higher education

The court order stems from Attorney General Raul Labrador’s lengthy, and ongoing, lawsuit of the State Board’s closed-door discussions of the proposed University of Phoenix purchase.

North Idaho College said it would release the commission's decision and “any additional information” about the college’s accreditation as soon as possible after it receives the formal notification.

Judge Cynthia Meyer rejected trustees' request to take NIC President Nick Swayne back out of office, and called an investigation of Swayne's contract a "sham" and pretext to get rid of him.

It is the second time in less than six months trustees Greg McKenzie, Todd Banducci and Mike Waggoner have moved to neutralize NIC President Nick Swayne. Two other trustees warned the decision could draw legal trouble.

In a response letter to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, North Idaho College acknowledged its trustees’ decisions have been disruptive for the college and its community, and asked NWCCU not to strip the school’s accreditation.

North Idaho College alleges there were misstatements in Swayne’s February 24 court testimony and that since his March 6 return to office, Swayne has engaged in “deeply troubling behavior."

It’s unclear what the majority trio’s refusal to re-instate Swayne means for the college and the trouble it faces from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, NIC’s accreditor.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities said the delays are intended to “allow North Idaho College more time to complete the required self-evaluation report” required under a show-cause message issued this month.

The process of reviewing North Idaho College’s accreditation moved forward Thursday, with a letter from the school’s accreditor asking the community college in Coeur d’Alene to explain why it should not lose the accreditation it has held since 1947.

In a hearing scheduled for February 15, attorneys will present to Judge Cynthia Meyer their contention that the subpoenas fall outside the scope of NIC President Nick Swayne’s civil suit against the college, and seem to be aimed more at causing trouble than finding answers.