UNC School of Nursing Student Handbook

SON Student Handbook

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ACADEMIC ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES in the Master's Program

Dropping Courses

If a student drops a course, they must notify the course coordinator and their faculty advisor. If the course dropped is prerequisite to other courses in the student’s specialty area, students must notify their Advanced Practice Coordinator as they will be unable to progress in their specialty area until the course is successfully completed.

Also see: Special Registration Regulations > Dropping Courses

Formal Leave of Absence

If a master’s student must take a formal leave of absence, he or she must contact their academic advisor and the Advanced Practice Coordinator. The Advanced Practice Coordinator must support a leave of absence in writing.

The advantage of a leave of absence is that it stops the student’s academic clock for the period of time requested. Leaves are not granted retroactively. Leaves should be applied for before or at the beginning of the semester.

When seeking a formal leave of absence, students must submit a “Request for Leave of Absence” form (available on the Graduate School web site or from the Office of Academic Affairs, Suite 1000). Students must:

Meet with their academic advisor and Advanced Practice Coordinator to determine their standing in the program.
Obtain a brief written statement of support for a leave of absence from the Advanced Practice Coordinator.
Submit all materials (request form and statement of support) to the Director of Master’s Programs for signature.

The Office of Academic Affairs will forward the request form to the Graduate School. A copy of the request form will be sent to student, Advanced Practice Coordinator, and Director of Admissions and Student Services. The student will receive official permission for the leave of absence from the Graduate School.

Formal Withdrawal Or Medical Leave Of Absence

For a formal withdrawal or medical leave of absence, a student must meet with their faculty advisor and Advanced Practice Coordinator. Students who have taken a formal withdrawal or medical leave of absence must provide evidence that the original problems requiring the withdrawal or medical leave have been resolved when seeking readmission.

If a student decides to withdraw for reasons other than illness, or if a medical withdrawal cannot be authorized, the student must contact Director of Master’s Programs and the Advanced Practice Coordinator in their specialty area.

An official withdrawal involves the completion of an "Application for Withdrawal" form. The student must obtain clearance signatures from course instructors and certain University offices, as determined by the dean's office, before the form is submitted.

If a student made formal withdrawal from the graduate program while in their first semester of work, they must reapply to the University Graduate School.

Readmission Process

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the faculty advisor and Advanced Practice Coordinator of all situations that impact progression in the program. It is strongly urged that student’s who leave the program for any length of time, stay in close communication with the academic advisor and Advanced Practice Coordinator to update them on their situation on a regular basis.

A student may be required to repeat coursework to prepare them for returning to the appropriate advanced practice standing. Standing in the specialty area upon return to the program will be determined by the Advanced Practice Coordinator and graduate faculty in the student’s specialty area.

Formal Leave of Absence or Break in Continuous Enrollment of 1 year or less

When seeking readmission, students must submit the following materials 1 month prior to the published University deadline for the semester in which they are seeking readmission:

Complete a “Request for Readmission” form (available on the Graduate School web site or from the Office of Academic Affairs, Suite 1000).
Meet with their academic advisor and Advanced Practice Coordinator to determine their standing in the program.
Obtain a brief written statement of support for readmission to the specialty area from the Advanced Practice Coordinator, which includes any readmission requirements approved by specialty faculty.
Submit all materials (request form and statement of support) to the Director of Master’s Programs for signature.

The Director of Master’s Programs will forward the request form to the Graduate School. A copy of the “Request for Readmission” form will be sent to student, Advanced Practice Coordinator, and Director of Admissions and Student Services. The student will receive official notification of readmission from the Graduate School.

Any student seeking readmission, who cannot complete his or her program of study by the end of the 5-year calendar clock, must seek formal readmission to the graduate program. A request for a 1-year extension of the 5-year time period may be requested in special situations. For further information, see the Director of Master’s Programs.

Formal Withdrawal or Medical Leave, or Break in Continuous Enrollment of more than 1 year

When seeking readmission, students must submit the following at least 2 months before the published University deadlines for the semester in which they are seeking readmission:

Complete a “Request for Readmission” form. (available on the Graduate School web site or from the Office of Academic Affairs, Suite 1000).
If a medical leave of absence was received, provide evidence (brief written statement) that the original problems requiring the withdrawal or medical leave have been resolved.
Meet with their academic advisor and Advanced Practice Coordinator to determine their standing in the program.
Obtain a brief written statement of support for readmission to the specialty area from the Advanced Practice Coordinator, which includes any readmission requirements recommended by specialty faculty.
Submit all materials (request form and statement of support) to the Director of Master’s Programs for signature.

Students must formally request readmission (see above) to the program before the School of Nursing deadlines for the semester in which they are seeking readmission. The School of Nursing must have sufficient time to process readmission requests to meet the published deadlines of the University.

	School of Nursing Deadlines
Semester student plans to re-enter	Fall	Summer	Spring
Formal Leave of Absence or Break in Continuous Enrollment < 1 yr	June 1	March 1	Nov 1
Formal Withdrawal, Medical Leave, Break in Continuous Enrollment > 1 yr	May 1	Feb 1	Oct 1

Formal Dismissal from the Program

Students dismissed from the School of Nursing master’s program may reapply for readmission. Students will be required to provide evidence that subsequent performance is likely to meet or exceed minimum standards. Such application for readmission will be considered only when clearly exceptional circumstances can be documented to support the readmission request.

The student's application and supporting evidence for readmission will be reviewed by the School of Nursing Master’s Admissions Committee as well as the University Office of Graduate Admissions.

[ Adopted by Master’s Executive Committee, April 2003.]

Grade Appeals

The student may appeal the grade in accordance with the procedure outlined under Grade Appeals in the Graduate Grading section of the Graduate School Handbook. Such a request for appeal must be made no later than the end of the third week of the next scheduled enrollment period.

For an appeal of a course grade to be considered, it must be based upon one or more of the following grounds and upon allegation that the grounds cited influenced the grade assignment to the student's detriment: (1) arithmetic or clerical error; (2) arbitrariness, possibly including discrimination, based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or veteran status of the student or violations of the University's policy on sexual orientation; (3) personal malice; and/or (4) student conduct cognizable under the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance.