Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) has received accreditation at the baccalaureate level from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

The new designation includes the college’s Bachelor of Technology in Applied Design (BTAD) degree and came in conjunction with the reaccreditation of LWIT’s associate degree level programs.

“The commission applauds the institute for establishing a rigorous and viable Bachelor of Technology degree program in Applied Design, which provides options for further education for students in current careers and future opportunities,” wrote NWCCU President Sandra Elman in a letter to LWIT President Dr. David Woodall announcing the accreditation decision. NWCCU is the region’s authority on higher education accreditation.

The BTAD program admits students who hold a design-related associate degree and prepares them to lead teams of creative and technical professionals. Upper division coursework includes design theory, management and technology.

BTAD students come from LWIT’s AAS programs in Multimedia Design and Production and Engineering Graphics, as well as design-related programs from other two-year colleges. Courses are held in the evenings and online to meet the needs of working students.

Accreditation at the baccalaureate level is a milestone for LWIT, which changed its name last July to reflect its growth and expansion into a polytechnic institute. LWIT is in the planning stages to offer additional four-year degree programs in the near future.

“With education costs on the rise and demand for employees with college degrees increasing, our college system has to think outside the box to meet the needs of students and employers close to home,” said Dr. Woodall. “Four-year degree offerings from community and technical colleges like ours help bridge the gap and open new pathways for our future workforce. This is a significant milestone for our college. We’re very excited to be on the cutting edge of this movement and look forward to growing our baccalaureate programs.”

LWIT applied for accreditation candidacy at the baccalaureate level and was granted candidacy status in October 2008. The BTAD program began in September 2009, with the first students graduating in 2011.

LWIT is one of only seven Washington community and technical colleges offering baccalaureate degrees.

LWIT’s main campus is located at 11605 132nd Ave. N.E. in Kirkland.