Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Program Schedule Change topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Quinnipiac Valley practical nursing program extends calendar weeks; board deems change non-major
Summary
Connecticut State Community College Quinnipiac Valley told the Board that it restructured an accelerated practical nursing program to add semester breaks; the board determined the extension in calendar weeks was not a major curriculum change and did not require a vote.
Connecticut State Community College, Quinnipiac Valley, informed the Board of Examiners of Nursing the practical nursing program will lengthen the calendar time for cohorts to allow breaks between semesters. Director Kimberly Griffiths said the change preserves the existing curriculum but shifts the program from a 50-week accelerated schedule to 61 weeks for the first cohort and about 60 weeks for the next cohort to align with the college2s semester calendar.
The board discussed whether the change constituted a major curriculum change under board regulations. Assistant Attorney General Alina Bricklin Goldstein advised the members that a "major curriculum change" is defined by a significant deviation in content or length and that the board should determine significance. Several board members who are educators said the change appeared not to be significant because the curricular content was unchanged. Board member Mary Dieteman expressed that she believed a vote would be prudent but ultimately a majority of members indicated the duration change was not significant and no motion or roll-call vote was required.
Quinnipiac representatives said the shift would allow time between semesters for grievances or appeals, provide better alignment with faculty workloads and not alter course content. The board accepted the college's explanation and did not require formal approval.
