- Not to be confused with Southern University, University of the South, or South College
South University is a private, non-profit institution offering degree programs at the doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate level.
Founded in 1899, South University consists of its School of Pharmacy, College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Professions, College of Business, College of Theology, and College of Arts and Sciences.
The University expanded from its main campus in Savannah, Georgia to include eleven other campus locations across the United States and began offering online courses in 2004. Fifty-two percent of South University students are enrolled entirely online.
History
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South University was founded in Savannah, Georgia in 1899 as Draughan's Practical Business College. Draughan's taught many of the skills needed by business professionals at the turn of the 20th century including accounting, banking, typewriting, bookkeeping and shorthand.
The South family acquired the institution in 1974, and changed its name to Draughan's Junior College. In 1986, the name was changed to South College. In 2001, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited South College at the master’s level and the school became South University. Web-based instruction was added in 2004.
South University's Savannah campus celebrated its largest graduating class in the institution's history in June 2017, when more than 3,500 students received degrees.
On October 17, 2017, the University's former parent company, Education Management Corporation, reported that it had sold its schools to the Los Angeles-based Dream Center Foundation, a non-profit organization.
Academics
Accreditation
South University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees. The institution is classified by SACSCOC as a Level VI institution, meaning it offers four or more doctoral degree programs. The University also offers post-graduate certificate programs through its College of Nursing and Public Health.
School of Pharmacy
South University became the first university in the Savannah area to offer a health professions doctorate when it launched its Doctor of Pharmacy program in 2002. South University’s accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) program is one of only a limited number nationwide that provides four academic years of study within three calendar years. The degree program is offered at both the Savannah, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina campuses.
The Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPTE).
Eighty-five percent of 2016 graduates from the Doctor of Pharmacy program at South University, Savannah and South University, Columbia passed the North American Pharmacists Licensure Examination on the first attempt.
College of Health Professions
South University is widely known for its competitive health professions programs that include its Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science and Master of Science in Physician Assistant programs.
South University and Emory University are the only two institutions in the state of Georgia that offer a Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science program. South University’s program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistants (ARC-AA). An Anesthesiologist assistant is qualified by virtue of their education and training at the master's degree level to deliver anesthesia as a member of an anesthesia care team led by a physician anesthesiologist.
Ninety-six percent of 2016 graduates from the Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science program at South University, Savannah passed the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants Exam.
The University launched its Master of Science in Physician Assistant program in 2002, and it is one of only five programs in the state of Georgia. A Physician Assistant is prepared to work in a medical setting with the ability to evaluate, monitor, diagnose, counsel, refer patients and prescribe medication. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job growth for Physician Assistants will increase by 37% between 2016 and 2026.
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant program is offered at South University’s Savannah, Tampa and Richmond campuses and is accredited by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
Ninety-seven percent of 2016 graduates from the Master of Science in Physician Assistant program at South University, Savannah and 96% from South University, Tampa passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam.
College of Nursing and Public Health
South University’s College of Nursing and Public Health prepares students to practice at all levels of the nursing profession by providing programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate and post-graduate certificate level.
Programs include an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice. The University also offers Master of Science with a Specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job growth for Nurse Practitioners will increase 31% between 2016 and 2026.
The institution's College of Nursing and Public Health programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
College of Business
The College of Business offers undergraduate degrees in areas that include business administration, healthcare administration and information technology. Graduate programs include a Master of Business Administration and Accelerated Master of Business Administration (AMBA) in Healthcare Administration.
The Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management, Master of Business Administration, Accelerated Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration and Accelerated Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration programs at South University, Savannah are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
College of Theology
South University’s College of Theology was established in 2013, and graduated its first Doctor of Ministry student in 2016
The South University College of Theology differs from traditional seminaries, because rather than focusing on the doctrine of one faith, it prepares its students (who come from different denominations and religious backgrounds) to minister in the Christian tradition to people of various faiths and, potentially, in various times of spiritual crisis.
College of Arts & Sciences
The College of Arts & Sciences houses South University's undergraduate programs in Criminal Justice, Legal Studies and Paralegal Studies. The programs provide a broad-based foundation for work in the law enforcement or legal field.
Student Life
Honor Societies
South University students are eligible for membership in a number of national and international honor societies. These include the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business, Sigma Theta Tau, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement by nursing students, and Pi Gamma Mu, which is the International Honor Society in Social Sciences. South University Doctor of Pharmacy students are eligible for membership in Rho Chi, the academic honor society in Pharmacy. South University's College of Theology was granted a chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology in 2017.
Volunteer Opportunities
South University students are encouraged to volunteer in their communities, and to use the skills they are learning to help those in need or to raise funds and awareness. Many of these volunteer activities are coordinated by the student organizations on campus.
South University students at campuses around the United States volunteer to help provide back-to-school health screenings and frequently form teams in support of charity runs or walks. In 2016, South University School of Pharmacy students won Kappa Psi's National Outstanding Community Service Award for spearheading a local T.E.A.L. walk that raised money for ovarian cancer awareness.
Community Impact
National CyberWatch Center
In September 2017, South University announced that it had become a member of the National CyberWatch Center. The organization is made up of higher education institutions, along with government agencies and businesses who work together in an effort to combat and prevent cybercrime. One of the main focuses of the National CyberWatch Center is ensuring that an educated workforce exists that can both prevent and correct issues caused by cyber threats.
Drug Information Center
South University's School of Pharmacy operates a Drug Information Center as a free service to the community. The Center is available to anyone who has questions about a medication, including its side effects, adverse reactions and how it may interact with other drugs or herbal supplements.
Charitable Work
South University has been awarded the United Way of the Coastal Empire’s Caring Cup Award, which recognizes the largest higher education institution contribution to its annual campaign, every year since 2005.
South University students, faculty and staff participate in numerous Savannah-area charitable fundraising projects annually including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure., AMBUCS, the T.E.A.L. Walk and more. While the city of Savannah was recovering from Hurricane Matthew in 2016, South University faculty and staff volunteered with clean up efforts around the area.
Issues
The institution's name change to South College resulted in a 2002 legal dispute with Sewanee: The University of the South, which had registered the name "The University of the South" with the U.S. Patent Office. The issue was resolved in 2003 with both schools retaining their names.
In 2015, EDMC, South University's former parent company, agreed to forgive more than $100.8 million in student loan debt held by more than 80,000 former students. U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton of the Western District of Pennsylvania stated that 'Companies cannot enrich their corporate coffers at the expense of students seeking a quality education, or on the backs of taxpayers who are funding our critical financial aid programs...'Today’s global settlement sends an unmistakable message to all forprofit education companies: the United States will aggressively ferret out fraud and protect innocent students and taxpayer dollars from this kind of egregious abuse.'
In December 2016, South University was placed on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools due to financial concerns regarding its parent company at the time, EDMC. . South University was removed from probation in December 2017 after the sale to Dream Center Education Holdings and its conversion to not-for-profit status.
References
External links
- Official website
- South University Savannah
- Education Management Corporation