SORRENTO – River Parishes Community College has received the official Southern Association of College and Schools affirmation of its integrity and commitment to quality enhancement. The Commission on Colleges of the SACS voted Dec. 7, to award full accreditation to this dynamic and growing Institution, as a Level I Associate Degree granting Community College. This newly-acquired status is highly coveted by institutions of higher learning.

This action completes a process lead by Dr. Joe Ben Welch, Chancellor and Dr. Bill Martin, Executive Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Academic Studies, that lasted more than three years and included two peer review committee visits to the campus.

During the review process, the College was required to demonstrate that its academic programming matched the College’s mission; that its faculty meet SACS credential requirements; that its Library and Learning Resources adequately support its programs; and that the State provides the College with adequate financial resources.

Further, the Institution had to demonstrate and document its ability to appropriately manage these resources, both physical and fiscal.

Most importantly, the College had to demonstrate through a variety of measurements that it has an Institutional Effectiveness Program in place.

Achieving this next level status will now allow the College to increase participation in Federal Title IV Aid Programs, and makes the College eligible to apply for more federally funded grants. While the transfer of credits had been insured within Louisiana, it now means that RPCC students may transfer their credits to any regionally-accredited college in the United States.

RPCC was created in 1997, and is in its sixth year for the river parishes.