Fortis College in Columbia — Local services in Columbia

First, let me start off by saying that the nursing students deserves so much more than they receive. As the former nursing office manager, I worked closely with the dean of nursing at Fortis College and nursing staff. I can truly say that I have been disheartened and disappointed in the actions of the dean of nursing and some of the older nursing staff members.

I have personally seen and heard favoritism to certain students regarding needing adjustments to scheduling for their jobs, while other students have been told to speak to their peers to see if they can switch schedules. I’m a firm believer of treating everyone the same across-the-board. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in the nursing department at Fortis College.

My personal interaction with the Dean of Nursing could at times be awkward. There will be instances when I would bring up occasions where the dean of nursing would make racially insensitive comments. When I would bring those issues to the dean of nursing attention the response I would receive would be.” wow, you really hung onto that.”, versus a simple apology.

Since June 28, the nursing department has lost seven staff members in part of lack of Accountability and poor attitudes of the pharmacology instructor who also happens to be best friends with the dean of nursing. And nursing program leadership. I was shown a text message between the two of them and during that Conversation they were mocking the concerns of one of the instructors about favoritism being shown amongst the staff. The “favorites” is what they referred to themselves.

I have also heard a conversation where the dean of nursing spoke negatively and extremely poorly about one of the previous nursing staff members who also happened to be a service veteran to another staff member. During that conversation, the dean of nursing stated that the two oldest members of the nursing team were glad that that instructor was no longer there. Which frankly I found to be extremely unprofessional! If the dean of nursing felt comfortable about speaking about a veteran in that manner I could only imagine how she speaks or have spoken about the rest of her staff!

Then we have the dean of education who frankly has one of the nastiest attitudes I’ve ever encountered in my professional career! She is extremely rude and disrespectful to those she feels is beneath her.. Under her” leader ship” she’s lost three different program directors because of her poor and negative attitude towards others! Putting it mildly she just doesn’t know how to show basic respect to individuals! That includes students and staff.

Since the beginning of the year up until the time I resigned, which was in August Fortis College -Columbia has lost about 11 staff members across different departments. With that high of turnover rate, I’m very surprised that a member of corporate has not been to the campus to investigate.

There are some gems at Fortis College such as the Director of student services. the program Director for dental assisting program and the leadership in the HVAC program (evening shift manager). They truly pour into the students and have the students best interests at heart.

My hope is that this review sheds some insight on making the best decision for you as a student and...

As a former Nursing Instructor at Fortis College, I am truly disappointed in the nursing leadership and some of the “seasoned” nursing faculty. As someone who was new to didactic, it was very disheartening to witness and be subjected to bullying in academia, a lack of mentorship, and unprofessionalism.

First and foremost, there is a clique between the Dean of Nursing and two of the nursing faculty. This friendship negatively impacts the rest of the nursing department and the decision making capability of the Dean. When newer faculty gives suggestions for improvements or changes to implement, they are often turned down due to the influence of the seasoned nursing faculty.

There is also a significant lack of mentorship and professionalism within the nursing department. You have a few days to do the computer training (with very little guidance and clarity on what to do), and then you transition into your class. There is not a sufficient support system in place.

The “seasoned” nursing faculty also will speak negatively about other nursing instructors to students and this is unacceptable. The Dean of nursing will also speak negatively about nursing instructors to other instructors.

The nursing students are wonderful and they have such a strong desire to learn, and to see how they are treated by some of the instructors is saddening. The students deserve so...

Attending Fortis College has been a truly rewarding experience for me, and I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for everything the college has done to support my journey.

From day one, I was met with a dedicated and hard-working staff who genuinely care about their students’ success. The instructors were not only knowledgeable but also patient, approachable, and committed to making sure every student had a solid understanding of the material. Their real-world experience in the HVACR industry made the learning more relatable and practical, which helped build my confidence as I progressed through the program.

The HVACR training I received at Fortis was thorough and hands-on. I gained critical knowledge in refrigeration, air conditioning, heating systems, and troubleshooting, all of which have prepared me well for a career in the field. I appreciated how the program balanced technical training with classroom learning, giving me the skills I needed to feel job-ready.

I am truly thankful for the support system Fortis provided—from the instructors and support staff to the career services team. Their dedication made a real difference in my success and growth as a future HVACR technician.

Thank you, Fortis College, for the knowledge, skills, and encouragement. I’m proud to have been a part of your program.

Sincerely, James...