Miami-Jacobs voluntarily stopped accepting new nursing students earlier this year after the Ohio Nursing Board claimed the school lied about the qualifications of a nutrition instructor, had an unqualified person leading the program and wasn’t meeting other state standards. At the request of college officials a September hearing has been set for the school to defend its actions.
“I think they are in trouble and are trying to find a way to get rid of us,” said Brandy Booth, a student from Xenia.
Nine students out of a class of 19 were told Monday they were being dropped from the program after missing nutrition questions on an exam the students claim instructors told them not to worry about preparing for. They said they were told they couldn’t retake the exam again, an opportunity past students had received, because the school was no longer enrolling nursing students.
Darlene Waite, school president, refuted those claims in a statement, saying that students had two chances to take the test, did not take advantage of tutoring and other support and fell below a 2.0 grade-point average. When they make “unsatisfactory progress” they are subject to dismissal, she said.
“If students fail despite all the help we provide, we cannot and will not bend the rules and ignore Ohio Board of Nursing guidelines to help them pass. Despite claims this situation has nothing to do with accreditation,” said Waite.
Students were adamant the move was sudden and unexpected.
“We failed one test and we were kicked out completely,” said Melodi Moore, a student from Xenia.
Waite has said the school will continue to work to fix problems and win full accreditation of the nursing program. She denies the college ever provided the board with false information and said the school was improving the curriculum to meet state standards.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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