Changes in School Policy after Program has already begun

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Essentially, my classmates and I have experienced an array of ordeals at my school since beginning the nursing program last year. Most notably, the administration changes the handbook policies frequently and continues to make the rules/standards stricter.

Example: When I started the nursing program in the Fall 2013, the minimum passing Hesi Score was 750. It was upped to 800 in the Summer 2013 and then raised again for the Fall 2013 semester. While I realize that nursing continues to change and standards to become a nurse continue to rise, what I don't understand how it's legal to change the policies and raise the tuition rates after a student has already been accepted into a nursing program and has started it.

Furthermore, another new policy was implemented this semester, that being: If a student is not present on the first day of class, he/she will be dropped from the class. This change in policy was not told to the students prior to the start of school and several students, with special circumstances, were very alarmed after getting an email saying they were being dropped from a class for not attending the first day whenever they did not even know that policy was in place.

I would like to know if this continual change in school policies/handbook is legal after a student has already begun the program? I've heard that in many universities once a student has begun the program, they are grandfathered into a certain curriculum and the tuition rate remains fixed until completion of the program.

**Note: the school I attend is a private nursing school, not a public/state university, although it is not Ivy League or anything like that.

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Specializes in ICU.

Although this is annoying, I don't think it's illegal. But per TOS, we're not allowed to offer legal advice, so if you're really concerned about it, perhaps find a local lawyer to discuss it with.

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Cannot give legal advice. But knowing students in multiple private colleges (a year in one myself) we all expect AT LEAST a 1000$ tuition increase a year. A friend's last year was 3000$

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Specializes in Public Health.

It is in most syllabi and school policies what they can and cannot do. Read them carefully. They are there for a reason

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Most school have a line in the handbook saying that policies and procedures can e change without notice.

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Yup, just happened to my class. School starts tomorrow and we found out we are going to be staying in class 1 hour longer that expected. Those with babysitters are ******, to me its whatever- I am used to them changing it,

Right on the bottom of the syllabus mine all say"This syllabus is for your information and may be subject to change Any changes will be announced in writing"

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We were told tonight that the new policy states we have to pay for HESI by e first day of class or we will be dropped. That's tomorrow. So we have less than 24 hrs to come up with the cash and pay for it. We also weren't given an access code so I'm not sure what they want us to do.

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Specializes in Public Health.
We were told tonight that the new policy states we have to pay for HESI by e first day of class or we will be dropped. That's tomorrow. So we have less than 24 hrs to come up with the cash and pay for it. We also weren't given an access code so I'm not sure what they want us to do.

Yikes!

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We were told tonight that the new policy states we have to pay for HESI by e first day of class or we will be dropped. That's tomorrow. So we have less than 24 hrs to come up with the cash and pay for it. We also weren't given an access code so I'm not sure what they want us to do.

See, I really don't think that is allowed. I won't say 'legal' since we can't give legal advice. But essentially, all these people saying 'Check the fine lines. It says they can change things as needed' but the truth is, they can't change everything. They can change things like the book that's required for the class or the dates of things, but they're not 'allowed' to change things like fees and course objectives after the course has already begun---the fact that they told you guys before the drop date probably makes it 'allowed' or if you were already supposed to pay for Hesi and they just upped the date it had to be paid by. But for ALL students, it is not 'allowed' for schools to change BIG things and if it's a real issue, you might want to seek advice from someone with a little more pull...

An instructor told me that so I'm not just blowing smoke here.

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My focus isn't really on the increase in tuition. It's more so on the ever-changing policies and the helplessness of the students who are already in the program. I'm asking whether that's legal, not for advice on whether I should seek legal aid or not.

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Specializes in Public Health.
My focus isn't really on the increase in tuition. It's more so on the ever-changing policies and the helplessness of the students who are already in the program. I'm asking whether that's legal not for advice on whether I should seek legal aid or not.[/quote']

Your school may have a lawyer type individual for students to talk to about this. What type of school do you go to? (ie public, private, nonprofit, for profit)

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