Accreditation
Â鶹¹û¶³ works hard to stay on the cutting edge of educational excellence, and in doing so, keeps up with all the newest accreditation standards as put forth by the Higher Learning Commission.
Â鶹¹û¶³ is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The goal of accreditation is to ensure that all coursework provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality.
About Accreditation
Accreditation is your assurance that the College meets the highest quality standards established by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Â鶹¹û¶³ is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission that governs the entirety of the college academic programs, degree offerings, and services.
Programmatic or specialized accreditation applies to specific programs or coursework within an institution and is often associated with professional organizations. Â鶹¹û¶³ maintains specialized accreditation in Social Work, Education, and Nursing.
Programs that require licensure may require an additional accrediting and approving body in the state where individuals choose to gain licensure. The Nursing and Education programs are approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing (SDBON) and the South Dakota Board of Education to ensure candidates who graduate are eligible for licensure.
Each accreditation holds standards associated with their purpose and oversight.
Education
Â鶹¹û¶³ Educator Preparation Program Self-Study Report 2019
Â鶹¹û¶³ K-8 Elementary Education Program Report 2019
SD DOE Elementary Education Recognition Report 2019
Â鶹¹û¶³ Birth-Grade 3 Early Childhood Education Report 2019
Nursing
Graduates from the Â鶹¹û¶³ of Nursing are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and become registered nurses. The Â鶹¹û¶³ Nursing program is monitored and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing. Â鶹¹û¶³ Nursing graduates are eligible for employment at most of South Dakota's healthcare organizations except for the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital systems.
SDBON Ongoing Approval February 2024
Â鶹¹û¶³ (Â鶹¹û¶³) is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Â鶹¹û¶³ Department of Nursing has full approval status by the South Dakota Board of Nursing (SDBON). Candidates who graduate from the Â鶹¹û¶³ Nursing program must take the national licensure exam in order to receive their registered nurse (RN) license.