Fast-Track Access to Health-Care Courses — for Students Who Pay Double

A Massachusetts college’s plan to let students bypass waiting lists for nursing and allied-health courses, provided they pay double tuition, has some educators crying foul, The Boston Globe reported. Bristol Community College will offer the fast-track classes next fall in partnership with the Princeton Review, a for-profit education company that is investing $2-million in the project. College officials defend the partnership as a creative solution to deal with the pressing need to train more health-care workers. Critics say it is unfair and contrary to the mission of the state’s community-college system. “Are we in the for-profit business as opposed to being a public institution that gives equal access to our students?’’ asked Diana Yohe, who teaches office administration.