NAPLES, Fla., June 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/

 

As part of its ongoing commitment to provide best-in-class academic programs to its students, Hodges University has announced its intention to formally affiliate with TCS Education System. As an affiliate, Hodges will join a select group of independent, private non-profit institutions that includes The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Dallas Nursing Institute, Pacific Oaks College, the Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, and Saybrook University.

“We are thrilled with this new partnership and see Hodges University, the students we serve, and the communities of Southwest Florida benefitting in several important ways,” said Dr. Donald Wortham, president of Hodges University. “First, through partnership with TCS affiliate schools, Hodges has the opportunity to bring new academic and workforce development options to our region, and also to reach new students in the markets served by other affiliates. Second, TCS Education System sustains the mission of colleges in its network by providing best-in-class faculty development, student services, and other operational support. Lastly the partnership allows Hodges to gain the benefits of scale that are so important in today’s competitive higher education sector, while remaining independent.”

 

Through affiliation with TCS, Hodges will gain access to operational support in 11 functional areas that include marketing, information technology, student account services, finance, and legal services.

“Joining TCS is the right move at the right time. The support that my late husband Earl and I have given to Hodges University has focused on providing excellent educational opportunities so our students can achieve their career goals and improve their lives,” said Thelma Hodges, namesake of Hodges University. “In the healthcare field where I worked as a nurse, it is common for hospitals to join together to share services and to collaborate, and universities should do the same. It’s for this reason that I believe the affiliation with TCS Education System will greatly enhance the academic programs our university can offer to students in Southwest Florida.”

“This latest development signifies an important milestone in our System’s evolution and the advancement of our mission,” says Dr. Michael Horowitz, president of TCS Education System. “The strategic addition of Hodges University as a TCS partner college promises to meaningfully enhance our System with both geographic and demographic diversity, and expanded academic disciplines within the TCS portfolio. We see students as change agents, and we are thrilled to add more than 1,500 agents of change to the TCS family. I see the missions of Hodges University and the System as highly aligned as we are all dedicated to creating positive change in local and global communities through excellence in higher education.”

Hodges University will seek approval of the affiliation by its regional accreditor, the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges (SACS COC) and other regulatory bodies, and is hopeful for an affirmative decision by early 2018.

Hodges University, a private, nonprofit institution of higher learning, was founded in Naples, Florida in 1990 as International College. In 2007, International College was renamed Hodges University in honor of benefactors Earl and Thelma Hodges, long-time residents of Naples and supporters of Hodges University. Hodges’ mission is to provide transformation learner-driven educational opportunities. To accomplish this mission Hodges’ schools offer a variety of academic programs online and on the Fort Myers and Naples campuses. Hodges University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. To learn more about Hodges University visit https://www.hodges.edu/

TCS Education System (TCS) is a nonprofit system of colleges that was launched in 2009 to advance student success and community impact. Currently, the System spans five colleges, campus locations across 12 cities and a community of more than 30 global academic partners to fulfill the aspirations of approximately 7,000 students. The TCS model provides its colleges with the scale of resources necessary to succeed, including admissions and enrollment services, finance and accounting, information and learning technology, marketing, strategic initiatives, compliance and legal services, human resources, and global engagement among other areas of professional expertise. The System was founded on the belief that by sharing administrative resources and allowing colleges to concentrate on providing students with quality, social change-focused education, we can give each member of our community the power to change the world. TCS colleges include The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, Dallas Nursing Institute, and Saybrook University. To learn more, watch our System video and explore our community at www.tcsedsystem.edu