Parling’s fight for her degree is not over

By Emmett Roman
Staff Reporter

Melissa Parling, an LCC nursing student, shared during a public comment during the June 15 Board of Trustees meeting that she has passed her NCLEX practical nursing exam in a major career milestone.

Parling had previously made a public comment at the March, April and May board meetings to inform the board of cases she was opening against LCC. Parling’s final grade in Nursing 241 was 0.07% below passing, which she claimed can be attributed to a compromised testing environment and systemic failures in the nursing program.

In the latest board meeting, Parling came again to make a public comment, but this time with to thank the trustees for their time and for making space for a transparent record of her grievances to be kept. Parling then shared that she has passed her NCLEX practical nursing exam and will be continuing in her profession as a practical nurse.  

“I spoke at the board meeting because public accountability shouldn't be optional for a community college,” Parling commented through LinkedIn. “While LCC's administration continues to use stall tactics and what I have cited as retaliatory measures to withhold my degree, they haven't stopped my career momentum. LCC is holding onto a piece of paper, but the federal Office for Civil Rights is investigating these compliance failures, and I am entirely confident in that process.”

Parling's case with the federal Office of Civil Rights remains open and under investigation.