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Board approves University of Bridgeport curriculum changes; orders reporting for accelerated program after low NCLEX results
Summary
The state Board of Examiners for Nursing approved major curriculum changes from the University of Bridgeport for its BSN and accelerated ABSN programs and placed the accelerated program on conditional status after a decline in first‑time NCLEX pass rates; the standard BSN pass rate met the 80% threshold and was removed from conditional status.
The Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing on May 20 approved major curriculum revisions for the University of Bridgeport’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) programs, and separately moved the university’s ABSN program to conditional status after the most recent NCLEX results.
Board chair Gina Reiner opened the agenda item and Doctor Linda Wagner presented the University of Bridgeport’s submission, describing new course sequencing that adds two pathophysiology/pharmacology courses, eliminates a standalone health policy course (threading that content elsewhere), and shifts credits in senior seminar/practicum and research to support NCLEX preparedness. Wagner told the board implementation is set for students entering fall 2025.
The board voted to approve the curriculum changes after a motion from Mary Dieteman and a second from Alex Rivera. Attorney Alina Bricklin Goldstein advised the board that major curriculum changes may trigger conditional approval and that the board can require follow‑up even when a program meets minimum NCLEX criteria. The vote to approve the curricular change carried with the majority of board members voting aye.
Separately, the board reviewed NCLEX first‑time pass rates released for the period ending April 30, 2025. The University of Bridgeport’s ABSN accelerated cohort reported a 68% first‑time pass rate for 2025 (88% in 2023; 90% in 2024). The board placed the ABSN accelerated program on conditional status, asking the school to submit a plan of correction and to present the plan in July; board members recommended the plan address NCSBN program quality indicators and include measurable early outcomes. The board also recommended (but did not require) that the program disclose conditional status on consumer information channels such as the school website.
Because the University’s BSN program achieved an 80% reflected pass rate for 2025 (meeting the board’s regulatory threshold), the board voted to remove that BSN program from conditional approval. Board members who supported keeping close oversight said they sought semester‑end reporting tied to the curriculum implementation schedule, because the curricular changes affect cohorts whose outcomes will not be fully visible for several years.
Actions taken: the curriculum changes were approved, the ABSN accelerated program was placed on conditional status with a requested corrective plan and biannual (semester‑end) reports tied to the fall‑2025 implementation, and the traditional BSN program was removed from conditional approval. The board asked the Department of Public Health to review the submitted corrective plan for adequacy and to coordinate scheduling for the school’s July presentation.
The University of Bridgeport representatives in the meeting noted implementation begins fall 2025 and cautioned the board that measurable NCLEX impacts from these curricular changes will not be realized immediately; the board adjusted its reporting expectations accordingly.
