North Carolina A&T's nursing degree program is in peril after the UNC Board of Governors decided to temporarily suspend enrollment.
In 2010 and 2011, fewer than 75 percent of A&T's nursing school passed the National Council Licensure Examination on the first try. That could have terminated the program, but the Board of Governors gave the nursing school two more years to get passing scores above 85 percent.
A&T fell short again in 2013, with only 81 percent of students passing on the first try. Now, the board of governors has put the brakes on the 2015 school year. They have 60 days to set up a review panel, which will then consider whether to close the degree program.
Inez Tuck is the Dean of North Carolina A&T's School of Nursing. She said they have improved curriculum, hired better teachers and raised admissions standards in recent years.
“We know that some changes take a little bit longer in terms of curriculum, and you have to graduate your classes before you get some of your outcomes, but we're feeling very positive about the things we've done,” said Tuck.
Tuck said she's optimistic the Board of Governors will give the school more time to improve.
