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Grambling State Wants State of Exigency for Undergraduate Nursing

GRAMBLING, La. ― Grambling State University President Willie Larkin has requested a state of exigency for the university’s defunct undergraduate nursing program through summer 2016 and the authority to terminate members of the nursing faculty.

The News-Star reports exigency is the mechanism that allows for the termination of faculty no longer required without classes to teach. Larkin has met with nursing faculty to inform members of the likelihood of terminations and to answer questions.

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors will consider the request at its next meeting on Aug. 27 in Baton Rouge.

UL System spokeswoman Catherine Heitman said UL System President Sandra Woodley expects the board to approve the request next week.

“This is the logical next step and what has to happen in order for Grambling to move forward. There is no program right now. It was essentially closed and there are no students ― they can’t enroll students and they can’t teach courses. So all that is left are the faculty members,” Heitman said.

GSU spokeswoman Tracy Wright said Grambling would not provide any additional comments.

In June, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing withdrew conditional approval of Grambling’s undergraduate degree in nursing, which essentially closed the bachelor’s program, prohibiting Grambling from offering nursing classes or enrolling undergraduate students.

Grambling’s master’s program in nursing was not affected by this decision. The nursing board also directed Grambling to create a transition plan for students to complete their studies at other institutions or transfer to another program at Grambling.

The nursing program has been struggling with maintaining exam pass rates since 2010.

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