Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education School Closure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Porter & Chester Institute told board Enfield campus was taught out; apologizes for paperwork oversight
Summary
Porter & Chester Institute representatives told the Board of Examiners for Nursing that the Enfield campus stopped enrolling in 2021 and that roughly 70 students were taught out and passed licensing exams; the school apologized for not providing an earlier formal notice to the board. The item was informational; no board action was required.
Porter & Chester Institute representatives told the state Board of Examiners for Nursing on Dec. 18 that the Enfield campus has been closed and that remaining students were ‘taught out’ under a multi-year plan.
Sherry Greifsue, director of nursing for PCI, reviewed a chronology dating to COVID-era changes and said PCI stopped enrolling in the day program in April 2021 and in the evening program in October 2021. She said the school repeatedly notified students by mail, email and phone, offered choices to continue or transfer, and paid required teach-out fees. Julie Trasky, who spoke for the school, said approximately 70 students completed the program and that the large majority later passed licensing exams; some students secured reciprocity from the Massachusetts Board of Nursing.
“We were very professional, engaging with staff and tried to be as considerate as possible to make this seamless for all the students,” Sherry Greifsue said during the presentation.
Board members pressed PCI about why the board was not formally notified in writing earlier. Mary Dieitman said she found the absence of a formal notification “a little disturbing,” and noted the board had seen references to the program in meeting materials and the five‑year plan but not a dedicated written notice. PCI representatives acknowledged an administrative oversight and apologized to the board while offering to provide the documentation they said they had supplied to the Office of Higher Education and accrediting agencies.
Alina Bricklin Goldstein, the board attorney, advised that the regulations do not require any additional board action for a program closure in this instance; the item was presented as information (FYI). Chair Gina Reiners confirmed the board received PCI’s Oct. 17, 2024 letter and that physical records were being routed to PCI’s corporate office. PCI noted its Enfield lease ends in January 2025 and that equipment and student files have been moved to a corporate location.
The board thanked the presenters and accepted the update as informational. No votes or sanctions resulted from the presentation; the board requested PCI provide follow-up paperwork to the board and to DPH if needed.
