SGU Gains Accreditation for Distance Education
 
Antelope Lake, S.D. – The Higher Learning Commission recently approved accreditation for distance education programming at Sinte Gleska University.
 
SGU transitioned into offering coursework via virtual teaching/ learning in response to the COVID pandemic. Students enrolled in online classes for the 2020 summer sessions and for the entire 2020-2021 academic year.
 
Like many institutions of higher education across the country, SGU received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education to offer distance education programs on an emergency basis. The University then developed and submitted its plan for approval by HLC.
 
“As we know, it was an extremely challenging year responding to the impacts of the pandemic,” said SGU President Lionel Bordeaux. “But we have an excellent team here that developed both short-term and long-term plans for distance education in a very short time.


“It was a tremendous effort, and this has been validated by HLC’s recent accreditation action for Sinte Gleska University,” he said.
 
Continuous faculty development was key in responding to the transition to virtual teaching. “I give a lot of credit to Dan Seibel, Art Fisher, our academic department chairs and faculty for their planning of our work,” said SGU Academic Vice President Cheryl Medearis.
 
Another critical factor during the pandemic year was providing all SGU students with laptop computers and interconnectivity resources. 85% of federal COVID relief funds were directed at student support by the University.
 
SGU has finalized plans for online coursework during the upcoming summer sessions. With COVID vaccinations being administered across the U.S., the University is hoping to allow students to return to campus instruction along with distance education classes for the 2021-2022 academic year.