Dakota State University students walking around campus

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Majors & Degrees

Respiratory care program awarded for fifth year in a row

June 7, 2016

Dakota State University’s associate respiratory care program has been recognized by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) as a recipient of the Distinguished RRT (registered respiratory therapist) Credentialing Success award. DSU has received this award for the past five years in a row.

CoARC used the following objective criteria to select the distinguished programs: three or more years of outcomes data; accreditation without a progress report; Registered Respiratory Therapist credentialing success of 90 percent or above; and achievement of established CoARC thresholds for Certified Respiratory Therapist credentialing success, attrition and positive job placement.

“This award is a testimony to the strength and dedication of the respiratory care faculty, the university administration, and the clinical affiliates.  All share in this award,” said Bruce Feistner, director of the Respiratory Care program.

The associate respiratory care program is accredited by CoARC including the satellite location at Rapid City Regional Health. Both the associate and bachelor’s programs have a strong history of placing a high percentage respiratory care graduates in either a career or in continuing their education.  DSU also has the only respiratory care program in the state of South Dakota.

DSU will receive a certificate of recognition at the CoARC reception on June 26 at the American Association for Respiratory Care’s Summer Forum in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Photo caption: Dakota State University has a long history of educating students in respiratory care and providing the state and region with high-quality Registered Respiratory Therapists.