Press Release
September 14, 2009
Cowley gains accreditation to offer full online degrees
Thanks to the efforts of numerous individuals and departments, Cowley
College has become one of only a few community colleges in the state
of Kansas to gain accreditation to offer full online degrees.
“This was really a team effort, it took a lot of different steps and
people to make this a reality,” Slade Griffiths, Cowley College vice
president of academic affairs said. “This provides external validation
and credibility to our online programs.”
The college gained online degree accreditation through the Higher Learning
Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
“Now that we have been accredited by North Central for a full online
degree program it will allow us to more effectively serve this segment of our
student population,” Cowley College president Dr. Patrick J. McAtee said. “We
are delighted North Central recognizes that we have a quality online program
and has confidence in Cowley to offer a full associates degree.”
Online classes make educational opportunities available no matter where
a person lives or how busy they may be.
“This will allow students an opportunity to enter higher education and
earn a degree on their own timeline,” Griffiths said.
Griffiths, who was actively involved in helping the college gain accreditation
to offer full online degrees, praised the work done by several Cowley
employees, including that of the AQIP 6 team as well as Tiffany Sowa,
Chris Cannon, Julie Rorabaugh, Eddie Andreo, Charles McKown, Clinton
Marlow, and Ben Schears.
The college will continue to develop additional online degrees and will
look into entering into the online technical education field as well.
Cowley will also begin advertising the opportunity to earn online degrees
both nationally and internationally.
“Students can earn a degree without having to ever step foot on campus,” Charles
McKown, Cowley College vice president of research and technology said.