College Network LVN to RN or LVN to BSN

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Sep 19, 2012

Moving to online/distance nursing education forum.

There are quite a few threads on this site discussing the college network.

The college network is a publishing company that creates customized study guides. Since they are a publishing company they cannot be an accredited educational facility. They are not eligible for recognition by any of the nursing education accredidation organiations such as NLNAC.

Despite implying otherwise they are neither affiliated with nor endorsed by Excelsior College. http://www.excelsior.edu/about-test-preparation-services

Unlike a school where you pay as you go, the college network signs you up for a contract for a loan that you are obligated to whether or not you complete the program. Just like online/distance education programs, for some people this method works wonderfully for others not so much as you must be independently motivated to complete your coursework. You can also contact the individual programs that you are interested in. Make certain that whichever distance program you choose is acceptable by your board of nursing as not all are--for example ISU is presently accepted by CA BRN but Excelsior is not.

Excelsior: http://www.excelsior.edu/state-board-requirements

ISU: http://www.indstate.edu/lpn-bs/images/icons/states-that-recognize-isu-lpn-bs.gif

ScarletDreams · Sep 30, 2012

I contacted an admissions rep about the ISU program online. Currently ISU is awaiting a response from the BRN as to whether they will continue to offer the online LVN-BSN program. The meeting was held 9/27/12 and the results of the meeting should be announced by the end of next week. Also, the college network is only a publishing company that will overcharge you for materials you can buy on amazon.

puppskmm · Oct 12, 2012

I contacted an admissions rep about the ISU program online. Currently ISU is awaiting a response from the BRN as to whether they will continue to offer the online LVN-BSN program. The meeting was held 9/27/12 and the results of the meeting should be announced by the end of next week. Also, the college network is only a publishing company that will overcharge you for materials you can buy on amazon.

The ISU LVN to BSN partnersip with Sonoma State University in California was on life support after the contract (from Jan 2007 to Jan 17, 2012) ended. For some time (which is unknown at this time) it was illegal to offer classes in Calif because there was no contract. Further there was nothing within the original contract to protect the student when the contract ended. Essentially, if you were a student in the program your classes ended and you have nothing to show for it.

ISU is blaming the California State University chancellor for now renewing the contract. However, either there was no negotiation to renew the contract before it expired or someone forgot to renew the contract. Sometime later after the contract expired, someone went to the CA BRN to get them to keep the program going. There were two temporary extensions of the contract--after the original contract ended--and the extension were for 6 months only. The 2nd extension ends Dec 2012.

During that time, ISU tried to get SSU/Calif Chancellor to sign a new contract. During that year's time, ISU could have used the time to locate new partners for the LVN to BSN distant learning program in Calif. To date, there is no new partnership.

The Board told ISU if it does find a partner, it has this month and next month to submit and get approval for a new program with a new partner. If there is nothing or no approval, the Spring semester is lost and no new students could be admitted. It is possible that in Fall 2013 that a new partner can be found and the program authoirzed by the CA BRN Board; or, no partner could be located and that ends any hope for a DL LVN to BSN ISU program in Calif.

For those people who took prerequisites or bought challenge exam material, look at the back of your contract. It should say if you are not accepted into the nursing program all you money will be refunded. Any fees paid for challenge exams should be refunded fully by ISU.