Lane Community College Affirms Commitment to Nursing Education and Clarifies Status of LPN Standalone Program Review
Eugene, OR - Lane Community College (LCC) moves forward with planned review of curriculum following tentative agreement with the faculty association. The tentative agreement signed October 7, 2025 resolves the association’s demand to bargain over the temporary pause of the standalone Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) cohort for the 2025-26 academic year.
The agreement provides up to 300 hours of dedicated faculty time to support curriculum review and development work that will align the LPN pathway with the College’s robust Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), new LPN-to-RN, and RN-to-BSN (an innovative opportunity for registered nurses to obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs.
“Lane has always been clear that this pause was temporary and strategic,” said Dr. Stephanie Bulger, President of Lane Community College. “Our goal is to ensure students have the most efficient, economical, and successful pathway to becoming licensed nurses. This review allows us to strengthen curriculum, remove duplication, and enhance student outcomes while expanding access to high-wage, in demand healthcare careers.”
Planned Review Temporarily Delayed by Association Demand
Contrary to the recent public claims suggesting that the LPN program was “closed,” the College emphasizes that access to LPN certifications remains active, including completion of the first year ADN program, after which students are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN (LPN) licensure exam. Last year alone, more than 40 students articulated intent to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain their LPN certification, exceeding the number of paused student seats for the 2025-26 academic year.
LCC’s planned curriculum review was the original impetus for the one-year pause announced in May. The College had intended to begin this work throughout the summer, however, the faculty association’s demand to bargain temporarily delayed the start of the work. In the spirit of partnership, the College engaged in the bargaining process to ensure transparency and a commitment to shared purpose.
“This agreement demonstrates Lane’s continued commitment to collaboration,” said Dr. Bulger. “Even as we navigate complex issues, the College’s focus remains the same: supporting our students, our faculty, and the healthcare employers who depend on us.”
Continued Access and Program Growth
During the 2025-26 pause, LCC continues to offer clear pathways for aspiring healthcare providers including:
ADN Year 1 (RN1): Students completing the first year of the ADN remain eligible for the LPN licensure. Fifteen students have already taken this path upon its first year of offering, and more than 40 students indicated their intent to sit for the licensure exam this past spring (the college will receive the number of students who passed the exam later this fall).
Bridge Pathways: New LPN-to-RN and Paramedic-to-RN programs expand access for working professionals
RN-to-BSN Expansion: The college welcomed the first cohort of students to the new BSN offering this year.
Faculty who taught in the LPN standalone pathway have been reassigned within the healthcare programs and no positions have been eliminated.
Background and Timeline:
May 2025: LCC notified the 37 applicants that they would not be reviewing applications or accepting students to the 16 spaces of the fall 2025-26 cohort as the LPN standalone pathway would not be held. No students were accepted and students were offered application refunds, advising support and the option to roll applications forward to the coming year.
June 2025: LCC Nursing Advisory Board reviews and supports the pause, noting alignment with state and national nursing education trends.
June 2025: Faculty association files demand to bargain. Bargaining hiatus begins throughout Summer as faculty are off contract.
September 2025: LCC offers 100 curriculum development hours to advance the planned program review.
October 2025: Tentative agreement signed when College increases offer to 300 curriculum hours reaffirming shared commitment to LPN curriculum alignment.
Lane Community College educates over 17,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $675 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 8,900 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.