The Texas Board of Nursing voted July 18 to grant initial approval to Houston Community College (HCC) Coleman College to relaunch an LVN-to-ADN transition program at its Health Sciences campus in the Texas Medical Center, with an initial cohort of 30 students beginning in August 2025 and a second cohort of 30 in January. The board recorded a recusal by one member who had an advisory relationship with HCC.

Why it matters: HCC voluntarily closed its ADN program in 2023 after low NCLEX pass rates and has proposed a redesigned, concept-based curriculum and enhanced student supports to restore program quality. The board placed emphasis on measurable early results and faculty and clinical capacity before any future expansion.

HCC presented the proposal to the board, describing the Coleman campus as “uniquely situated in the heart of the Texas Medical Center,” and outlined new leadership and program changes intended to address prior performance problems. Dean Nicole Townsend told the board, “We are presenting a redesigned, integrated, and deliberately structured transition program that represents a new era for nursing education at HCC Coleman.” Board education consultant Jan Hooper and Dr. Donnelly reported on a May 1 site visit; Donnelly said, “I was impressed with the facilities at Houston Community College and the resources available for students.”

Board members asked detailed questions about curriculum design, standardized-product use, clinical preceptorships, assessment credit for LVNs, and program sizing. Several members, including Cathy Boswell and others, urged caution in scaling the program before the new curriculum had produced NCLEX results. HCC agreed to take a more conservative start than initially requested: the board’s motion and subsequent vote limited initial enrollment to 30 students per start, rather than the larger cohort the college had filed for.

Outcome and next steps: Ellie Adamson moved to grant initial approval with the cohort limits described; Daryl Chambers seconded the motion and the board approved it with the stated recusal. HCC will proceed to enroll the first cohort for fall 2025 and the board will review early outcomes and compliance with conditions including curriculum alignment, faculty development, and documented clinical placements. The board’s approval letter and attached conditions define reporting timelines and monitoring requirements.

Board action also included a reminder that program approvals under the Texas Occupations Code are contingent on meeting the Board of Nursing’s minimum standards and that the college must document clinical placements and demonstrate faculty readiness during the program’s first year. The board directed staff to monitor the program’s early results and report back if adjustments or additional conditions are needed.