SWU music program receives national accreditation
Southern Wesleyan University’s music program is now an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music.
The NASM voted at its June 2008 meeting to accept Southern Wesleyan as a member, after reviewing the university and its music program.
The action by the association specifically affirmed accreditation of the university’s bachelor of arts in music (church music, general) and the bachelor of arts in music education (choral and instrumental), according to Dr. David Spittal, Southern Wesleyan University president.
"This national recognition affirms the high quality of Southern Wesleyan University’s music programs and affirms our highly talented faculty members who provide the outstanding experience and contributed greatly to achieve this status,” Dr. Spittal said. “We are pleased to receive this acknowledgement of their fine work and the high quality experience they provide for our music students."
The commission of the accrediting body commended Southern Wesleyan University for an outstanding self-study report and an exceptional response to the requirements for accreditation. It also commended Southern Wesleyan for its support and for the advancement of it music program, according to Dr. Spittal.
“National accreditation of the university's music program provides an affirmation of the programs quality and is a distinctive advantage both for the reputation of the programs and for the recognition of our graduates,” he said.
Southern Wesleyan University Provost Keith Iddings expressed his appreciation for the professors and leaders of the university’s Fine Arts Department.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am at this affirmation of the quality of our university’s music program. The entire music faculty is to be commended for this new accreditation recognition and the work behind it,” Dr. Iddings said. “In particular, I want to thank Professor Jane Dill, chair of the Fine Arts Department, for her leadership and music professor Dr. Darryl Jachens for the hours and hours spent refining the documents required by the accreditors.”
Dill said the effort to earn the NASM accreditation has been going for many years.
“This is something that we have built on the shoulders of all the music faculty and students that have gone before. This has very much been a team effort,” Dill said. “We’re very grateful for all the campus-wide support. This honor has been something we’ve been dreaming of for a long time. It was an honor to be accepted as a full member on our first try.”
She said the accreditation adds distinction for graduate as well as for potential students.
“To say you’ve graduated from a school accredited by NASM is a mark of excellence. Graduate schools and prospective employers take a good look if you’ve graduated from a school that has that accreditation,” Dill said. “And it marks us as a top-quality music school for prospective students.”