Hiwassee College Dental Hygiene Program Accredited

Hiwassee College Dental Hygiene Program Accredited MADISONVILLE, Tenn. — Hiwassee College was notified today that the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) granted initial accreditation to Hiwassee’s new Dental Hygiene Program. “This exciting news from CODA clears the path for Hiwassee to begin taking students this fall in our new Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene Program,” stated Shelley Waters, Director of the program.

The new Dental Hygiene Program is the first in Monroe County and represents Hiwassee’s commitment to meeting the needs of the citizens and businesses in East Tennessee. “There is no doubt that the addition of this program to Hiwassee’s academic portfolio will help address the growing need for dental hygienists in East Tennessee,” stated Interim President Jerry Russell. “Additionally, this program will allow those that are unemployed and underemployed the opportunity to get the necessary skills required to work in one of the few areas showing strong growth and opportunity for employment. Hiwassee was established to help give people the opportunity to better their lives and this program is a continuation of our commitment to the community,” continued Russell.

Even though initial accreditation was just announced by CODA, Hiwassee has been working the last 2 years preparing for this day. “This approval is just the culmination of all the hard work this College has put into making this program a reality. The commitment to the quality of the program by Hiwassee will be evident to the community and the new dental hygiene students once classes begin in the fall. Our state of the art facility and intensive academic requirements will produce some of the best dental hygienists in the country,” stated Waters. “The need and desire for this program has also been evidenced by the large number of applications we have already received from people all over the country.”

CODA is the official accrediting body for all dental and dental hygiene programs across the country. According to CODA’s website, their mission is to protect the public interest by establishing, implementing and maintaining standards that will help the quality and improvement in dental education and dental care. “The accreditation of Hiwassee’s Dental Hygiene Program is a testament to the quality program that Hiwassee has established,” concluded Russell.

To learn more about Hiwassee College and its programs of study, including Dental Hygiene, contact the college at 423-442-2001 or visit online at www.hiwassee.edu.

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The Hiwassee College Dental Hygiene Program was developed under a Congressionally-directed grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government

Dedicated to Great Beginnings and celebrating its 161^st academic year, Hiwassee College, located on 400 pastoral acres in Madisonville, Tennessee, is a coeducational college affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church and is a private, residential, four-year college with an emphasis on the first two years of college.

Hiwassee College is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) [PO Box 328, Forest, VA 24551; Telephone: 434.525.9539; e-mail: info@tracs.org] having been awarded Candidate status as a Category II institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on November 3, 2009; this status is effective for a period of five years.