The final paragraph of the letter refers to "chaotic management." Otherwise, it could have been read as blaming everything that's wrong with the nursing program on the faculty.
How much do undergraduate nursing students know about Shelby Thames, and his administration's impact on the program?
My first thought, when I read this letter, was to ask myself, "Self, how did a nursing program that was doing so well only a few years ago become as bad as this student says it is?" The only really major change I know of at USM in the past few years was the installation of Shelby Thames as president.
Blindside tackle one of the most respected nursing professionals in the country by firing her along with all the other deans with nary a hint this was in the works. Tell the community leaders the night before. Excoriate the dean (Ms. Dvorak was part of this) for letting the nursing students voice their concern about the loss of the college.
Lose faculty member after faculty member.
I'm surprised they are still able to keep it running. That is a tribute to the faculty still here.
By the way, Marie is the one in the "far away place" and doing well I might add.
It would be good if someone who knows what has happened to the nursing program could write to the HA and explain the details. The HA has now published two letters that seem to put the blame entirely on the faculty -- a fact that feeds into negative perceptions of the faculty as a whole. Somone out there: please write to the HA and present the other side.