A Decade of Student Success, Workforce Impact, and Community Strength
South Louisiana Community College is celebrating 10 years of its Registered Nursing (RN) program, marking a decade of preparing highly skilled nurses and strengthening healthcare across Acadiana.
Since its first graduating class in 2016, SoLAcc has produced 465 registered nursing graduates, with an additional 95 students expected to complete the program in Spring 2026. Over the past 10 years, the program has maintained a 90.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate, a strong indicator of student success and program quality.
“Our Registered Nursing program represents the very best of what community colleges are designed to do, partner with industry and community leaders to respond to workforce needs, support student success, and create lasting impact,” said Dr. Vincent June, Chancellor of South Louisiana Community College. “This program began with a shared commitment to strengthening healthcare in Acadiana, and for the past decade our graduates have stepped into critical roles across the region, improving lives and supporting our communities every day.”
Over the years, the program has expanded to meet growing demand and increase access for students across the region. What began as a single cohort has grown to include multiple pathways, including a spring cohort, LPN-to-RN transition programs in Opelousas and New Iberia, and an evening and weekend cohort developed in partnership with Ochsner Health System. These options provide flexibility for working adults and create additional entry points into the nursing profession.
“Our focus has always been on creating opportunity while maintaining excellence,” said Carry DeAtley, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health. “We’ve built a program that not only prepares students to pass the NCLEX, but equips them with the clinical judgment, confidence, and compassion needed to succeed in today’s healthcare environment.”
“The growth of this program reflects both the demand for skilled nurses and the determination of our students,” said Courtney Metz, Assistant Dean of Nursing Programs and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for SolAcc. “By expanding pathways and meeting students where they are, we’ve been able to support more individuals in reaching their goals while addressing critical workforce needs in our region.”
The program’s impact is best seen through the success of its graduates.
“SoLAcc’s nursing program prepares students for the realities of healthcare from day one,” said Christopher Lopez, a 2024 graduate and current Assistant Director of Nursing at Maison De Lafayette. “The program challenges you to grow while giving you the support needed to succeed. It helped me build not only clinical knowledge, but also the confidence, critical thinking, professionalism, and compassion that I rely on every day in my career and leadership journey.”
That impact extends beyond individual success stories. According to the College’s recent Economic Impact Study, SoLAcc and its graduates support one out of every 97 jobs in Acadiana, demonstrating the critical role programs like nursing play in sustaining and growing the regional economy.
The RN program itself was created in response to that very need. In 2014, regional healthcare leaders partnered with the College to address a growing shortage of registered nurses in Acadiana. With support from community and economic development partners, SoLAcc launched the program to build a stronger, more sustainable healthcare workforce.
As SoLAcc celebrates this 10-year milestone, the College remains focused on continuing that momentum, expanding opportunity, strengthening partnerships, and preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.