Plans to Provide Expanded Student Opportunities Immediately
Alexandria, LA (June 14, 2024) — The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the primary regional accrediting agency for 11 southern states in the United States, has granted accreditation to Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC). The accreditation was affirmed at the June 2024 meeting of the SACSCOC Board of Trustees.
While CLTCC has been accredited by the Council on Occupational Education since 1976, regional stakeholders requested SACSCOC accreditation to respond to growing needs within Central Louisiana and beyond. For example, many colleges and universities primarily accept transfer credits from SACSCOC-accredited institutions. With the growing number of partnerships CLTCC has with LSUA, LCU, NSU and other colleges and universities, SACSCOC accreditation expands credit transfer opportunities for students. In addition, SACSCOC accreditation increases the number of programs eligible for Federal Student Financial Assistance. The original SACSCOC application was submitted in April of 2021, directly following CLTCC’s successful reaffirmation by COE in March of 2021.
“This endeavor has been a rigorous process that began several years ago and has been led by our outstanding faculty, staff and administrative team members,” said CLTCC Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Sawtelle. “The extremely thorough accreditation process included an off-site and on-site reviews, examination of hundreds of supporting documents, interviews with students and faculty members as well as a final review by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. SACSCOC is regarded as the oldest, largest and most prestigious accreditor of colleges and universities in the southern United States, and CLTCC is proud to receive this tremendous recognition.”
CLTCC joins nearly 800 other SACSCOC accredited colleges and universities in the southern and southeastern United States, including Louisiana State University of Alexandria, Louisiana Christian University, Northwestern State University, and other colleges and universities in the state.
“This achievement is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and collaboration of our entire college,” said Executive Vice Chancellor of Academics and Student Affairs Dr. Heather Poole. “Our faculty, staff, and administration have worked tirelessly to meet the rigorous standards set forth by SACSCOC, ensuring that we continue to provide high-quality education to our
community. This new accreditation not only reaffirms our commitment to excellence but also opens up new opportunities for our students, enhances our academic programs, and strengthens our institutional reputation. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on our college and our community.”
“There are a host of benefits to CLTCC for having SACSCOC accreditation, but the real beneficiaries are the students and stakeholders of Central Louisiana,” Sawtelle said. “This accreditation will provide greater opportunities for Central Louisiana residents to increase their education opportunities, earn associate degrees and industry-based credentials at CLTCC. It will also provide increased opportunities through a growing number of transferable programs and partnerships with four-year universities. Our workforce partners also benefit as we work together to build a highly-skilled local workforce ready to meet the needs of local business and industry. In our region, there is a tremendous demand for skilled workers in critical fields including healthcare, welding, manufacturing, and business.
“I could not be prouder of our CLTCC Team for their extraordinary efforts in responding to Cenla’s market for the sake of expanding opportunities for our students. The fact that CLTCC was awarded accreditation with ‘no recommendations’ across 14 Standards is a testament to CLTCC’s focus on providing solutions for students and stakeholders across Central Louisiana,” Sawtelle said, “We want to thank everyone who had a hand in today’s great news, especially our business and industry partners, community partners, the LCTCS Board of Supervisors, System President Dr. Monty Sullivan and his Team, as well as the best practice shared from across Louisiana’s Community and Technical Colleges. The SACSCOC Team was also extraordinarily helpful as we further engaged with continuous improvement. We look forward to implementing the benefits and opportunities immediately.”
Applications for the upcoming semester are now open. For information about enrollment visit www.CLTCC.edu/apply or contact the school via email at info@cltcc.edu or call 800-278-9855.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) is a two-year technical and community college offering associate degrees, technical diplomas, industry certificates, and customized training in more than 20 disciplines to support local workforce development and prepare students for high-demand and high-wage careers. CLTCC serves seven parishes in Central Louisiana through its five campuses and provides instruction in one state prison and one federal correctional institution. For more information, visit www.cltcc.edu.
Source: CLTCC
