Southern Wesleyan University Marks Milestone With Ribbon Cutting for School of Nursing
Mar 27, 2026 | Academics | Special Events | School of Nursing
Renovated facility supports hands-on training and addresses regional workforce demands
CENTRAL, S.C. – Leaders from Southern Wesleyan University, multiple cities, and area healthcare providers gathered Friday, March 27 to celebrate a major milestone in the development of SWU’s School of Nursing.
The morning ribbon-cutting ceremony was not only the celebration of Terry Hall’s transformation into a clinical skills laboratory, it was also a nod to the lengthy process and partnerships that made it possible for SWU to reach this point.
Representatives from the SWU Board of Trustees, South Carolina Senate, AnMed, Prisma Health, Clemson Downs, the City of Clemson, the Town of Central, and Pickens County joined together to mark the beginning of a new chapter for healthcare in the Upstate.
“God has called us to train students who are able to provide the highest and best care for the moments of a person’s greatest medical needs and vulnerabilities,” Dr. William Barker, President of Southern Wesleyan University, said. “We believe God’s calling in the health care industry is to serve others with competence, care, and dignity.”
South Carolina is projected to have the seventh-largest national nursing shortage of registered nurses by 2036, equating to one in five position vacancies statewide. Upon approval from the South Carolina Board of Nursing, Southern Wesleyan University will do its part to begin filling those vacancies in the Upstate and beyond, forming Christ-centered nurses with a deep commitment to quality care.
President Barker publicly introduced Dr. Tiffany Stewart, the inaugural Dean of the School of Nursing, to the crowd. He emphasized her close ties to the community and depth of experience in both clinical settings and classrooms.
“At Southern Wesleyan University, we believe nursing is a calling — one that brings together clinical skill, leadership, and Christ-centered service,” Stewart said. “We want to be intentional about shaping students who have a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities.”
Former university chaplain and current Mayor of Central Ken Dill prayed a blessing over the building, providing a bookend to the stud-signing ceremony he led in October with the Board of Trustees. Terry Hall, the nursing faculty, future students, and those for whom they will eventually care are wrapped in prayer, Dill said.
The School of Nursing expects to enroll its first cohort with enrollment anticipated for Fall 2026. The program will be eligible for CCNE accreditation and fully on track for final approval for our first class of graduating nurses in Spring 2029.
“What is about to take place over the next several years and decades in this hallowed Nursing facility is a new paradigm of education,” President Barker said. “This is a place where the virtues our society so desperately needs are united with the technical skills the workforce demands – and the result, I daresay, will be beautiful.”
Built as a residence hall in 1989, Terry Hall previously served as office space before renovations began in Fall 2025 to transform it into the School of Nursing. The upgrades, medical equipment, and technology were made possible by generous gifts from AnMed, an anonymous donor, and the record-setting gift of a $2 million property donated to SWU in 2025.
Founded in 1906, Southern Wesleyan University remains committed to its mission of equipping students to become servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ.
About Southern Wesleyan University
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused, faith-filled community that offers inventive learning experiences. The university endeavors to prepare its students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, visit www.swu.edu.