Georgia Piedmont Technical College announced today that it has earned Cognia^® Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. The accreditation will go a long way in Georgia Piedmont providing recognized credentials for its adult learners.

Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts and providers that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school is accredited, and that Georgia Piedmont Technical College is recognized across the nation as a school that meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.

“School accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Georgia Piedmont a nationally recognized mark of quality,” shared GPTC President Dr. Tavarez Holston. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”

Coordinator for Georgia Piedmont’s Career Plus initiative, Philandria Williams, said, “Thanks to the accreditation, GPTC can award our own high school diplomas to our students. So now we officially have a second option for students rather than solely high school equivalency with GED or HiSet® exams.”

The Career Plus program allows students 18 years and older to simultaneously earn their high school diploma and college credentials – all while starting on a career path.

To earn Cognia accreditation, a school district or education service provider must implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to internal and external review.  Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.

Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Georgia Piedmont is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards, is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”

Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).