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National Acclaim Granted to USC Aiken's Professional Programming

Student-centered Guide for Colleges Endorses Authentic Learning Strategies in Professional Education

Aiken, SC (07/23/2018) — Earlier this year, the University of South Carolina Aiken was honored as one of the nation's "Colleges of Distinction" for its high-impact educational practices. Now, the university has earned additional recognition for three specific professional programs: business, education, and nursing.

"We are dedicated to ensuring the next generation of college graduates are equipped and ready to tackle the challenges they may face in their professional lives after graduation," said Dr. Sandra Jordan, USC Aiken chancellor.

"We are thrilled that our School of Business, School of Education and School of Nursing have earned this honor.

"It is a testament to the quality educational experience our students enjoy and recognition of our top-notch faculty who are dedicated to the success of each Pacer and who personally help tailor the learning experiences to match each student's needs, interests, and professional and educational goals."

According to the 2014 "Competing through Knowledge" study conducted by The Darla Moore School of Business, South Carolina will need 114,500 more college-educated workers by 2030, and some 550,000 jobs will require a four-year degree.

"USC Aiken is well positioned to offer South Carolina employers young leaders who are articulate critical thinkers who will meet the needs of the state of South Carolina and beyond," Jordan said.

Today's job market is growing more complex every day, requiring the modern worker to be not only knowledgeable but also able to apply their learning to new problems and who can untangle and solve complex problems. USC Aiken's intentional curriculum works to meet these needs, preparing its students to take on the post-graduate world through an education that reaches far beyond the basics.

"USC Aiken continues to impress with its exceptional commitment to student success," said Austin, Texas-based Tyson Schritter, chief operating officer for Colleges of Distinction.

"Its extensive liberal arts curriculum informs and enriches everything students do both in and out of the classroom. And with such an involved engagement of experiential high-impact practices, USC Aiken continues to go the extra mile in professional education."

According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities website, "high-impact practices that educational research suggests increase rates of student retention and student engagement."

USC Aiken has proven itself to be at the forefront of American higher education with a modern, student-centered approach to active learning and teaching.

On campus, students are inspired through collaborative scholarship between themselves and their professors, groundbreaking research, creative activities, and meaningful service.

"USC Aiken embraces its rich liberal arts tradition, rewarding every student with the value of multidisciplinary exposure. Challenged to expand their worldview with a range of perspectives, these students garner the mental flexibility they need to keep up with an ever-evolving professional environment, economic market and global society," Jordan said.

"They learn to think critically, gain a level of comfort with creative problem solving and higher reasoning, and of course, they learn to communicate their ideas as well-rounded scholars, both within their professional fields and beyond."

At USC Aiken, the applied and experiential learning opportunities in the classroom are complimented by an abundance of out-of-the-classroom prospects. Students have tremendous opportunities to take their studies abroad, organize and conduct research projects, study leadership, acquire workplace skills, and delve into real-world applications of their studies.

"USC Aiken provides a variety of opportunities for students to practice in a professional setting the skills and knowledge they acquire in the classroom. In many professional programs-such as teacher education, business, nursing, and clinical psychology-internships and practica are either required or strongly encouraged," Jordan said.

USC Aiken's Field of Study badges are true marks of honor in the world of higher education, representing programs that invest in student engagement in fields that demand innovative, critical thinking. Colleges of Distinction has granted these awards after an comprehensive vetting process, individually selecting schools based on such qualities as accreditation, breadth of program, and a track record for success.

Education

"This is an exceptional honor, and we are thrilled to be included in such a distinguished group," said Dr. Judy Beck, dean of the School of Education. "It is wonderful that people are hearing about the distinctive education available to them through the School of Education at USC Aiken.

"Our teacher candidates receive high quality instruction from dedicated faculty and our partner teachers in classrooms across the region."

Within the School of Education at USC Aiken, bachelor of arts degrees are offered in: early childhood education; elementary education; middle-level education, with concentrations in social studies/English, mathematics/English, mathematics/science, mathematics/social studies, science/English, science/social studies); secondary education, with concentrations in biology, chemistry, mathematics, comprehensive social studies, or English; and special education.

Additionally, the School of Education offers two online masters programs. One is in educational technology. The other, which begins this fall, is in educator leadership.

The university's teacher education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

Nursing

"Our accredited program prepares our graduates for the high-pressure situations they will face," said Dr. Thayer McGahee, dean of the School of Nursing.

"Our nurses pursue excellence and believe excellence is a personal code of conduct. Pursuing excellence in nursing daily means that you strive to give better care today than yesterday, and you allow each day to teach you something useful for tomorrow."

In addition to the traditional in-class and clinically focused bachelor of science in nursing, USC Aiken now offers an online RN-to-BSN program.

The online program provides working healthcare professionals flexible course schedules, offered every seven weeks. The newly revamped RN-to-BSN program is one of the most affordable in the state of South Carolina.

USC Aiken graduates' current pass rate for the standard nursing examination - known as NCLEX-RN - is 98 percent, according to McGahee.

Nursing students at USC Aiken have the chance to participate in transcultural nursing by spending two weeks in May in Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

USC Aiken's nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Business

"I am really excited about this honor because it recognizes the continual hard work and dedication of our faculty," said Dr. Mick Fekula, dean of the School of Business.

"Our Career Readiness Program begins early and engages students to ensure their success in both attaining the right position and sustaining a positive long-term role in business."

USC Aiken offers a bachelor of science in business administration with concentrations in accounting, finance, management, and marketing. The MBA program offers specializations in accounting and finance.

The USC Aiken business student exchange program includes a semester in France for students seeking an immersive experience abroad, while a shorter Study Abroad Program introduces enterprising students to the challenges and opportunities of international business in such locations as Italy, Germany, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Great Britain, and France.

Business administration degrees are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Colleges of Distinction has spent nearly two decades advocating for institutions that prioritize the overall undergraduate experience with a hands-on, thorough liberal arts education. Its unique selection process evaluates each school holistically, going beyond typical rankings lists to acknowledge the everyday opportunities for students to engage actively with their peers, professors, and respective areas of study.

Media Attachments

Earlier this year, the University of South Carolina Aiken was honored as one of the nation’s “Colleges of Distinction” for its high-impact educational practices. Now, the university has earned additional recognition for three specific professional programs: business, education, and nursing. USC Aiken's teacher education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

Earlier this year, the University of South Carolina Aiken was honored as one of the nation’s “Colleges of Distinction” for its high-impact educational practices. Now, the university has earned additional recognition for three specific professional programs: business, education, and nursing. USC Aiken’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Earlier this year, the University of South Carolina Aiken was honored as one of the nation’s “Colleges of Distinction” for its high-impact educational practices. Now, the university has earned additional recognition for three specific professional programs: business, education, and nursing. USC Aiken business administration degrees are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

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