Statement From Prairie State College

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL - Prairie State College was recently made aware of a social media post by an individual who identified herself as a current nursing student and a graduate of our institution. The College acted swiftly, alerting senior administration and campus police, and referred the matter to the Chicago Heights Police Department for further investigation. A statement was also shared with our campus community via email and official social media platforms.

Let me be clear: Prairie State College is an academic institution. We do not employ this individual. She completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program in 2020. She has not been admitted to, enrolled in, or completed a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) program at PSC, nor does she hold any licensure or credential through our institution beyond the CNA program.

Our College has a proud and proven track record in nursing education. Our students regularly achieve a 95 to 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), and our graduates serve in healthcare settings with professionalism, compassion, and competence.

Since the post gained attention, we have seen a wave of misinformation across social media and other online platforms, which has resulted in threats, racist and hateful comments, harassing phone calls, and false reviews aimed at our programs and our employees. These attacks are unwarranted and harmful to our students, faculty, and staff.

This is a time of celebration at Prairie State College as we prepare for our upcoming Commencement to honor the achievements of our graduating class. It is deeply upsetting that this milestone is being overshadowed by a situation that does not reflect our values or the reality of our programs. To protect our community and maintain a safe environment, we have limited comments and temporarily disabled select social media accounts. While this was a difficult decision, it is necessary at this time. 

I urge the public to distinguish between unverified social media activity and the high standards upheld by this institution. We remain committed to the success and safety of our students and to the integrity of the education we provide.

Dr. Michael D. Anthony
President
Prairie State College