Welcome new students! We’re so excited to have you joining our community. Northwest Indian College has served students since classes were first offered in 1973. 47 years later, we continue to promotes Indigenous self-determination and knowledge to our students. We’re proud of the achievements and successes of our current students and more than 1800 alumni. We look forward to supporting you as you work toward your academic and professional goals.
This orientation is designed to familiarize you with campus and prepare you for your college experience. The experience will be two-fold:
- Online Orientation Canvas page, which is an interactive page with information designed into modules, and each student will be required to work through and complete the survey at the end of the course. All new students will be automatically added to this course. You can return to the course anytime in your Canvas dashboard or by clicking the link below. If you would like to be added to this course, please email sperez@nwic.edu.
- Interactive Zoom meeting, where you will meet virtually with staff, faculty, and other new students. There are several meeting times scheduled for you to choose from.
Registration Information
REGISTRATION
Once admitted, every NWIC student must register each quarter. The registration process includes meeting with an advisor, enrolling in classes, paying financial obligations, and completing any other information forms as needed. Students may update their address and other contact information online through the student information system also known as JICS ( Jenzabar Internet Campus Solution).
The registration calendar has three critical dates: Regular Registration, Late Registration, and Permission for Late Registration. Students are responsible for knowing and adhering to these dates, which are available online.
Center for Student Success
Contact Information:
Tuition and Fees
2021-2022 Tuition Rates
Tuition Rates 2021-2022
| Credits | Resident 2021-2022 | Non-Resident 2021-2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $99 | $198 |
| 2 | $198 | $396 |
| 3 | $297 | $594 |
| 4 | $396 | $792 |
| 5 | $495 | $990 |
| 6 | $594 | $1,188 |
| 7 | $693 | $1,386 |
| 8 | $792 | $1,584 |
| 9 | $891 | $1,782 |
| 10 | $990 | $1,980 |
| 11 | $1,086 | $2,178 |
| 12 | $1,188 | $2,376 |
| 13+ | $99 per cr. | $198 per cr. |
2021-2022 Fees
Laboratory or materials fees: Certain courses carry laboratory or materials fees. All students are required to pay an enrollment fee and technology fee, and activity fee depending on the number of enrolled credits.
1-5 credit hours:
$35 non-refundable enrollment fee, $50 technology fee. Total fees = $85/qtr
6-11 credit hours:
$35 non-refundable enrollment fee, $50 technology fee, and a $20 student activity fee. Total fees for part-time enrollment = $105/qtr
12-18 credit hours:
$35 non-refundable enrollment fee, $50 technology fee and a $50 student activity fee. Total fees for full-time enrollment = $135/qtr
* An additional $35 non-refundable late enrollment fee may apply
Student Accounts & Billing
Student Accounts & Billing
Accessing your Student Account
You may access your student account in JICS under the “Finance” Tab.
When you register for classes or make changes to your registration, you are making a financial commitment to NWIC. Failure to view your account does not negate your responsibility to pay by the due date.
Account Holds
TR Hold (Transcript Request Hold)
Your current balance is somewhere between $0.01 and $499.99. This balance will still allow you to register for courses, however you will not be able to access your unofficial transcripts or even order official transcripts
AR Hold (Accounts Receivable Hold)
Your current balance exceeds $500, and you will not be able to register until your balance is below this amount. Common reasons this happens include not having submitted a copy of your tribal ID or CDIB information when you submitted your application, or not completing verification for financial aid.
Making Payments
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Call the Student Accounts office M-F 8am-5pm:
Direct Line (360) 392-4222
Student Accounts Cell Phone (360) 927-4771
Main: (360) 676-2772 | (866) 676-2772 -
Payments are accepted in-person at the Cashier’s Office, Building 11, Lummi Main Campus M-F 9am-5pm.
*Note: NWIC accounting staff are working remotely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The best communication option is email.
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Email studentaccounts@nwic.edu with your phone number and a staff member will contact you when in office to process your credit card over the phone.
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Check or Money Order payments can be made by mail to:
Northwest Indian College
Attn: Accounting
2522 Kwina Road
Bellingham, WA
98226Please be sure to include your student ID or full name along with the payment. Do not mail cash.
3rd Party Payments
If some or all of your tuition and fees will be paid by a qualified 3rd Party, the authorization guaranteeing payment of a specified amount of your tuition and fees must be received in the Accounts Receivable Office.
Mail 3rd Party Authorizations to:
Northwest Indian College
Attn: Accounting
2522 Kwina Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
Having a 3rd Party Authorization on file does not remove your responsibility to assure that all tuition and fees are paid. Should your 3rd Party not send a timely payment, the debt will remain on your student account and you will be responsible for any charges.
In addition, if you will be receiving Financial Aid, you should notify the Financial Aid Department (financialaid@nwic.edu) regarding your eligibility for aid.
Accounting Department Contact Information:
Registration Procedures
New and Returning Students
#1 ADMISSION:
Submit a completed NWIC Admission Application to the Office of Admissions, a copy of your high school diploma or equivalent, and a copy of your Tribal certification, Tribal enrollment card, or letter of documentation from your federally recognized Tribe (if applicable). Documentation is necessary to determine resident student status to be eligible for the resident student tuition rate. For residency-related questions, please contact Admissions.
#2 FINANCIAL AID:
Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For priority deadlines, please refer to the Financial Aid section of the catalog or contact the Financial Aid Office.
Contact Financial Aid
#3 PLACEMENT:
New students and transfer students who have not taken college-level Math and/or English are required to take a placement test. Transfer students who have taken college-level Math and/or English are required to submit official transcripts and need to fill out a Transfer Evaluation Request Form.
#4 ADVISING:
Meet with your advisor to review placement results and/or transcripts and discuss
educational goals to develop an educational plan.
#5 REGISTRATION:
Register for classes, pay tuition/fees, and purchase textbooks.
Running Start
Running Start
What is Running Start?
The Running Start Program is a partnership between NWIC and Washington state public high schools. The program offers eligible high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take NWIC classes that satisfy both high school and college credit requirements simultaneously, tuition free. Running Start allows a student to get a head start on earning college credits, seek a greater academic challenge, or take courses that are not offered in their high school. Students may enroll concurrently in high school and college classes, or solely in college classes. While tuition for college-level classes is paid by the Running Start Programs, the cost of fees, books and supplies are paid by the students.
To participate in NWIC’s Running Start program, students must take the NWIC placement tests and place at college-level English (English 100 or above). Other criteria and specific procedures for enrolling in courses as a Running Start student are available from the NWIC Office of Admissions.
Students continuing in the Running Start Program are required to submit paperwork quarterly. Students are not charged tuition if they stay within the Running Start eligibility criteria. Students are responsible for all fees.
Running Start Coordinator
Katawny Webber
Phone: 360.392.4273
Email: kwebber@nwic.edu
First Year Experience/ RS Advisor/ Testing Coordinator
Shoshaunee Perez
Phone: 360.392.4243
Email: sperez@nwic.edu
General Information
Email: runningstart@nwic.edu
Academic Calendars
Academic Year
AT-A-GLANCE CALENDAR 2021-2022
| Summer Quarter 2021 | Fall Quarter 2021 | Winter Quarter 2022 | Spring Quarter 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration - May 17 to July 02, 2021 | Registration - May 17 to Sept 17, 2021 | Registration - Nov 8 to Jan 5, 2022 | Registration - Feb 22 to Apr 5 |
| Quarter Begins-July 06, 2021 | Quarter Begins-September 20, 2021 | Quarter Begins-January 6, 2022 | Quarter Begins-April 6, 2022 |
| Independence Day -July 4, 2021 | Veteran’s Day-November 11, 2021 | MLK/Treaty Day Observed-January 17, 2022 | Memorial Day-May 30, 2022 |
| Quarter Ends-August 20, 2021 | Thanksgiving-November 25-26, 2021 | President’s Day-February 21, 2022 | Quarter Ends-June 17, 2022 |
| Quarter Ends-December 10, 2021 | Billy Frank Jr. Day-March 9, 2022 | Commencement-June 17, 2022 | |
| Quarter Ends-March 25, 2022 |
Important Dates 2021-2022
| Important Dates | Summer 2021 (AY 2022) | Fall 2021 (AY 2022) | Winter 2022 (AY 2022) | Spring 2022 (AY 2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | May 17 - July 2 | May 17 - Sept 17 | Nov 8 - Jan 5 | Feb 22 - Apr 5 |
| Admissions App/Financial Aid - Priority Deadline | None | June 15 | Oct 15 | Feb 1 |
| Graduation App Due | None | July 1 | Oct 15 | Jan 31 |
| Quarter classes begin | July 6 | Sept 20 | Jan 6 | Apr 6 |
| Late Registration | July 6- July 9 | Sept 20-24 | Jan 6 - 7 | Apr 6 - 8 |
| Permission for Late Registration | None | Sept 27 - Oct 1 | Jan 10 - 14 | Apr 11 - 15 |
| Administrative Drop for Prerequisites and Requirements (5pm) (Ad/Pr drop) | None | Sept 22 | Jan 10 | Apr 8 |
| Faculty Discretionary Drops Due (FDD) | None | Oct 1 | Jan 14 | Apr 15 |
| Last day to register for IL/LC or ABE/GED | July 13 | Oct 5 | Jan 18 | Apr 19 |
| Last day for 100% refund for official drop from courses without “W” on Record (Census Date) | July 15 | Oct 7 | Jan 20 | Apr 21 |
| Midterm Week | None | Oct 25 -29 | Feb 7 - 11 | May 9 - 13 |
| Midterm Grading in JICS | None | Oct 23 - Oct 31 | Feb 5 - 13 | May 7 - 15 |
| Last day to officially withdraw* (No Refund after Census Date) | None | Nov 12 | Feb 25 | May 27 |
| Incomplete Agreements Due (5pm) | Aug 23 | Dec 13 | Mar 28 | June 20 |
| Final Grading in JICS | Aug 9- Aug 23 | Nov 29 - Dec 13 | Mar 14 - 28 | June 6 - June 20 |
| Last day of the quarter | Aug 20 | Dec 10 | Mar 25 | June 17 |
| Graduation Commencement Ceremony | June 17 | |||
| Holidays - College Closed | ||||
| 4th of July, observed | July 5 | |||
| Veterans Day | Nov 11 | |||
| Thanksgiving Holiday | Nov 24, 12pm Close | |||
| Thanksgiving Holiday | Nov 25, 26 | |||
| Christmas Holiday | Dec 24, 27 | |||
| New Year's | Dec 31, Jan 1 | |||
| Martin Luther King Day | Jan 17 | |||
| Presidents Day | Feb 21 | |||
| Billy Frank Jr Day | Mar 9 | |||
| Memorial Day | May 30 |
Graduation & Commencement
NWIC Graduation and Honors
NWIC GRADUATION
Graduation is the official awarding of degrees earned while commencement is the event which celebrates the completion of degree programs.
Students must complete an application for graduation no later than the first three weeks of the quarter before the student plans to graduate. Degrees are not automatically granted upon completion of requirements. The application must be completed through JICs. A $10 fee applies.
NWIC HONORS
President’s List
Students completing 12 or more credits with a GPA of 4.00 will be included on the quarterly President’s List.
Dean’s List
Students completing 12 or more credits with a GPA of 3.50 or higher, will be included on the quarterly Dean’s List.
NWIC Commencement
2022 Commencement Ceremony
Friday, June 17, 2022
2:00 PM
Lummi Stommish Grounds
2295 Lummi View Dr., Bellingham, WA 98226
The Commencement Committee would like to welcome NWIC graduates, families, staff, and faculty to an outdoor gathering with a full ceremony program in celebration of the 2022 Commencement.
Graduation and Commencement are Separate
Graduation is the process you go through to have your degree posted to your transcript. Commencement is an annual ceremony (held in June) where we honor your academic accomplishments. If you are completing Northwest Indian College degrees and/or certificates, you may participate in the commencement ceremony.
Participation in Commencement
April 6-May 20: Apply for Commencement. You should apply as soon as possible! Application available in the menu to the right.
Graduates Meeting
May 13 @ 1PM: Participants in Commencement MUST attend the NWIC Grad meeting via Zoom. More details can be found in your student email.
Fees & Care Package
$25 fee must be received and processed in order to receive the Care Package. To process this fee, you can either:
- Fill out the Credit Card Form and submit to studentaccounts@nwic.edu
- Email studentaccounts@nwic.edu with your phone number and a staff member will contact you when in office to process your credit card over the phone.
COVID-19 Safety
COVID Safety measures will be taken, including sanitation stations and safety booth. If you have had known contact with a person to have COVID-19 within the last 14 days or have any symptoms or feel sick in any way, please stay home. While the event will be outdoors, masks will be required per Lummi Public Health Team requirements.
A change may occur to the ceremony to ensure safety.
Tickets & Seating
No tickets are required for guests for the Commencement. Socially distanced seating for Graduates, Faculty, Elders, and limited community & family members will be provided. We encourage you to bring your own chairs to the Stommish grounds to sit with your family. Please prepare for the weather.
Honors Reception
More info to come soon. Hosted by the NWIC Board of Trustees
Program Colors
BSNES – Forrest Green
TGBM – Purple
NSL – Turquoise
CARE – Royal Blue
2 Year Programs – Red & White
Photography & Livestream
A professional photographer will be at Commencement, so we kindly ask no family approach the stage. Photos of individual participants will be available shortly following the ceremony. An official photo booth will be available to graduates and their families before and after the ceremony for group photos.
The goal of the committee is to have the ceremony streamed live for those who are not able to attend in person. Please check the event page for updates.
Questions
Email: GraduationCommittee@nwic.edu
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.
Financial Aid
Northwest Indian College administers a broad range of financial aid, scholarships, and work-study programs for students who can demonstrate financial need.
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.