The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Board of Trustees on Thursday approved the suspension of the Accelerated Track Option of the Associate Degree Nursing Program.

Dr. Jane Hulon explained to the board that the accelerated program had not been as successful as intended, and it could jeopardize accreditation for the entire nursing program.

“This program has maintained state and national accreditation, which is no easy feat in itself,” Hulon said. “Three years ago, we wanted to try something to provide LPN students an option to further their education, so we created LPN to RN Accelerated Track.

“Since the three year period we’ve collected some data and the licensure passage rate has continued to decline, which is not a good thing,” Hulon said. “It’s less than the national standard, and it can jeopardize accreditation.”

Hulon said the existing LPN and RN programs will continue as normal, but after the seven students currently in the accelerated track are finished, new applicants for that program will not be accepted.

“It has not been as successful as we had hoped,” Hulon said. “We were very optimistic, but… We can graduate them but if they can’t pass boards, that’s a problem. We still have practical nursing, still have regular AND; it’s just the bridge from one program to the other that hasn’t been as successful as we hoped.”

The board approved to suspend the program.

“That doesn’t mean we have not had some successful students,” President Ronnie Nettles said. “We’ve had some very successful students go through this program, get their license and do exactly what the intention of the program was to do. There are two or three dozen that have completed it over the past three years and got their license, so it has been successful on one level, just not at the level we need.”

Nettles opened Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting by announcing the success of the school’s robotics team.

The Co-Lin Seawolves robotics team made history by finishing fourth in the 14th Annual Marine Advanced Technology Education International Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Competition held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Co-Lin students competed alongside qualified teams from around the globe finishing ahead of four-year universities including, The Ohio State University, Mississippi State University, Arizona State University, the University of New Hampshire and the University of Washington.

The 2015 competition centered on the utilization of ROVs for underwater research and performing work to maintain oil and gas fields, both in the Arctic environment.

The board also recognized Co-Lin’s 100th Anniversary Convocation scheduled for Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. in Rea Auditorium. Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith will be the guest speaker.

In other business, the Co-Lin Board of Trustees:

• Introduced new board member Dr. Troy Stewart and recognized Jack Case for 15 years, Roy Winkworth for 20 years and Thelma Newsome for 25 years.

• Approved the extended leave for Chad Coon (golf course employee).

• Approved the resignations of: Jonathan Kelly as Automation and Control Technology Instructor at the Wesson campus; Geoffrey Horne as Automation and Control Technology Instructor at the Natchez campus; Dennis Harried as Humanities Instructor at the Natchez campus; Crystal Sherman as Workforce Development Coordinator/Trainer at the Wesson campus; David Langston as Adult Basic Education Instructor at the Wesson campus; and Erin Smith as Academic Counselor/Disability Services Coordinator at the Wesson Campus.

• Approved the transfer of Beverly Fries from part-time to full-time Adult Basic Education Instructor at the Wesson campus.

• Approved the ratification of the employment of: Shelby Raines as Chemistry Instructor at the Wesson campus; Kyle Britt as History Instructor at the Wesson Campus; Aaron Metcalf as Automotive Instructor at the Wesson campus; Warren Gains as Diesel Instructor at the Natchez campus; Mandy Case as Automation and Control Instructor at the Wesson campus; Roderick L. Gobson as Assistant Football/Weight Training and Conditioning Coach at the Wesson Campus; and Meagan Simmons as Automation and Control Instructor at the Natchez campus.

• Approved full police powers for Michael Stogner as a full-time police officer for the Wesson campus/Co-Lin District.

• Approved the Mississippi Electronic Libraries Online grant from the Mississippi Community College Board for online learning in the amount of $254,000.

• Approved the acceptance of the Senior Aides grant from Senior Service America, Inc.

• Approved the acceptance of a grant from United Student Aid Funds in the amount of $27,000 to support Co-Lin’s loan default prevention program.

• Approved the college participation in the State of Mississippi Master Lease Purchase Program in an amount not to exceed $425,000 for the purpose of purchasing technology equipment.

• Approved the acceptance of the lowest and best bid for the renovation of the career and technical lab space for the new Diesel Mechanics Program at the Natchez campus in the amount of $320,000 from Own Holland and Sons contingent upon federal funding approval.

• Approved the acceptance of the lowest and best bid for the renovation of the restrooms at the Henley Building at the Wesson Campus in the amount of $85,000 from Clifton Rankin Constructions.

• Approved the annual agreement with Dr. Kyle Bateman for medical services for athletes and dormitory students.