Southern Wesleyan University

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.
The School of Nursing anticipates enrollment 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.