Seminole State College has announced the reinstatement of admissions to its nursing program following the Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s approval of an appeal on Nov. 14. The decision comes after the program was placed on conditional status in November 2023 due to three consecutive years of low student pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This restriction prohibited the college from admitting new students but did not impact those already enrolled.

The college’s successful appeal reflects a year-long effort to address the program’s challenges, including significant curriculum updates, the construction of a new state-of-the-art simulation lab and enhanced benchmarking for students. The program had a successful site visit by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) in September of 2024, which confirmed the program’s improvements. SSC’s cumulative NCLEX pass rate for 2024 has risen to 88 percent, compared to the state average of 87 percent..

In a memo sent to campus, SSC President Lana Reynolds commended the commitment and perseverance shown by the nursing faculty and staff. “I am thankful for the dedicated, persistent and graceful manner in which Health Sciences Division Chair Dr. Misty Gray, Assistant Nursing Program Director Damaila Lester and the nursing faculty and staff have navigated through this difficult situation,” Reynolds said. “This is not only exciting news for our campus – but also for our community and the state.”

With OBN’s approval, SSC will welcome a new cohort of nursing students beginning in January 2025.

For more information about the SSC nursing program, visit sscok.edu or contact Nursing Academic Advisor Carmen Hutchins at c.hutchins@sscok.edu.