MOBILE Ala.

Bishop State Community College's nursing director resigned days after a report by the state two-year college system cited problems in her department.

Barbara Powe's resignation submitted late last week will be effective Aug. 2, Bishop State spokesman Herb Jordan said. She will remain with the school as a nursing instructor.

President Yvonne Kennedy has also announced her retirement from the top post at the troubled 3,600-student college.

The school's academic and financial practices have drawn scrutiny from state and federal officials over the last year. Twenty-seven people have been charged with stealing more than $200,000 in financial aid and sports program money.

Bradley Byrne, chancellor of the two-year system, told the Press-Register that he did not ask Powe to resign but welcomed the move.

"Given the problems that were said to exist in our report in the nursing program, I think it's an appropriate decision on her part," he said.

The two-year system's report contained complaints from students that included a nursing program policy forcing them to repeat an entire block of classes if they fail one of the related courses.

The system report also found problems in the program's grading practices.

"Records in the nursing program reflect widespread grade changes and inconsistency between grade books and rolls, chaotic record keeping, and lack of adequate security for grade records," the report said.

Nursing instructor Julia Griggs has also resigned effective Aug. 2, Jordan said.

He said a hiring freeze for the college announced last week will be lifted to fill several vacancies in the nursing program.

Byrne said he told Kennedy to fire David Thomas as head of adult education and economic development at the college, because of Thomas's felony conviction for leaving the scene of an accident where he ran over the foot of an 8-year-old girl in 2005.

Information from: Press-Register of Mobile