News Summary
SUNY Niagara has abruptly canceled its evening Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) classes just five days before the new school year. This decision, prompted by a sudden shortage of instructors, has left many students, including single parents and full-time workers, in a difficult position as they had planned their schedules around these classes. While the college offers alternative daytime options and assures refunds for supplies, the emotional and academic impact on students is significant. The administration aims to reinstate evening classes by spring to better accommodate diverse student needs.
Niagara Falls, NY – SUNY Niagara has announced the cancellation of its evening Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) classes just five days before the new school year, leaving many students in a state of confusion and frustration. The abrupt decision was made due to a sudden shortage of instructors, creating significant challenges for students who had planned their lives around the evening schedule.
Felicia Nieves, one of the affected students, has taken out nearly $9,000 in student loans and feels her efforts over the past three semesters, which included completing program prerequisites and general education courses, have been in vain. As a full-time employee and single mother, she finds it impossible to switch to the daytime classes the school is offering as alternatives.
Another student, Luis Garcia, reported shock upon learning of the program’s cancellation right before classes were to begin. He has already invested around $400 in books and supplies and had made adjustments to his work schedule to accommodate the evening classes.
The Vice President of Academic Affairs at SUNY Niagara, Dr. Maher Ghalayini, explained that the cancellation resulted from multiple evening instructors leaving for other positions shortly before the semester started. The school has since communicated potential options to students, including transitioning to daytime and morning classes. However, only three students out of the entire group remain unable to transition to these new schedules.
While the school has assured students that they will be refunded for supplies and books purchased for the now-canceled classes, the emotional and academic impact of the cancellation is significant. Dr. Ghalayini also indicated that any courses previously taken can be applied to other healthcare opportunities or serve as prerequisites for future nursing programs.
Students have expressed disappointment with how SUNY Niagara has managed the situation; many believe that more could have been done to mitigate the impact of the instructors’ departure. The singular focus on daytime classes does not accommodate the diverse needs of the student population, particularly those with jobs or familial obligations.
As the college approaches the upcoming semester without evening classes, it hopes to hire new instructors with a view toward reinstating the evening LPN program by spring. This move aims to ensure that students seeking a career in nursing still have the necessary resources and opportunities to succeed in their educational goals.
The situation at SUNY Niagara reflects broader challenges faced by many educational institutions in adapting to staffing changes and meeting the needs of their student body. As students navigate this sudden shift, the college administration remains focused on finding solutions that will support their academic aspirations moving forward.
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Additional Resources
- WKBW: Three Semesters Wasted
- Wikipedia: SUNY Niagara
- WIVB: Student Speaks Out
- Google Search: SUNY Niagara nursing program cancellation
- WNYPapers: SUNY Niagara Enrollment Up 11%
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Nursing
- KGN: SUNY Niagara Cancellation
- Google News: SUNY Niagara evening classes cancellation
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