The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has reaffirmed the accreditation of Bladen Community College. The announcement was made at the Association's meeting in San Antonio, Texas, last week.

Bladen Community College Vice President of Curriculum Dr. Sharon Garner said, at the Tuesday meeting of the BCC Board of Trustees, that she was thrilled when the announcement was made "at 2:32 p.m. on Tuesday (December 10)" of the reaffirmed accreditation.

Garner stated that the college did very well in the SACS accreditation process, with only minor discrepancies in operations noted. She praised the efforts of the individuals who had played key roles in getting the college ready for the accreditation process.

"They looked at every aspect of the operation of the college," said BCC President Darrell Page. "It was a very serious, intensive process."

Page praised the college's staff and the chairs of the various committees who led the effort to prepare for the accreditation visit.

"It took you three long years of diligent work and thousands of hours of attention to detail, but your efforts have paid off," he said.

In a letter to the staff, faculty and board members, Page stated: "Meeting the 400 plus Criteria 'Must Statements' and complying with rigid planning and accountability standards required the united efforts of the entire college-faculty, staff, students and trustees.

"I proudly say, Thank you for your special contribution to our SACS reaffirmation in 2002. You have made footprints in the sands of time of Bladen Community College's history and you did it with a smile and a positive commitment to the future of BCC.

During the meeting Garner also pointed out that 96 percent of BCC's recent graduating licensed practical nursing class passed their state licensing examination.

She added that the college is number one in southeastern North Carolina in the number of courses offered on the Information Highway (Distance Learning) and number three in the state in the hours of usage of the Distance Learning program. She added that BCC is ranked number seven in the state in the number of students served in the Distance Learning program in proportion to the number of students served in residence.

During the meeting the Board of Trustees also approved the hiring of Bladen County Librarian Sherwin Rice to become the college's new librarian. The approved salary for the position is $48,000.

The board also approved the hiring of West Bladen High School teacher Sharon Autry to become a developmental math instructor at the college with a salary of $41,500. BCC staff member Barbara Singletary was approved to become the Assistant to the Vice President of Instruction at a salary of $44,000.

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