Herzing Issues: Student Organizations and Governance

This page reproduces entries from a student maintained issue tracker concerning Herzing University's MSN-DE prelicensure nursing program. Each entry carries the tracker's own status label, almost always CONFIRMED or POSSIBLE. Entries marked POSSIBLE are reported concerns pending verification, not findings. Student names have been replaced with consistent pseudonyms (Student A, Student B, and so on); the author is referred to as the reporting student. Faculty and staff are identified by name and role as they appear in the underlying records. See Herzing University Issue Tracker for method, severity definitions, and sources.

Herzing Issues: Student Organizations and Governance collects the issues from the Herzing University Issue Tracker that concern the independence and internal governance of the Herzing Online Student Nurses Association (HOSNA/SNA) and the university's dealings with it. Each entry keeps the tracker's issue ID, severity, and status. See Herzing University Issue Tracker for method, severity definitions, and the full index.

Overview

This topic gathers six tracker entries spanning 2026-05-04 to 2026-08-10, four rated High severity, one Medium, and one Low. Five entries are CONFIRMED (one of those, HU-194, is marked as resolved within the same thread), and one, HU-056, is marked POSSIBLE.

The largest cluster is the lead entry HU-053 and its two lettered sub-issues, HU-053a and HU-053b, which document Program Chair Dr. Prashad and Academic Affairs asserting control over SNA member communications and citing bylaw requirements that board members could not verify in the governing document. A second thread, HU-055 and HU-056, concerns faculty advisor Dr. Stacie Johnson's 11-day non-response to the board's initial outreach, an unresolved honor cord for outgoing president Student B, and the resulting question of whether the board's first meeting, held without the faculty advisor present, met the bylaws' quorum requirement. The final entry, HU-194, is a low-severity, self-resolving scheduling lapse involving the same program chair and faculty advisor.

The recurring owners across this topic are Dr. Prashad (Program Chair and SNA faculty advisor), Academic Affairs, and Dr. Stacie Johnson (Faculty Advisor), with the Registrar named as an owner on the honor cord delay. The evidence base is consistent throughout: the SNA Board Leadership Microsoft Teams chat, the SNA email chain, the HOSNA Chapter Bylaws, the NSNA Shared Governance Document, the SNA Membership Roster, and the SNA Transition Letter.

Issues

HU-053: Lead: Herzing administration (Dr. Prashad) asserted operational control over the independent Herzing Online SNA, prohibiting a member distribution list and citing bylaw requirements that board members could not validate in the governing document; see HU-053a, HU-053b

Severity	High	Status	CONFIRMED
Issue type	Lead / index for a split cluster (communications prohibition, unverifiable bylaw citations)	Date added	2026-05-04 (split 2026-06-06)
Owner	Dr. Prashad (Program Chair) / Academic Affairs / University Administration

Finding. Lead entry for administrative overreach into the independent Herzing Online Student Nurses Association (HOSNA), documented in the SNA Board Leadership Teams chat (May 1 to 4, 2026) and the SNA email chain. The tracked problems are HU-053a (administration prohibited the organization from maintaining a member distribution list and directed it to route communications through program chairs) and HU-053b (administration directed membership processes and cited bylaw requirements that board members could not locate in the actual governing document). The board's position is that HOSNA is a completely independent organization. See each sub-issue for full evidence and standards.

Evidence. SNA Board Leadership Microsoft Teams Chat; SNA Email Chain (Apr to May 2026); HOSNA Chapter Bylaws (2026); SNA Membership Roster (June 2025); NSNA Shared Governance Document (2024); SNA Transition Letter (Student B).

Notes. Membership roster submitted June 2025 documents 42+ active members; the outgoing president's transition letter confirms the SNA is independent. Split into lettered sub-issues 2026-06-06. Existing references to HU-053 resolve here. Parts: HU-053a, HU-053b. Cross-references: HU-054 (screen-reader email barrier affecting SNA communications), HU-055 (faculty-advisor responsiveness).

HU-053a: Administration prohibited the SNA from maintaining a member distribution list and directed it to route communications through program chairs, impairing the organization's core communication function

Severity	High	Status	CONFIRMED
Issue type	Restriction of Independent Organization Communications	Date added	2026-05-04 (split 2026-06-06)
Owner	Dr. Prashad (Program Chair) / Academic Affairs

Finding. Per the tracker's evidence, the faculty advisor relayed that the program chair notified the board the SNA is not allowed to maintain a student distribution list and that it should instead create a flier for the program chairs to send out. The prohibition removes the organization's direct channel to its members.

Evidence. SNA Board Leadership Teams chat (May 1 to 4, 2026), Dr. Stacie Johnson relaying the program chair's instruction. Source group: SNA Board Leadership Microsoft Teams Chat; HOSNA Chapter Bylaws (2026); NSNA Shared Governance Document (2024).

Reported statement.

I was notified by our program chair that we are not allowed to have a student distribution list so it's requested that we create a flier for the program chairs to send out.

(Dr. Stacie Johnson, relaying the program chair's instruction.)

Standards. HOSNA Chapter Bylaws (2026), Article III, Section 1 (the organization is a separate entity from NSNA in its administration of activities); NSNA Shared Governance Bylaws, Policies and Procedures (2024) (constituent associations operate under shared governance, not university administrative authority); the university's authority is limited to appointing a faculty advisor and does not extend to controlling communications infrastructure. Lead: HU-053.

Impact. Prohibiting a member distribution list and forcing communications through program chairs impairs the SNA's core function of communicating with and advocating for its members, and routes member outreach through the administration the organization is independent of.

Notes. Sub-issue of HU-053 (lead). Split 2026-06-06. See HU-054 (screen-reader email barrier affecting SNA communications).

HU-053b: Administration directed membership processes and cited bylaw requirements that board members could not locate in the governing document, an apparent misrepresentation used to direct organizational behavior

Severity	High	Status	CONFIRMED
Issue type	Unverifiable Bylaw Citations / Misrepresentation	Date added	2026-05-04 (split 2026-06-06)
Owner	Dr. Prashad (Program Chair) / Academic Affairs

Finding. Per the tracker's evidence, the program chair directed specific NSNA membership processes not required by the bylaws and, on several occasions, cited or referenced bylaw requirements that the vice president could not validate when reviewing the actual document. A board director recorded that the impression of university oversight is not supported by the bylaws.

Evidence. SNA Board Leadership Teams chat (May 1 to 4, 2026): Student K (Vice President) and the reporting student (Director); SNA email chain (April to May 2026). Source group: SNA Board Leadership Microsoft Teams Chat; SNA Email Chain (Apr to May 2026); HOSNA Chapter Bylaws (2026).

Reported statement. Student K, the Vice President, stated in the board chat that there had been a few instances where Dr. Prashad cited or referenced the bylaws, but that when reviewing the document, Student K was not always able to validate the specific requirement being referenced. The reporting student, a board director, added a related view based on a personal reading of the bylaws: that the organization is completely independent and controls its own finances, board, and policies.

Standards. HOSNA Chapter Bylaws (2026), Article III, Section 1; NSNA Shared Governance Bylaws (2024); Robert's Rules of Order (12th ed.) (organizations govern themselves through their own bylaws). Directing organizational behavior by citing requirements that do not appear in the governing document is a form of institutional misrepresentation. Lead: HU-053.

Impact. Using unverifiable bylaw citations to direct membership processes and organizational decisions undermines the organization's self-governance and may mislead student leaders about their obligations.

Notes. Sub-issue of HU-053 (lead). Split 2026-06-06.

HU-055: SNA board emails to faculty advisor Dr. Stacie Johnson went unanswered for 11 days (April 13-24, 2026); honor cord for outgoing president Student B unresolved days before graduation

Severity	High	Status	CONFIRMED
Issue type	Faculty Advisor Non-Responsiveness / Honor Cord Delay	Date added	2026-05-04
Owner	Dr. Stacie Johnson (Faculty Advisor) / Dr. Prashad / Registrar

Finding. Per the tracker's evidence, SNA board emails to faculty advisor Dr. Stacie Johnson went unanswered for at least 11 days (April 13-24, 2026); Dr. Johnson's out-of-office reply was not received by the student; upon returning, Dr. Johnson imposed new communication requirements without acknowledging the disability-related email access barrier; separately, the honor cord for outgoing president Student B remained unresolved as of May 1, 2026, three days before Student B's probable graduation date.

Evidence. SNA Teams email chain: the reporting student to Dr. Johnson (late April 2026); Dr. Johnson's reply; Dr. Johnson Teams chat (May 4, 2026). Source group: SNA Board Leadership Microsoft Teams Chat; SNA Email Chain (Apr to May 2026); HOSNA Chapter Bylaws (2026); SNA Membership Roster (June 2025); NSNA Shared Governance Document (2024); SNA Transition Letter (Student B).

Reported statement.

I want to say respectfully, we did send an email to establish contact on 13 April 2026. This was about 11 days before our first meeting, and we did not get a response.

(the reporting student, to Dr. Johnson, late April 2026.)

Your email sent on 4/13 was from an external email and was sent to my junk box therefore I never received it.

(Dr. Stacie Johnson, reply.)

I have asked three different people about Student B's cords and am still waiting on an answer.

(Dr. Stacie Johnson, Teams chat, May 4, 2026.)

Standards. HOSNA Chapter Bylaws Article V, Section 2 (Quorum): faculty advisor's 11-day non-response left the SNA without guidance at a critical organizational launch period. Honor cord recognition for student organization leadership is a legitimate student recognition matter. ADA/Section 504: the faculty advisor's requirement that the reporting student use only Herzing email (see HU-054) imposes an inaccessible communication barrier on a student with a documented disability.

Impact. The 11-day gap in faculty advisor communication left the new SNA board without institutional guidance during their critical first month of operation. Decisions made during this period may be contested as potentially non-compliant with bylaw quorum requirements. Student B may not receive her honor cord in time for her graduation ceremony.

Notes. Student B's outgoing president letter formally requested ProctorU discontinuation on behalf of the student body. This advocacy work was conducted in her official SNA capacity and represents meaningful student governance activity deserving institutional recognition. See also HU-053 (institutional overreach into SNA operations).

HU-056: SNA inaugural board meeting conducted without faculty advisor; quorum deficiency may require ratification of all initial votes

Severity	Medium	Status	POSSIBLE
Issue type	Governance Validity Question, Quorum Deficiency	Date added	2026-05-04
Owner	SNA Board / Faculty Advisor / Academic Affairs

Finding. According to the tracker, the SNA inaugural board meeting (April 2026) was conducted without the faculty advisor present. Per Chapter Bylaws Article V Section 2, quorum for board meetings requires the president or vice president, two other board members, and one faculty advisor. Dr. Prashad raised concern about meetings held without faculty advisor. As a result, all votes taken at that meeting, including appointment of Student A, approval of Student B's honor cord, and appointment of the reporting student as delegate, may require re-validation.

Evidence. SNA Teams email chain (late April / early May 2026): the reporting student raised governance questions. HOSNA Chapter Bylaws Article V Section 2 states that a quorum for the board meetings shall be the president or vice president, two other board members, and one faculty advisor. Dr. Prashad raised concern about meetings held without the faculty advisor present. Source group: SNA Board Leadership Microsoft Teams Chat; SNA Email Chain (Apr to May 2026); HOSNA Chapter Bylaws (2026); SNA Membership Roster (June 2025); NSNA Shared Governance Document (2024); SNA Transition Letter (Student B).

Reported statement.

Are we invalidating all actions taken at our last meeting? We would need to revote on Student A, revote on Student B and Leadership U appointment, revote on my delegate appointment. Do we need to revote everything? My understanding is that you need to be present for a quorum, but the votes would not change.

(the reporting student.)

Standards. HOSNA Chapter Bylaws Article V, Section 2 (Quorum); Robert's Rules of Order (12th ed.) Chapter 40 (Quorum): actions taken without quorum are null and void and require ratification at a meeting where quorum is achieved.

Impact. If all initial SNA board votes are invalidated, Student B's honor cord recommendation, Student A's appointment, and the reporting student's delegate appointment are all in question. This delays SNA operations and potentially prevents Student B from receiving her graduation honor cord.

Notes. The quorum deficiency was caused by the faculty advisor's non-responsiveness (HU-055) rather than by any failure of the student board. The logical resolution, a prompt ratification meeting, would preserve all organizational decisions while restoring procedural regularity. Ratification should be treated as ministerial rather than as an opportunity to revisit organizational decisions.

HU-194: A scheduled Student Nursing Association meeting with Dr. Raywattie Prashad did not occur and was not communicated in advance, and the reporting student had to follow up to arrange a replacement time, which Dr. Prashad promptly provided

Severity	Low	Status	CONFIRMED and resolved within the same thread
Issue type	Missed and Uncommunicated Meeting; Self Initiated Rescheduling	Date added	2026-08-10
Owner	Dr. Raywattie Prashad (Program Chair, SNA faculty advisor)

Finding. Per the tracker's evidence, the reporting student emailed Dr. Prashad and Dr. Stacie Johnson noting that a previously scheduled Student Nursing Association meeting earlier in the month had not occurred and had not been communicated, and that he understood a fellow officer was separately working on scheduling a follow up meeting with Dr. Prashad, but that a meeting scheduled for that Thursday evening had no confirmed update. Dr. Prashad responded the same night that she would be happy to meet with the group Thursday, asking whether it needed to be after hours given a prior commitment, and asking for a confirmed time. The reporting student provided his availability, other officers weighed in on their own availability over the following hours, one officer indicated she would not be able to attend and deferred to the group's chosen time, and the thread concluded with the group coordinating a mutually workable time with Dr. Prashad. The matter was resolved within the same day through the officers' own follow up rather than through any proactive notice from the institution that the original meeting had been missed.

Evidence. Email, the reporting student to Dr. Prashad and Dr. Johnson, July 28, 2026: statement that an earlier scheduled meeting did not occur and was not communicated, and a request for status. Email, Dr. Prashad, same date: confirmation of availability to meet Thursday and a request for a confirmed time. Subsequent emails from the reporting student, Dr. Stacie Johnson, and other officers coordinating a specific time. Source group: email thread, subject SNA, between the reporting student, Dr. Raywattie Prashad, Stacie Johnson, and cc Student AB and Student A, July 28, 2026.

Reported statement.

We had a meeting scheduled for earlier this month that not only did not happen but was not communicated.

(the reporting student.)

Standards. HLC Criterion 2.A (institutional integrity, including reliable communication with recognized student organizations) is nominally relevant, but this entry documents a minor, single instance scheduling lapse that was resolved the same day once raised, rather than a pattern rising to the level of a compliance concern on its own.

Impact. Minimal. The missed meeting caused a short delay in Student Nursing Association planning and required officer initiative to reschedule, but Dr. Prashad responded promptly and constructively once contacted, and a new time was set within the same thread.

Notes. Logged primarily for completeness of the governance and communication record rather than as a significant standalone concern. No further action recommended absent recurrence. This entry also concerns SNA faculty advisor Stacie Johnson, DNP, RN, CNE, as well as fellow Student Nursing Association officers Student AB and Student A, who were copied throughout. Cross-reference: this entry fits a general pattern in this tracker of meetings and commitments not being proactively communicated or confirmed by Herzing staff, though this specific instance is minor and self resolving compared to other entries reflecting that pattern.

See also

• Herzing Issues: ADA and Disability Accommodations
• Herzing University Issue Tracker