A student becomes a candidate for the master's degree upon acceptance and matriculation into the program.
Requirements for Graduation
The Advanced Practice Coordinator in the student’s specialty area will provide information regarding academic requirements at the time of matriculation into the program to each student.
If a student has withdrawn from the program for a significant length of time or has interrupted the clinical sequence in their advanced practice area, the student may be required to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 (see Readmission).
Prerequisites
In general, prerequisites for required nursing courses
are to be met in order to progress. Refer to the University
Record for a complete listing of courses and their prerequisites.
Any student enrolled in a nursing course for which prerequisites
have not been met will be subject to administrative withdrawal
from the course.
Student Evaluation Procedures
The academic and clinical performance of each master’s student will be reviewed during and at the completion of each semester by the advanced practice area coordinator together with specialty faculty in the student’s area of study. The Advanced
Practice Coordinator will notify the Director of Master’s Programs regarding any student experiencing academic or clinical difficulties. Student-faculty conferences may be initiated by the student, advanced practice area coordinator, or by a faculty member
at any time.
Academic or Clinical Difficulties
Students who are having academic or clinical difficulties are encouraged to contact the course instructor, clinical faculty, and clinical preceptor, if applicable, as early as possible in the semester. It is also recommended that students appraise their
academic advisor and advanced practice area coordinator of academic or clinical difficulties.
Students who are not making satisfactory progress in a course will set a time to meet with the course coordinator and develop a formal learning contract with the course coordinator or a designated course faculty member. The contract should identify the areas
of deficiency and specify corrective actions to satisfactorily meet course and/or program objectives.
The academic and clinical performance of master’s students is reviewed at mid-semester and at the end of each semester. In programs of study where course work is sequential or clinical performance is unsatisfactory or marginal, the student may not
progress in the program until improvement is made and course objectives are met. These situations will be reviewed at the end of each semester (see Progression Review Process).
Progression Review Process
The primary policy for School of Nursing master’s student progression is the Graduate School Handbook. Policies in this handbook supersede any School of Nursing policies.
The progression review process is the responsibility of the Advanced Practice Area Coordinators Council, chaired by the Director of Master’s Programs. The Director of the Office of Admissions and Student Services serves as an ex officio member.
At mid-semester, the Director of Master’s Programs will request from course coordinators the names of students who may be experiencing academic difficulties. This list will be shared with members of the Advanced Practice Area Coordinators Council and
the Director of Admissions and Student Services. Course coordinators will be instructed to ask for a meeting with each student, informing them of their academic standing, and set up a plan to facilitate their ability to meet course objectives. The course coordinator
will refer the back to their faculty advisor and advanced practice area coordinator.
At the end of each semester, course coordinators submit final grades to the School of Nursing Registrar in the Office of Admissions and Student Services. The Director of Master’s Programs will call a formal progression review meeting of all members
of the Advanced Practice Coordinators’ Council within 48-72 hours of receiving final grade reports from the Director of the Office of Admissions and Student Services.
At the progression review meeting, the Director of the Office of Admissions and Student Services will present the academic records of all master’s students. The complete record of each student will be reviewed during the progression review meeting,
in particular, the grade reports of all students who have received an L or F or have received an IN, AB, or NG in any required course will be reviewed.
For students experiencing difficulties, the Advanced Practice Area Coordinator from the student’s specialty area will present relevant data regarding classroom and clinical performance from specialty course faculty as appropriate. The committee may
solicit additional information regarding a student from the student or any other graduate faculty member as indicated.
In areas of study where coursework is sequential, the committee will evaluate the student’s readiness to progress. A simple majority of the voting members of the committee is required for any decision or recommendation regarding a student’s progression
in the program. The Chair will cast a vote only in cases of a tie. This decision will be shared in writing with the student and academic advisor by the advanced practice coordinator in the student’s specialty area.
The student may be required to perform specific remedial work; to repeat the coursework; to take a leave of absence with conditions; or be dismissed if in the judgment of the committee he or she does not show sufficient promise to continue in the program.
Students required to take a leave of absence must abide by the leave of absence policies.
Reinstatement Process
Students declared academically ineligible due to grades may petition the Graduate School for reinstatement after endorsement from the Director of the Master’s Programs.
Students seeking reinstatement must notify their Advanced Practice Coordinator and academic advisor as soon as they are aware of their academic ineligibility or the potential for academic ineligibility. The Advanced Practice Coordinator will notify the
Director of Master’s Programs of the names and the semester for which any student in their specialty area is seeking reinstatement.
In order to determine whether a student’s request for reinstatement is eligible for endorsement, the Director of Master’s Programs will convene a committee made up of the student’s academic advisor, advanced practice coordinator, and one
other graduate faculty member from the student’s specialty area, the program director, and the Director of Admissions and Student Services (ex-officio). The Director of Master’s Programs will chair the meeting and be a nonvoting member. The student
will be notified of the day and time of the meeting and be invited to meet with committee members.
In collaboration with the student, the committee will develop a plan to support the student’s success that may include student activities and program supports. A simple majority of the voting members of the committee is required for any decision or
recommendation regarding a student’s progression in the program. If the committee’s judgment is that no plan is likely to support success, reinstatement will be denied. However, such a decision will not be made without offering the student the chance
to personally meet with the committee.
The Director of Master’s Programs will prepare a brief summary indicating the decision of the committee. This summary should include any conditions for continuance in the program, which may include, but are not limited to, extended study and tutorial
assistance. A copy of this statement will be sent to the student and placed in the student’s folder.
Students have the right to appeal the progression decision in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Nursing within 10 working days of notification by the Director of Master’s Programs.
Students who are reinstated are on academic probation and are automatically declared academically ineligible if they receive a grade below P.
Second reinstatements are only granted by the Graduate School in exceptional situations and with strong endorsements from the program director. Therefore, the review committee for a student requesting a second reinstatement will be made up of the student’s
academic advisor, advanced practice coordinator, and one other graduate faculty member from the student’s specialty area, the program director (nonvoting member), the director of Admissions and Student Services (ex-officio), and two uninvolved graduate
faculty members suggested by the Chair of the Master’s Executive Committee. A simple majority of the voting members of the committee is required for any decision or recommendation regarding a student’s progression in the program.
Students who fail comprehensive examinations twice are not eligible for reinstatement but may appeal directly to the Administrative Board of the Graduate School.
Other Reasons for Dismissal
If a student fails to make satisfactory progress towards the completion of the degree or to demonstrate sufficient promise to the discipline, regardless of grades, the student shall not be allowed to continue in the Graduate School.
In cases in which the progression review committee recommends
dismissal from the program, a letter will also contain the
Academic Standards Committee's specific requirements for
readmission if applicable. The student may appeal the decision
of the Academic Standards Committee to the Associate Dean
for Academic Affairs.
The Dean acting on behalf of the School of Nursing reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any student who fails to meet the qualifications considered essential for professional nursing, irrespective of grades.
Appeals
Students may appeal the denial of reinstatement or recommendation for dismissal to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dean of the School of Nursing, and the Graduate School (in that order). The only grounds for appeal are procedural; denial of due
process, arbitrariness, or discrimination.
