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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – BELMONT, N.C., December 21, 2022 – The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP® Board) authorizes Belmont Abbey College to offer a Certificate in Financial Planning program. This seated program at Belmont Abbey College begins in March of 2023. The College is currently accepting enrollment applications for the program.

“The CFP® Board is pleased to approve the program at Belmont Abbey College as a CFP® Board Registered Program,” said Kamila Elliott, CFP®, chair of the CFP® Board’s Board of Directors. “We anticipate that Belmont Abbey College’s program will contribute significantly to the number of qualified candidates seeking to obtain a CFP® certification, the standard of excellence for competent and ethical financial planning.” Belmont Abbey College is offering this program as part of a Curriculum Partnership with Dalton Education, a respected leader in this space. According to Dalton Education, the demand for CFP® professionals is high — and is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate through 2028. Individuals who study and sit for the CFP® exam are likely to build successful careers in financial advising, financial planning, and more.

The CFP® Board is a Washington, D.C. based independent 501(c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to benefit the public by granting, upholding and promoting the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) certification. Those who earn the certification are distinguishing themselves among their peers by meeting the CFP® Board’s education, examination, experience and ethics requirements. Students completing the financial planning program at Belmont Abbey College will meet the coursework requirement for CFP®Certification and be eligible to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination administered by the CFP® Board.

The Certificate in Financial Planning is part of Belmont Abbey’s efforts to expand its Professional Studies offerings, alongside the Certificate in Business Basics and the Certificate in Leadership that launched in 2022. “As we grow our academic offerings, we are constantly evaluating ways to serve new populations and enhance our offerings for our community,” says Brad Frazier, Chair and Associate Professor of Business at Belmont Abbey College. “We live in a world where things are constantly evolving and offering a CFP® certification provides finance professionals the opportunity to pursue a well-respected industry certification and serve the public.” To learn more about the CFP® program at Belmont Abbey College, visit belmontabbeycollege.edu/academics/graduate-studies/cfp/.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belmont, N.C. (December 17, 2022) – For the first time in college history, Belmont Abbey announces the graduation of its inaugural graduate level cohort. The Master of Health Administration launched in August of 2021 is the first graduate program offered by the private liberal arts college. The five graduating students display exemplary understanding of healthcare disciplines and will make a valuable impact on the industry at large.

The MHA program is asynchronous and online, with expected completion in less than 18 months. “We developed this program to meet the needs of busy working professionals who desire to deepen their understanding of the healthcare industry and enhance their career opportunities,” says Dr. Gwyndolan Swain, Founding Director of the MHA program at Belmont Abbey College. “It’s with great joy that I announce that our first cohort has completed their requirements for graduation and will now continue the exceptional work they’ve started as part of the workforce.” Due to the flexibility of the program, students are able to advance their skills without putting their current occupations on hold. Graduates from the program have careers in health policy, hospital administration, and insurance.

As a Catholic, Benedicitine institution, Belmont Abbey is committed to offering academic programs that address societal issues. The MHA program creates a pipeline of qualified healthcare leaders that emerge ready to lead. “Going through a global pandemic tested the durability of our healthcare systems. Several factors contributed to the healthcare shortage, but COVID-19 reminded all of us how important it is to have ethical, well-trained healthcare leaders working in the field”, says Dr. Travis Feezell, Provost at Belmont Abbey. “There’s a great demand for leaders in this space and we are doing all we can to answer this call, specifically in Gaston County.” In addition to the MHA, Belmont Abbey recently launched new BSN, RN-BSN, and MSN degree programs to meet the needs of aspiring healthcare workers.

As part of the inaugural graduate cohort, Belmont Abbey celebrates several undergraduate alumni who came back home to complete their Master’s degree. Grace Bruno ‘17, is part of that group. “Going back to the Abbey was an easy decision for me because I knew what I was going to get in terms of education. I knew I would have a hands-on experience, guided by dedicated faculty who know what it’s like to balance Graduate school and a full-time job,” Bruno says. “I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.” For more information on joining the Master of Health Administration program at the Abbey, visit bac.edu/mha.

Press inquiries can contact Rolando Rivas, AVP of Marketing and Communications, at rolandorivas@bac.edu. For information on all of the Graduate degrees offered at Belmont Abbey, visit bac.edu/academics/graduate-studies/.

Download the press release.