STOP SUNY DOWNSTATE’S DECISION TO FREEZE ADMISSIONS TO LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING’S FALL 2011 

To: NYS Department of  Education, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, State Senators Daniel Squadron , Chief Financial Officer at SUNY Downstate Debra Carey, President of SUNY Downstate Dr. John DelaRosa, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, Council Members Brad Lander,                                               Council Members Steve Levin

We, the applicants and supporters of the Long Island College School of Nursing (LICHSON) urge the individuals mentioned above and others who are involved with the merger between Long Island College Hospital and SUNY Downstate to continue the admissions of prospective students for Fall 2011. We have learned that the fate of Long Island College School of Nursing has been unfairly jeopardized during the process of the merger.

We, the Undersigned, oppose the decision to freeze the Fall 2011 Admissions for the Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing, for the reasons mentioned below:

• Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing (LICHSON) has been a fixture in the borough of Brooklyn for a number of years

•During this period, the school has produced a number of nurses who services has impacted the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

• LICHSON has a long tradition of producing and teaching excellence and a mission of providing superior patient care.
• The original goals of quality care and teaching are as evident at LICHSON now as they were over 150 years ago. The school has done well in preparing students for the nursing profession.
• The school does this by preparing graduates to incorporate the knowledge and the competencies necessary to problem solve, think creatively, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration with health care providers in caring for patients and families.
• Eliminating the school and/or Fall 2011 admissions disrupts LICHSON’s legacy and discontinues the community’s involvement in health related activities.

The incoming class of Fall 2011 was expecting to continue the longstanding tradition that the school is known for. However, the last minute decision by the committee at Downstate to postpone the Fall 2011 class has put a damper on the legacy of the school.  We did not expect our careers and lives to be placed on hold for an additional year. We were not advised or given sufficient notice so that we could apply elsewhere. We would assume there are many meetings and planning that goes into a merger of this magnitude. However, we believe that consideration for our education was not an important part of the planning process.  

The prospective students for Fall 2011 were led to believe that everything was fine within LICHSON for admissions.  We have done everything on our end that was required for admission in the fall of 2011. At this point; our lives have been put on hold. We are aware that there will not be a freshman class for the Fall 2011, but we are asking those that are involved to reconsider their decision and make admissions a reality.

The Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing has excelled and continues to excel in various fields. Therefore, we, the Undersigned, are asking those individuals who are involved in the decision to freeze admissions at Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing to reconsider their decision and to make admissions a reality. We believe that the continuation of admissions will help to produce more inspiring individuals and carry on the tradition of encouraging excellence.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned