News and Updates

SGSC officially awarded continual accreditation for Associate and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs

The Accreditation Commission of Education in Nursing (ACEN) has awarded full accreditation to the South Georgia State College Associate of Science in Nursing program and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program through spring of 2027. ACEN accreditation is a voluntary, self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality.

 

The accreditation process began with the preparation of the self-study report and was followed by a site visit of peer evaluators from institutions throughout the United States. Additional review was conducted by the ACEN Evaluation Review Panel and the final accreditation was made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners. The ACEN is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for nursing education programs in the United States and its territories as well as for international nursing education programs.

 

Dr. Jaime Carter, dean and professor of nursing, states, “The accreditation process is a great indication to our students of the high quality of education, training and preparation they receive to improve health care outcomes. The clinical and educational expertise of our nursing faculty enhances the achievement of nursing students in every aspect of their training whether it is in the classroom, skills laboratory and/or simulation laboratory. Another key strength of the nursing programs lies in the community partnerships.”

 

SGSC President Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers says of the accreditation “The ACEN Board of Commissioners affirmed that SGSC has the appropriate resources, programs and infrastructure to prepare nurses for the workforce. We are very thankful that we are positively impacting the health care and economic viability of our region and the State of Georgia through higher education programs such as Nursing. At South Georgia State College, we remain committed to working with the University System of Georgia, our faculty and staff and community partners to continue offering high quality, impactful degree programs for students.”

 

SGSC has a rich tradition of academic excellence through nursing accreditation that began in June 1978 with initial accreditation of the Associate of Science in Nursing program and the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, which received initial accreditation in January 2015. This continuous commitment to academic excellence has contributed to the high first time pass rates on the NCLEX-RN licensing examination and job placement rates.  The ACEN accreditation program is founded on the belief that specialized accreditation contributes to the centrality of nursing for the public good and provides for the maintenance and enhancement of educational quality through continuous self-assessment, planning and improvement. Accreditation indicates to the general public and to the educational community that a nursing program has clear and appropriate educational objectives and is working to achieve these objectives. Emphasis is placed upon the total nursing program and its compliance with established standards and criteria in the context of its mission/philosophy as well as current and future nursing practice. The ACEN supports the continuation and strengthening of voluntary specialized accreditation by peers as a principal means of public accountability and ongoing improvement.

Faculty and staff in SGSC’s School of Nursing (L to R) Kasey Strickland, associate professor of nursing; Melaina Nall, academic advisor; Tonya Jewell, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Jaime Carter, dean and professor of nursing; Shanda Jowers, assistant professor of nursing; Kim Sutliff, administrative assistant; Lisa Batten, associate professor of nursing; Dr. Susan Clement, interim chair of nursing and health science, associate professor of nursing; Darlene Pirkle, assistant professor of nursing; Lauren Thornton, assistant professor of nursing; and Dr. Scott Thigpen, professor of nursing.

Nursing students in SGSC’s School of Nursing