Helms College, a nonprofit post-secondary career college operated by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, has been granted continued accreditation by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training, a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Earlier this year, peer evaluators from other colleges and ACCET staff conducted an extensive review of the Augusta and Macon campuses of Helms College, which offers certificate, diploma and associate degree programs in culinary arts and hospitality and health services. ACCET notified the college in August of the decision to grant three-year reaccreditation status, which ensures Helms College students will continue to have access to GI Bill and Pell grants and other Title IV federal financial aid funding.

“It’s the goal of our faculty and staff at Helms College to give every student a personalized, transformative educational experience so that they graduate with the skills and resources to access gainful career opportunities, along with the confidence to become leaders in their field,” said Dr. H. Paul Bao, Helms College Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “ACCET’s reaccreditation validates the success of our students and readies us for exciting growth over the next few years.”

Goodwill launched its distinctive Helms academic initiatives in Macon in 2007 and expanded to Augusta in 2012. Licensed by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, Helms College combines high-demand academic credentials and holistic student support services with experiential learning opportunities at Goodwill-owned business enterprises, including Edgar’s restaurants and full service catering and conference venues in Macon and Augusta.

Goodwill’s 2020 Strategic Plan anticipates expanding Helms College program offerings in Macon and Augusta, adding new satellite campuses in Aiken and Lake Oconee, plus partnering with other autonomous Goodwill organizations in the U.S. to establish additional branches of the only College affiliated with a Goodwill organization.