Excelsior College

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below
[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
Regards,
*** ***
I humbly regret to inform you of my decision to not accept the response from Excelsior for the following reasons 1: It does not give me a finishing date to the studies I have paid for and been engaged in. 2: It does not explain a plan to complete said studies, leaving the completion to "indefinite". 3: The test in mention must be completed and passed prior to January In order for me to have the time to fit my life's needs

Revdex.com:I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.[The business fails to acknowledge the most important issue at hand, when a student enrolls into the program it should be made clearly that CPNE examination time frames will be between 4-6mo and can extend as great as 12months (year), This is misleading to students, prior to a student enrolling into the program they should be made this clearly before investing time and money into the institutionIn my case I was practically half way through meeting the program requirements when I first inquired about the CPNE time frame and was taken back at the wait period expected, the institution is correct, I was not eligible yet for the CPNE, but I as a responsible & organized individual I planned ahead and inquired, this is what led me to withdrawl from the program due to my displeasing experienceThe institute has already a history of having faced a class action lawsuit and I do not doubt that this may lead to the next oneClearly, Excelsior College does not reveal this time frame on the enrollment form as a deceptive method to enroll students.]Regards,*** ***

I am writing in response to a complaint received from ID *** a currently enrolled studentat Excelsior College.Our records indicate that this student enrolled in the Excelsior College School of Nursing onAugust 23, in the Associate of Science (Nursing) degreeShe became eligible to take
theClinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE) on April 27, and registered for theCPNE on January 29, Her CPNE application was complete on February 16, (once allof the required documentation were received) and she was placed in the scheduling queue waitingto receive a date to take the CPNE.Unfortunately the School of Nursing is experiencing a prolonged wait time of 9-months for theCPNE, The wait time is typically four to six monthsPeriodically the CPNE wait timedoes increase due to a variety of issuesThe School of Nursing is working diligently to rectify thesituationPlease note that there is never any guarantee made to students that the CPNE wait timewill remain at four to six monthsThere is also no guarantee upon enrolment that a student willearn a degreeDegrees programs are offered but students must successfully complete all degreerequirements in order to earn a degree.Prior to registering for the CPNE the student registered and attended the CPNE workshop onOctober 21, The skills taught in that workshop are all still valid for the CPNETherehave been a few additional skills added for the CPNEPlease note that the CPNE workshopis not required, but instead is optionalThe DVD and work book that the student purchased onSeptember 14, still has valuable information in it for the CPNEThe studentmentioned that she has asked for extra help and resourcesAll nursing students are provided withaccess to the CPNE portal that gives them access to additional resources for the CPNE beyond theCPNE study guide that is also providedThe following message was sent to the student on April27, 2015:NURADV: OtherSUBJECT: CPNE Eligihilily***,Congratulations on becoming eligible for the Clinical Performance in Nursing ExaminationCareful preparation is essential for ensuring success on the CPNESince the CPNE is aperformance examination, you should use strategies that are different from those you would useto prepare for a theory examinationThe current CPNE Study Guide, in CD-ROM format, willbe sent to you shortlyPlease review the Study Guide and formulate a plan for preparing for theCPNE prior to submitting your online application.Merely reading the Study Guide or the information in the suggested references will not prepareyou to perform the required nursing behaviors for the CPNEYou must prepare bv learning andpracticing the critical elements that comprise the examYou will be expected to perform thecritical elements with 100% accuracy as they are set at the minimally acceptable levelIt is veryimportant that you devise a strategy for preparing for the CPNE that is realistic and compatiblewith your other responsibilities.Now that you are eligible for the CPNE, you may access the CPNE Portal from your My DetailspageOnce you are in the CPNE Portal click on Learning ResourcesPlease take the time tocheck it out, as our resources include things like:• practice scenarios (free)• tutorials (free)• individual advisement calls with a nursing faculty member (free)• testing tips (free) .• online conferences• I-Day Skills WorkshopPlease contact the School of Nursing with any questions; we'll be happy to helpBest wishes inachieving your educational goals!Take care,*** ***, MS, MASenior Academic AdvisorSchool of NursingThe student mentioned in her letter that she was put in contact with Excelsior College throughThe College NetworkPlease note that Excelsior College has no affiliation with The CollegeNetwork, which is a test-preparation companySuch companies will offer to help students studyfor our examinations and some may imply a relationship with Excelsior College and/or makeclaims that their products and services are all that a student needs to prepare for our examinations.Excelsior does not endorse the products or services of test-preparation companies.At this time if the student wishes to cancel the CPNE we can issue her a full refund of the CPNEfeeThe fees paid for exams, workshops and enrollment is not refundablePlease keep in mindthat it not uncommon that nursing exams and coursework is not accepted between institutions.I hope this information clarifies the matterPlease feel free to contact if can be of furtherassistance.Sincerely,*** ***CC: ***

The reason that I do not agree with  Excelesior College is because first of all when they did finally tell me that I could come to school I was already going somewhere else and no longer was interested in their program. the congradulations you have been accepted into the nursing program that they sent to you all was the  first time I ever saw that paperwork. my main point is this I have never taken a class from them so regardless they need to refund my money back. I changed my mind about going to them and I have not been interested in  anything that they have to offer. but they do have my hard earned money and I need it back. I do not have any extra money to just give away to a college. I tried to get into the information to pull my stuff out but I can't get in. my user ID is [redacted] Password [redacted] and it won't even load I wanted to down load the correspondence that I have in the email from them.also I have been telling them for years not that I don't want to go their and please send my money back.  thank you

I am writing in response to a complaint received from ID [redacted], a previously enrolled student at Excelsior College. Our records indicate that this student enrolled in the Excelsior College School of Nursing on June 20, 2013 in the Associate of Science (Nursing) degree. She elected to pay the...

$1065 enrollment fee though a payment plan. She made one payment of $169 on June 20, 2013 and another payment of $170 on July 26, 2013. [redacted], the third party who administers the payment plans was unable to deduct any additional payments from the student's account, so her payment plan was terminated and her enrollment was changed to withdrawn on September 9, 2013. On June 2, 2016, the student made a payment of $250 toward the enrollment fee. This left her a balance due of $426. Prior to that the student applied to Excelsior College on March 24, 2008 and paid a $75 application fee. On June 18, 2008, the student paid $300 for the Excelsior College INL 102 course. She registered on June 11, 2008 for the Excelsior College ENG 101 course, but cancelled her registration for that course and incurred no tuition liability. To date the student has paid $964 to Excelsior College and owes an outstanding balance of $426. Per the Excelsior College refund policy two-thirds of the enrollment fee will be refunded within the first six months of enrollment provided that an evaluation of the student's academic records has not been conducted. An evaluation of the student's academic records was performed on August 1, 2013. It is not clear why the student was under the assumption that she could not take Excelsior College courses until she paid the enrollment fee in full as she was given course approval by her academic advisor on July 19, 2013 for two courses that began on August 26, 2013. She was also given approval to take two more courses that began on October 21, 2013. I hope this information clarifies the matter. Please feel free to contact if I can be of further assistance.

I am writing in response to a complaint received from ID [redacted] a formerly enrolled student at Excelsior College. Our records indicate that this student enrolled in the Excelsior College School of Nursing on April 13, 2015 in the Associate of Science (Nursing) degree. She withdrew...

from the College on March 24, 2017 prior to completing the remainder of her nursing requirements and becoming eligible to take the CPNE.The student took and paid for three general education exams, an online course and five nursing theory exams. The fees paid for exams and courses that have been completed are not refundable, The Student Service Annual Fee paid in early 2016 maintained the student's enrollment throughout 2016 and the beginning of 2017 and is nonrefundable. Unfortunately, the School ofNursing is experiencing a prolonged wait time of 9-12 months for the CPNE. The normal wait time is typically four to six months, however there never a guarantee made to students that the CPNE wait lime will remain at four to six months. Periodically the CPNE wait time does increase due to a variet)' of issues. The School ofNursing is working diligently to rectify the situation and opened two new test sites in 2016. The wait time for the CPNE did not increase until 2015. Once the wail time increased a message was placed on the Excelsior College website indicating this.1 hope this information clarifies the matter. Please feel free to contact if I can be of further assistance.

I am writing in response 10 a complaint received from ID I [redacted]. a currently enrolled student at Excelsior College. Excelsior College has established institutional requirements for minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)for undergraduate and graduate students. These requirements....

developed in accordance with Excelsior College academic standards and federal financial aid statutes and regulations governing student eligibility, arc designed to ensure that all students make timely progress toward their educational goals. Students who achieve these standards are considered to be making SAP at Excelsior College. All students are required to maintain SAP toward their degree requirements during each term for which they are enrolled at Excelsior College. The student went into SAP warning status when she failed two Excelsior College exams in the Fall 2015 trimester. Students in warning status are allowed one term to reestablish aid eligibility to the minimum standard for satisfactory academic progress. If a financial aid student is not able to achieve SAP during the Warning period, the student is no longer eligible for financial aid. The student lost financial aid eligibility when she failed a 1hird Excelsior College exam in the Fall 2016 term. If special circumstances prevent a student from meeting SAP. the loss of financial aid eligibility may be appealed to the Provost or designee via the Financial Aid Office. An appeal reviewed by the Provost or designee does not guarantee reinstatement of financial aid. The student's SAP appeal was received in the Office of Financial Aid on March 6, 2017. It can take up to 30 days for a SAP appeal to be reviewed and the student noti fted orlhe outcome. Unfortunately, the student's SAP appeal was overlooked and was not addressed until yesterday. A supervisor from the Office of Financial A id contacted 1he student yesterday. explained what had happened and infonned her of some additional information needed lo move forward with her appeal. I hope this information clarifies the matter. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

The Excelsior College associate degree nursing program is a competency based distance learning program.  This program is designed to serve individuals with significant experience in clinically oriented health care disciplines.  The College web site (www.excelsior.edu) and the School of...

Nursing catalog (available via www.excelsior.edu) clearly describe the College and the School of Nursing as a distance education institution. To satisfy the 36-credit nursing component requirement, students must pass eight (8) nursing theory examinations or courses, the Focused Clinical Competency Assessment (FCCA) and the Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE). The student filing the complaint enrolled in the associate degree program on September 6, 2011 and successfully completed the nursing theory and FCCA program requirements.  The student attempted the CPNE twice-the weekend of October 7, 2016 and September 22, 2017 and was not successful.  The CPNE is a high-stakes two and one-half day examination students must complete successfully to graduate from the Associate in Science nursing program. CPNE administration and scoring protocols rigorously follow standards established by the American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and the National Council of Measurement in Education.  The CPNE is a dichotomously-scored, criterion referenced performance examination.  During the CPNE students must clearly demonstrate the ability to integrate nursing knowledge, make patient-centered judgments and perform the technical care required for both adults and children.  The examination is administered in an acute care hospital.  Candidates must pass a minimum of two adult Patient Care Situations (PCS) and one pediatric PCS and the Nursing Simulation Laboratory (NSL) to pass the CPNE.  The candidate has three opportunities to pass the two adult PCS requirements, two opportunities to pass the pediatric PCS requirement, and two opportunities to pass each NSL station. Therefore, it is not possible for a student to fail for one error.  The student filing this complaint takes issue with the requirement for students to complete a nursing careplan as part of the CPNE.  The student indicates that careplans are now “done online.”  Creation of a nursing careplan is a means to assess a student’s clinical reasoning ability and utilization of the universally accepted means for performing nursing care-called the nursing process.  Knowledge of the nursing process is a competency required of a registered nurse and   serves as the organizing framework for the registered nurse licensing examination, the NCLEX-RN.  Excelsior College provides students preparing for the CPNE access to free learning resources. These resources include videos demonstrating the correct performance of every nursing skill assessed in the exam, weekly faculty contact calls, faculty facilitated online discussions, electronic submission of documentation and careplans for faculty review and an in-depth CPNE Study Guide with information about every item tested on the examination.  Additional resources are available to students for a modest fee.  Information about the resources can be found on the College website, in the School of Nursing Catalog and in the CPNE Study Guide. Sincerely,

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
I did pay $350+ dollars in travel expenses to use workshops to aide in my study for CPNE. What they fail to discuss is that, this is a PASS or FAIL clincal weekend. There is in no way a SCORE that is presented to students. As far as the 60% pass rate for a clinical, that is a POOR example and way to represent a program as far as I'm concerned. The school does not disclose enough information on the clinical weekend prior to being eligible to take this clinical. No other school in the United States has students completing a pass or fail clinical based on "documentation" which does not follow or comply with the outlined study guides. I do not agree that a student should have to pay over $4,000 times including travel expenses to complete less that a two day clinical course in which the instructors are not held accountable for their subjectivity. If a student takes this CPNE 3 times total, they are paying over $12,000 on top of the costs for courses. This is an absolute RIPOFF as far as im concerned. This also does not include the annual student fee of almost $500, and if you graduate you again have to pay another $500. The wait time is 8-12 months for CPNE regardless of what the school is saying. With this wait time, I have already transferred to [redacted] College in which I am able to finish my program in less than 11 months with same degree and with a school that holds their standards with integrity.  I am willing to take further means necessary by contacting the Attorney General's office if needed. It says something when the state of California is no longer accepting students from this college and there is already a class action lawsuit filed against this school. I will move on with my time if they are able to refund me even the cost of the CPNE based on the awful experience that the three other students total that were with me that weekend. Four students came and four students went home with a fail for things no other nurse would fail a student for. Please let me know what I can do to further assist with this matter. Thank you.
Regards,
[redacted]

I am responding to the above-referenced complaint filed by a student enrolled in theExcelsior College School of Nursing associate degree nursing [jrogram. The studentappealed a failing grade on the Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CRNE)and the Examination Appeals Subcommittee (EAS)...

granted a Repeat without Fee orPenalty (RWFP). This decision means the outcome of the exam is nullified and does notcount as one of the three opportunities to pass this curricular requirement. No fee isassigned to the repeat.The student failed the exam due to an unsuccessful second attempt in the NursingSkills Laboratory portion of the CPNE for using an incorrect needle size to administer anintramuscular injection into the vastus lateralis muscle of a small adult mannequin. Thestudent used a 5/8", 25-gauge needle to inject a medication. Generally, this needle sizeis used when administering subcutaneous medication. The standard for administeringan intramuscular injection is a 1-1 14" needle. The current recommendations by theCenter for Disease Control for needle length are based on patient weight and bodymass index (BMI). An adult patient who is thin, requires a needle length of 5/8 to oneinch; whereas an average patient requires a 1-inch needle, and those over 90 kgrequire a 1 34 inch needle. During the orientation for the CPNE, Students are informedthe mannequin is a small adult, not a thin one. The clinical faculty use scripted languageto describe the laboratory so all exams are consistently administered across ail testsites.The student submitted a reference that is not a faculty recommended text but had beenin prior years. The authors of the former textbook based their recommendation on anarticle published in the journal Pediatrics by Grosswasser et al.](1997) titled:delivery in infants andNeedlelength and injection technique for efficient intramuscular vaccinechildren evaluated through an ultasonographic determination pf subcutaneous andmuscle layer thickness, but do not clarify within the text that the recommendation isspecific to the pediatric population. The EAS rendered a generous decision in grantinga repeat exam assuming the student unintentionally used resources that could havebeen more carefully read.In her complaint, the student asserts being right while the clinical faculty was wrong anddesires the grade should be converted to a Pass. The student was informed this wasnot appropriate since the passing conditions of the exam were not met. The CRNEStudy Guide describes a Reverse to Pass can be rendered when the studentsuccessfully completes the requirements for passing the exam: 4 skills labs and 3Patient Care Scenarios (PCS). The student completed 2 of 3 PCSs. This is anincomplete examination and cannot be scored as a Pass. An assertion was also made itwould take a year to get another test date. Students who are granted a RWFP areprovided with an expedited scheduled testing time.The committee and faculty position affirm the use of the longer needle for adultinjections into the vastus lateralis muscle. Based on standards of practice, the clinicalfaculty made the correct decision. In fact, the EAS determined there was no scoringerror but still granted a RWFP acknowledging perhaps the student lacked thesophistication -to reconsider information discrepancies or comprehend the improperapplication of original works into a secondary source of information.I have consulted with the College Ombuds Office and have determined it is appropriateto waive the $495.00 graduation fee upon completion of all program requirements. If Ican be of assistance for further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.Sincerely,Mary PDean, School of Nursing

If you read their initial response, it simply says what they told me when I first enrolled. I asked them about classroom protocol and what kind of assistance I could expect to receive once I started the course work. They assured me that assistance would be provided by the university, my counselor, my teachers as well as assistance through their website. I never received help with any course work and the instructor was in no way helpful even when I explained to her that the website was very difficult to navigate. What they promised when I enrolled and what I received once my course work began was in no way adequate to a learning environment that would promote a successful completion of the course work.  Simply repeating what was communicated to me at the beginning of the enrollment process is not in my estimation assistance.  Since I cannot log on to my Excelsior account (they locked me out) I cannot access any correspondence through the website (which is what they required). Not a very pleasant experience with this school. Thank You,[redacted]

I am writing in response to a complaint received from ID [redacted], a currently enrolled student at Excelsior College. Our records indicate that this student's textbook for the UExcel Cotemporary Mathematics exam was on backorder with the publisher. Due to this delay the student was refunded the...

cost of the exam materials and provided with the materials for the Cotemporary Mathematics exam at no charge. He is also being provided with materials for the next two exams he is planning to take at no charge. I hope this information clarifies the matter. Please feel free to contact if I can be of further assistance.

* am writing in response to a complaint received from IDExcelsior College.[redacted], a currently enrolled student atOur records indicate that this student enrolled in the Excelsior College School of Nursing on April 29, 20*6in the Associate of Science (Nursing) degree. The student received course...

approval for BIO *05 and BIO2*2 on May 6, 20*6 to take in the Summer **20*6 term. Please see the message below where her academicadvisor cautioned her about taking these two courses together due to workload and rigor.Hi [redacted],It was great to hear from you today. Here's a recap of our conversation:You called today for course approvals and you would like to use Financial Aid. In order to qualify forFinancial Aid during the current trimester, you will have to take two courses during the next term SummerII (06/27/*6-08/2*/*6). It is too late to registerfor the current term. Summer I (05/02/*6-06/26/*6). Youknew you wanted to take the BIO**05 Anatomy Physiology I course and I suggested taking theSOC*IOIIntroduction to Sociology' with it because the 8*0*2*2 Microbiology course is rigorous. tVe do notrecommend students take the 8*0*2*2 course in the same term as another course. You requested approvalfor Microbiology at the same time as Anantomy & Phsiology / after assuring me you could handle it. Younow have the following approvals on your record:Summer II (06/27/I6-08/2I/I6)8*0**05 Anatomy <& Phsyiology IBIO*2l2 MicrobiologyNote: Registration for Summer II courses ends 06/24/*6As we discussed on the phone, you can expect the.se courses to generate about *8 hours ofwork per weekwhich means 36 hours per week when taking two courses.Financial Aid Study Plan: You will need tofill out afinancial aid study plan in order to be packaged forFinancial Aid in Summer II. Course approval is required to fill out this form. Your study plan can befoundon the 'Financial Aid" tab of your MAP Planner Tool on your MyExcelsior account. Once submitted, it willtake approximately *0-*5 business days for this Student Plan to be reviewed. Please note: This step must becompleted each seasonal trimester, if you have questions about this process, please call Finanical Aiddirectly at [redacted]Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
Regards,
[redacted]

To Whom it May Concern:I am writing in response to a complaint received from lD [redacted], a currently enrolled studentat Excelsior College.Our records indicate that this student enrolled in the Excelsior College School of Nursing onDecember 20,2013 in the Associate of Science (Nursing) degree. She...

became eligible to take theClinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE) on December 12, 2016 and registered forthe CPNE on December 27, 2016. Her CPNE application was complete in January of 2017 (onceall of the requ ired documentation were received) and she was placed in the scheduling queuewaiting to receive a date to take the CPNE.Unfortunately, the School of Nursing is experiencing a prolonged wait time of 9-12 months forthe CPNE. This extended wait time for the CPNE did not increase until mid- 2015. The normalwait time is typically four to six months, however there is never a guarantee made to students thatthe CPNE wait time will remain at four to six months. Periodically the CPNE wait time doesincrease due to a variety of issues.The School of Nursing is working diligently to rectify the situation. Two new test sites wereopened in 2016 and Excelsior College faculty created additional free CPNE learning resources tohelp increase the number of students who pass the CPNE on their first attempt. Students are alsooffered a waiver of the annual fee if they register to take the CPNE within five months ofbecoming eligible and have no other requirements left to complete.Per the Dean of the School of Nursing, Dr. Mary Lee P[redacted], it is not possible to quantify thenumber of students waiting an extended period of time to take the CPNE because some studentshave requested to test in one specific location, other students are on a wait list for a cancellation,and others are willing to test in whatever location has the first open test date.I hope this information clarifies the matter. Please feel free to contact if I can be of furtherassistance. Sincerely,Kathy M[redacted]Ombudsperson

I am writing in response to additional concerns regarding complaint 10 1[redacted], a currentlyenrolled student at Excelsior College.The student has responded to the Revdex.com requesting the following information:It does not give me a finishing date. It does not explain a plan to complete said studies. Thetest in mention must be completed and passed prior to January 1, 2017.Response• The School of Nursing cannot give the student a completion date for the degree. Theydo not have a test date available yet for the student. The current wait time for theCPNE is 9-12 months. There are several students ahead of her in the queue waiting tobe assigned a date to take the CPNE.• The student must successfully complete the CPNE. All students are granted threeattempts to take this exam When/if she completes the degree depends on whether thestudent is successful with the CPNE.• Choosing at least 3 testing locations is strongly encouraged; fewer than 3 locationsmay increase the wait time. The student may also request to have her name placed ona cancelation list. This way the student may be offered a date to test sooner if anotherstudent cancels their CPNE test date.• If the student wishes to cancel the CPNE prior to receiving a test date she will be issued a fullrefund of the CPNE fee. No other fees or tuition will be refunded if the student chooses towithdraw from Excelsior College.I hope this information is helpful to the student.Sincerely,Kathy M[redacted]Ombudsperson

I am writing in response to a complaint received from ID [redacted], an alumni and current student at Excelsior College. Our records indicate that this student originally enrolled in Excelsior College on September 11, 2014 in the Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies degree (AAT). He...

completed this degree and graduated on November 20, 2015. On October 30, 2015 he enrolled in the Bachelors of Professional Studies in Technology Management degree (BPT). As the student was planning to take mostly exams to complete the AAT degree he enrolled in the multisource option and paid the decreased veteran enrollment fee of $740. Under this option the student would only be required to take one Excelsior College course; the capstone course for the AAT degree. He could choose to complete the remainder of his degree requirements through exam or at another institution and transfer them in. During his enrollment in the AAT degree, the student was in contact several times with his academic advisors about what exams and courses he could take for the BPT degree. Some were approved, some were denied. An unofficial evaluation was performed for the BPT degree on April 23, 2015. As of that date the student still needed six credits to complete the AAT degree. As the student was working on two different degrees at the same time this made things complicated because he was only officially enrolled in one degree. On June 12, 2015 an advising assistant suggested to the student that he may want to consider transferring from the AAT to the BPT degree. Please note that it is up to the student to decide which degree program they wish to pursue and whether they wish to enroll in an associate degree or a bachelors' degree. The situation was further complicated when the student decided to transfer to the partnership course enrollment option on August 27, 2015 while he was still enrolled in the AAT degree so he could receive discounted tuition for the bachelors' degree courses he was registering for. Unfortunately he did not discuss this with his advisors before he transferred enrollment options. Under the course option students are required to take 12 credits of Excelsior College courses (residency requirement) before they can graduate. On September 24, 2015 the student's final course grade for the AAT degree was submitted, but as he had transferred to the course option and had not yet completed 12 credits of Excelsior College courses he could not be approved for graduation. The student sent messages regarding his desire to be approved for graduation and the situation was explained to him in detail. The student's 12 credit residency requirement for the AAT degree was met on October 26, 2015 and he was approved for graduation the next day. During this time the student requested a refund of the $740 enrollment fee that he paid in September 2014 for the multisource option. The $740 enrollment fee provided one year of student services, which terminated on October 1, 2015. This fee is not refundable and the student's year of enrollment was coming to an end, so the student's request for a refund of this fee was denied. Unfortunately my assistant did give him conflicting information when she informed the student that he still needed to take 8 credits of Excelsior College courses to complete the residency requirement. She did not realize that he was currently registered for those courses. It was cleared up soon after when he questioned it. The student did receive the discounted tuition ($390 per credit instead of $490 per credit) for the courses he took toward the bachelors' degree (while still enrolled in the AAT degree) and was also billed the discounted graduation fee of $130 (nondiscounted $495). The student enrolled in the BPT degree on October 30, 2015 under the course option and was not required to pay an enrollment fee. The nine credits that he took while enrolled in the AAT degree have counted toward the 12 credit residency requirement for the BPT degree, which left him only needing to take three additional credits of Excelsior College courses. The student is upset because the capstone course he took for the AAT degree will not eliminate the need to take the capstone course for the BPT degree. The AAT capstone will count toward his elective credit requirements, but each degree has it's own capstone course that is specifically tailored to that degree. The capstone course is mandated by our accreditors as we accept a large number of transfer credits, so it is required that we have one culminating course that measures how students have met the program outcomes of the degree program. Since each degree program has a different set of program outcomes, each capstone is different. I am uncertain what the student was referring to when he stated the following they will send you imaginary bills and say they never sent them. The student was billed the discounted Student Services Annual Fee of $225 and then assessed a late fee of $55. This was waived as he did not need another year of services in the AAT degree because he was approved for graduation after the SSAF was billed. See enclosed a copy of the student's account statement. It is clear to me from the copious notes and messages in the student's record that he was given very thorough and accurate academic advisement services even though some of the requests he made in writing to advisors were vague in nature. I hope this information clarifies the matter. Please feel free to contact if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Kathy M. Ombudsperson

October 5, 20 15[redacted]Revdex.comI 00 Bryant Woods, SouthAmherst, NY 14228Complaint ID # [redacted]Dear Ms. [redacted]The Excelsior College associate degree nursing program is a competency based distance learning program. This program is designed to serve individuals with...

significant experience in clinically oriented health care disciplines. The College web site (www.excelsior.edu) and the School of Nursing catalog (available via www.excelsior.eclu) clearly describe the College and the School of Nursing as a distance education institution. In order to satisfy the 36- credit nursing component requirement, students must pass eight nursing theory examinations, the Focused Clinical Competency Assessment and the Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE). The student filing the complaint enrolled in the associate degree program in January 2012 and successfully completed the eight nursing theory examinations and the Focused Clinical Competency Assessment. The student attempted the CPNE the weekend of September I I . 2015 and was not successful. Excelsior College provides students who are preparing for the CPNE access to free learning resources. These resources include weekly faculty contact calls, faculty facilitated online discussions, electronic submission of documentation and care plans for faculty review and an in-depth CPNE Study Guide with information about every item tested on the examination. Additional resources are available to students for a modest fee. There is no evidence the student utilized any of these learning resources. The student's record does demonstrate that s/he was notified of these available resources when s/he became eligible for the CPNE. Information about the resources can be found on the College website, in the School of Nursing Catalog and in the CPNE Study Guide. The Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE) is a high-stakes two and one-half dayexamination students must complete successfully to graduate f rom the Associate in Science Nursing program at Excelsior College. CPNE administration and scoring protocols rigorously follow standards established by the American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and the National Council of Measurement in Education. The CPNE is a dichotomously-scored, criterion referenced performance examination. During the CPNEstudents must clearly demonstrate the ability to integrate nursing knowledge, make patient centered judgments and perform the technical care required for both adults and children. The examination is administered in an acute care hospital. Candidates must pass a minimum of two adult Patient Care Situations (PCS) and one pediatric PCS and the four part Nursing Simulation Laboratory (NSL) to pass the CPNE. The candidate has three opportunities to pass the two adult PCS requirements, two opportunities to pass the pediatric PCS requirement, and two opportunities to pass each NSL station. Therefore, it is not possible for a student to fail for one error. The current cost for the CPNE is $2025 which is approximately $253.00 per credit. The pass rate on the CPNE for the prior academic year was 60%. Sincerely, Mary L[redacted], PhD, RN, CNEDean, School of Nursing

I am writing in response to a complaint received from ID [redacted], a prospective student who applied for admission into the Excelsior College School of Nursing. Our records indicate that this student applied for admission on April 21, 2016. The student was informed upon receipt of her application...

that she would need to complete the following in order to be considered for admission: Effective March 22, 2016 applicants to the associate degree programs in the School of Nursing are required to meet each of the following criteria below in order to be eligible for admission: 1. Hold current and active LPN/L VN licensure, paramedic certification, or currently serve in the U.S. military, National Guard, or Reserves in a specific military occupation that is equivalent in scope of practice to LPN/L VN or paramedic. 2. Submit a completed Verification of Health Care Experience form (PDF), which requires a signature from your supervisor. The VHCE form expires 3 months from the date of your supervisor's signature. IMPORTANT: In addition to submitting a VHCE form upon application to the program, students will need to submit a new VHCE form no more than 3 months prior to FCCA eligibility. 3. Earn the minimum required score, as established by the School of Nursing, on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The scores noted below must be earned on a single attempt of the TEAS. o Overall Score: 63.3% o Reading: 69% o Mathematics: 63.3% o Science: 45.8% o English: 60% Please note that all of the above information was available to anyone who entered the Excelsior College website. The student took the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) on August 3, 2016 and passed every section except for reading. As a result the student would not be able to be considered for admission until the reading portion of the exam was successfully completed. The Undergraduate Application fee that was received from the student on April 21, 2016 is not refundable. However, based on the circumstances it has been decided to refund the application fee to the student. The student should allow approximately seven business days for this refund to be posted to her credit card. I hope this information clarifies the matter. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Kathy M. Ombudsperson

Dear [redacted]:I am writing in response to complaint ID I [redacted] received from a prospective student who has applied for admission into the associate degree in the Excelsior College School of Nursing. Per the complaint the prospective student is stating that the VA Medical center where...

he works has informed him that they will not allow a nurse to work in their facility with a " license pending". Prospective students are required to apply for admission into the Excelsior College School of Nursing by submitting an undergraduate application, an application fee of $100 and the appropriate professional credentials that make them eligible for admission. It is also highly encouraged that they submit their transcripts for review so that the admissions counselors can evaluate their credit prior to enrollment. The following information can be found on the Excelsior College website by anyone who chooses to view it (http://www.excelsior.edu/state-board-requirements):State Board RequirementsState Licensure Requirements for Associate Degree in Nursing GraduatesIn the vast majority of US. jurisdictions, Excelsior College School of Nursing graduates are licensed by examination ·without additional requirements or stipulations. However, there are differences in the statutes and regulations/or RN education and licensure  among jurisdictions. In some states, Excelsior College Associate Degree in nursing graduates must meet additional requirements or stipulations to become eligible for RN licensure.If you have questions about your eligibility to obtain RN licensure in a particular state, please direct your questions to that state board of nursing. !f you reside in a stale with additional licensure requirements and you wish to be admitted to Excelsior College 's Associate Degree in nursing program, you are required to complete a pre-admission form. This form includes an acknowledgement that you understand the additional requirements or stipulations for licensure in the stale where you currently reside and/or where you plan lo apply for RN licensure.If you are unable to obtain licensure in a state with additional requirements for RN licensure, you may work in a federal facility in that state by obtaining an RN license in any U.S. jurisdiction. Federal facilities include entities such as VA hospitals and federal prisons.Below is the list of states with additional requirements or stipulations for RN licensure. Select the state to obtain specific information. Statutes and regulations pertaining to RN education and licensure are subject to change. The information provided on this page is the most current information available to us. These requirements are reviewed on a monthly basis to ensure that the information is still current.If you require further information please contact our Stale Board Advising Team via the Message Center (login required) or email us: [redacted]@excelsior.edu • IllinoisPre-Admission State Rnord Form is needed.Endorsement: All graduates must endorse with two years of RN clinical experience.This means that the student can take the RN State Board exam in another state to receive his RN license and practice at the VA hospital as a licensed RN. In order to receive licensure in the state of Illinois he must work two years as an RN and then endorse in.There is no record that this student ever spoke to Excelsior College about this issue. I suggest that he contact our State Board office at ###-###-#### to discuss this issue further.I hope this information clarifies the matter. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or call me at ###-###-#### and press [redacted] over the automated greeting if I can be of further assistance.[redacted]Ombudsperson