Applied Gerontology Program Earns National Accreditation

The Master of Science (MS) in Applied Gerontology program housed in the School of Health and Applied  Human Sciences in the College of Health and Human Services at UNC Wilmington is now accredited by the Accreditation for Gerontology Education Council (AGEC), the nonprofit organization that is responsible for accreditation standards that define competent preparation and ensuring that gerontology programs meet these standards.

Steve Elliott, director of the School of Health and Human Applied Sciences, said of the designation, “We are proud that our program has earned its initial accreditation from AGEC. This milestone reflects our commitment to academic excellence and preparing future leaders to meet the needs of an aging society.” 

AGEC collaborates with, but is independent of the Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education. GSA oversees the competencies for gerontology education. AGEC is overseen by a Board of Governors consisting of nine members representing higher education gerontology programs and entities associated with the field of aging. The organizational structure includes a volunteer board, review teams, and site visitors.

“The AGEC site visitors were national experts in the field and were very impressed with how our program combines theoretical foundations with hands-on service-learning, community engagement, mentoring, and research.” Elliott said. “Special recognition goes to Dr. Tina Newsham, Dr. Elizabeth Fugate-Whitlock, our part-time instructors, and our community partners for developing a top-notch interdisciplinary program that sets a new standard for gerontology education.”

“We are thrilled to see the MS in Applied Gerontology receive national recognition as an accredited program,” Tina Newsham, professor and program director of the Gerontology program, said. “We have worked hard to ensure our efforts align with national standards and that we consistently address competencies for gerontology education in our courses.”

Newsham indicated that the engagement of students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and community partners in the accreditation review process highlights the integrated nature of the program as well as its reach into the campus and local community and beyond. “We look forward to continuing to deliver a high-quality program that prepares graduates to address the opportunities and challenges of an aging society,” she said. “We are all aging, as are the customers, clients, and patients we and our alumni serve as well as the colleagues with whom we work. This program prepares graduates to embrace that reality with excitement, creativity, and empathy.”