Nevada postsecondary commission approves multiple licenses, upholds Carrington College ruling

The Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education on Feb. 4 approved a series of full-term licenses, extensions and provisional licenses for private postsecondary institutions and upheld an administrator’s determination in a student complaint against Carrington College Reno.

The meeting, chaired by Commissioner Thomas Kenny, opened with staff reports from Administrator Kelly Wuest and a roll call confirming quorum. Wuest said the agency had moved offices to the Stan Jones Building, received a $5,467 cost-of-living adjustment to its Veterans Affairs cooperative agreement, and reported 12,631 students enrolled — the highest fall enrollment in CPE history.

Votes at a glance - Las Vegas Bartending School — full-term license granted. (Motion carried; mover: Commissioner Kenny.) - National Polytechnic College — provisional license extended 12 months. (Motion carried.) - Paralegal Institute — full-term license granted contingent on website revisions to comply with NAC 394.590 (advertising/misrepresentation rules). (Motion carried; Commissioner Kirner abstained.) - Sound Connect — provisional license extended nine months. (Motion carried.) - Unity Dental Assisting — full-term license granted. (Motion carried.) - Vegas Print School — provisional license extended 12 months at the owner’s request to allow recovery from health and local economic conditions. (Motion carried.) - Hands On HVAC School — 12-month provisional license granted contingent on a surety bond of $83,000 and facility/personnel documentation. (Motion carried.) - Reno Medical Assistant School — 12-month provisional license granted contingent on a $41,000 surety bond and required approvals. (Motion carried.) - Stone Sports Swim School & Scuba Dive Center — 12-month provisional license granted for NAUI/SSI programs contingent on a $10,000 surety bond and documentation. (Motion carried.) - BlueJay Education, LLC — 12-month provisional license granted contingent on a $342,000 surety bond, facility/curriculum/personnel review and a mandatory name change after the Commission discussed concerns tied to the school's name. (Motion carried; Commissioner Todtman voted no; Commissioner Kenny abstained.) - Northwest Career College — approval to add an HVAC Technician program contingent on a $64,000 surety bond, facility approval and personnel information. (Motion carried.)

Student hearing The Commission also considered a student appeal filed by Addie Johnson against Carrington College Reno. The appellant did not appear; Deputy Attorney General Mary Olson advised that the burden rests with the appellant. After reviewing exhibits and findings of fact, the Commission upheld the Administrator’s determination that Carrington College provided the contracted education and found no violations of NRS/NAC cited.

Why it matters The Commission's actions set conditions that institutions must meet before operating in Nevada, including surety bonds, facility and personnel approvals, and truthful advertising. Several approvals were explicitly contingent on compliance actions (website revisions or name change), signaling heightened scrutiny on marketing and trafficking-related risks.

What’s next Where licenses were granted conditionally, staff will monitor whether required surety bonds, facility approvals and corrective changes are filed. The Commission’s decisions are final for this meeting; institutions that remain noncompliant risk future enforcement action.