Florida A&M University’s School of Nursing has recently met accreditation compliance standards after a student, whose name remains confidential, issued complaints about the program to the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.
Maryella Graham, dean of FAMU’s School of Nursing, said the student might have filed the complaint against the program in early September.
“We were notified in September [that] the complaint had been filed,” Graham said. “There were six items the complaints alleged.”
Graham issued an official response to the allegations to the NLNAC.
“We provided a response to all the allegations,” Graham added. “The response was due by November 5, we submitted our response by November 1.”
Graham said the six allegations from the student read as follows: “The nursing program didn’t prepare me for the comprehensive exam; paid for education and did not receive what was paid for; administration of the test not valid or creditable or secure; violations of academics policy; discriminating practices against students; filing of grievances not acknowledge by university.”
Despite the complaints from the student, Sharee Daniels, director of student affairs for the School of Nursing, said she is satisfied with the results from the NLNAC.
“The office of equal equality on campus had no evidence of any discriminating action,” Graham said. “Student affairs had no records.”
Daniels said she never doubted that the school would be exonerated.
“We’re happy that were in compliance,” Daniels said “We’re pleased that they came to the conclusion that we thought they would.”
Some students said the complaints were filed only because the student did not meet the standards to pass the comprehensive exam.
Myeshia Carroll, a nursing alumna from Umatilla, Fla., said when she attended FAMU, there were few students who were taking the comprehensive exam were studying for it at the last minute.
“I think there were a few things misleading about that student that filed the complaint,” Carroll said. ” You have to look at what the student is doing outside the nursing program- if they’re partying or having personal issues. There are a lot of reasons why some students are unsuccessful.”
Although the student alleged the program did not prepare her for the comprehensive exam, Carroll said the nursing program gives students enough time to pass the exam, as well as prepare them for the exam.
“Each student gets three chances to take the comprehensive exam,” Carroll said. “If the students fail one class, they only get two chances to take the exit exam. She must have failed one class that’s why she only had two chances.”
Graham said the School of Nursing provided documentation to the NLNAC regarding how staff members prepare students for the comprehensive exam and the steps that are taken to secure the location of the test.
For Carroll, the program prepares students for the professional world.
“I think the FAMU nursing program provides a great foundation for someone intending to practice nursing,” Carroll said. “There are great professors, they’re experienced and they teach by the book.”