• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

FORT MYERS - A new scandal at Edison State College has one student threatening to sue, claiming her nursing degree isn't what she thought it would be.

Fox 4 has learned the relatively new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN) never had a national accreditation, only a regional one.

And that's a problem for Ashley Blakely, who has been rejected from five graduate schools, because she says they won't accept Edison's degree.

"I relocated to Nevada and found I am ineligible in admission to any of the graduate state programs out here," said Blakely, "because the [Edison nursing] program lacks national accreditation."

For two years, Blakely was enrolled in the BSN program.

"I've always wanted to be a nurse since I was a small child," she said.

With eight credits left until graduation, she discovered the college never had a national accreditation.

So if she wants to get her masters degree in Nevada, she'll have to re-do the last two years of her life, because grad schools require degrees from "nationally accredited" programs.

"It will cost me upwards of $50,000 to complete it the right way," said Blakely. "It took an enormous amount of invested time to work to succeed in this program. And it's all wasted."

On top of that, she says the college misled her at orientation.

"They absolutely stood there and said yes were are accredited," said Blakely. "They lied and they deceived us and they should have been honest."

The college says they have been made of the situation.

"We have been made aware of student concerns and are looking into the matter to find out exactly what has been communicated to them," said Teresa Morgenstern, a spokesperson for Edison State College.

A top Edison official confirmed to us the BSN program does not have a national accreditation, only a regional one.

Morgenstern says BSN program is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SAC) but they are working on a national accreditation..

"At this time we are on target to be accredited with the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) in the Spring 2012," said Morgenstern. "There is an application process prior to a form candidacy status which is where Edison stands."

But for Blakely that's two years too late. She has hired an attorney and plans to sue the college for $50,000 - for money and time she wants back.

"To the students that are still there get out right now," said Blakely. "Go to any other national accredited program while you still can and you still have time. I am eight credits shy of graduation and it's all wasted at this point."

MATT GRANT, REPORTER
mgrant@fox4now.com