DACC nursing classes nearly vacant
Weeks after the nursing program at Doa Ana Community College lost its accreditation, officials told ABC-7 there are only 12 students still enrolled.
The halls at DACC’s health and public services building were full on Wednesday morning, but many nursing classes don’t even have half the students they can hold.
“From the very beginning, I think it started off very bad,” first-level nursing student Karl Ongoya told ABC-7.
Karl is just one of six first-level students that remain. Students told ABC-7 they started out with 24 students.
Just three weeks ago, the program had about 100 students enrolled. After it lost its accreditation, New Mexico State University stepped up and offered nursing students full scholarships for its bachelor’s in nursing program.
Officials said 73 nursing students took the deal and transferred to NMSU.
There is only one second-level student still enrolled at DACC. She is the only one in all of her classes. Some of those classes have capacities of 32 students.
Officials said there are two third-level students and three fourth-level students still enrolled. DACC is offering all of these students full scholarships.
Looking at online enrollment numbers for the program, many sections are empty. A class of 32 has only three students enrolled.
“We’re allowing the classes to continue with smaller class sizes because it’s in the best interest of the program and our students,” said Jaylene McIntosh, the spokeswoman for DACC.
McIntosh said the college is funded using a state formula that depends on the number of full-time students who are enrolled. She said money is no matter in this case.
“DACC is not a business. We serve our community and our students,” McIntosh said.
“I personally am not worried, because they’ve got two years to figure it out, plus nurses are so sought after, I’m sure somebody’s going to find a loophole,” said Candace Smythe, a first-level nursing student.
The six first-level students who are still in the program said they believe the college is already making changes for the better.
“They have already told us that they are in the process of hiring three to four more people, so that should help with (the accreditation) problem,” Smythe said.
“I feel very confident about them. I can see their effort. They’re working hard,” said Adrian Yanez, a first-level nursing student.
McIntosh said DACC has already started the process to get re-accredited. She said if all goes well, the program should get accredited within a year and a half.
