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Board schedules removal hearing for Porter and Chester Bridgeport campuses after low NCLEX pass rates; other PCI campuses placed on oversight
Summary
The board voted to schedule a removal hearing for Porter and Chester Institute’s Bridgeport day and evening PN programs following consecutive low NCLEX pass rates; the Hamden day campus was placed on conditional status and Waterbury was placed on conditional status with required corrective plans, site visits and reporting.
Following a review of 2022‑2025 NCLEX first‑time pass rates, the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing on May 20 voted to schedule a removal hearing for Porter and Chester Institute’s Bridgeport campus day and evening practical nurse (PN) programs, and placed other campus programs under enhanced oversight.
Board materials show the Bridgeport day group reported a 52 percent first‑time pass rate for 2025; the Bridgeport evening group reported 30 percent. The Hamden campus day group reported 68 percent for 2025 and the Waterbury campus day group reported 77 percent. Board members cited multi‑year patterns of low pass rates for some Porter and Chester campus programs and expressed concern for student and public protection.
The board’s motion to schedule a removal hearing for the Bridgeport day and evening groups carried with a majority vote; the chair and counsel reminded members that removal from the approved list requires a separate hearing and at least 30 days’ notice and that schools would have an opportunity to present evidence before any final action. Board members asked the Department of Public Health to proceed with an on‑site review to collect materials that would be useful at the hearing.
For the Hamden campus day group (68 percent), the board placed the program on conditional approval and requested a corrective action plan, program quality indicators tied to NCSBN guidance, faculty turnover data and a site visit. For the Waterbury day group (77 percent), the board similarly placed the program on conditional approval, requested a corrective action plan and added a recommendation that the school note conditional status in consumer information materials. Board members discussed the value of unannounced classroom and clinical observations and separate interviews with faculty and students when DPH performs site visits.
The board emphasized due‑process requirements for removal proceedings and that the scheduled hearing would be the venue for the school to present its response to the board’s concerns. Department staff were asked to coordinate site visits and to set deadlines for submission of corrective plans in advance of any hearing.
