UNC School of Nursing Student Handbook

SON Student Handbook

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"Paper Trail" of Documentation MSN Requirements for Graduation

NOTE: Copies of the forms below must be obtained from and turned in to the Office of Academic Affairs unless otherwise noted. Copies posted on the Web and linked from the forms below are samples only. Academic advisors and students are encouraged to print this schedule to track each student's "paper trail" through the program.

Time period	Form	Description

Program Enrollment	Plan of Study (FNP Sample Only)	Official plans of study for the student(s) specific specialty area are available from the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA). These are used to monitor student progression and completion of graduation requirements. They are to be completed during orientation and re-evaluated during pre-registration periods and returned to the Graduate Assistant in OAA.

Preregistration Periods	Plan of Study (Sample Only)	The advisor and student update and revise the plan of study as needed. It is turned in to the Graduate Assistant in Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).

When beginning to work on the master's paper or master's thesis	Master's Paper/Thesis Committee Composition Form (May be printed from web)	Used to report committee member names and relevant faculty status. Signed by chair and committee member(s). The committee must be approved prior to the proposal defense, or initiation of data collection, if applicable. If any faculty member on the proposed committee is not a regular member of the graduate faculty, more time and a CV of that faculty member will be needed for the approval.

At the proposal defense of thesis or research project	Master's Paper/Thesis Proposal Defense Form (May be printed from web)	Used to report satisfactory readiness to begin master's paper activity and submit proposal to IRB in the School of Nursing if indicated. Must be signed by the committee chair and member(s) at the proposal defense.
At the proposal defense of thesis or research project	IRB Tracking Form (May be printed from web)	All students must submit this form with the proposal defense form (above). This must be stamped by the Office of Academic Affairs before your proposal may be submitted to the School of Nursing IRB, if applicable. Original stamped form must be submitted with your proposal(if human subjects research activity) to the IRB.

At the final defense of master's paper or thesis	Master's Comprehensive Exam or Approved Substitute Report: Part III: Report of the Final Oral Examination (defense of thesis) (Sample Only) (A 3-part form using only Part III)	A green multi-copy form, used to report satisfactory completion of a master's paper or thesis. The chair and committee member(s) must sign the form. It is then returned to OAA and forwarded to the Graduate School. NOTES: If student has already completed "comps", please obtain previously used form from the student file in OAA. The wording of this form is confusing. However, this section must be signed for a master's paper as well as a thesis.

At the final defense of a master's paper or thesis	Report of Approved Substitute for a Master's Thesis (Sample Only)	A green multi-copy form, used to report results of an approved substitute for the master's thesis. Completed and signed by the committee chair only. This form must be submitted with Part III (above)

At the time of oral comprehensive examination ("comps")	Master's Comprehensive Exam or Approved Substitute Report: Part II: Report of Oral Examination or Approved Substitute (Sample Only) (3-part form using only Part II)	A green multi-copy form, used to report results of the comprehensive exam. The student's committee chair obtains form and obtains committee member signatures. It is returned to OAA with a copy of the written abstracts of the exam questions. The appropriate copy of the form is forwarded to the Graduate School. NOTE: If student has already completed their final defense of master's paper [Part III: Defense of Thesis], please obtain previously used form from the student file in OAA.


Submitted as needed	Request to Change Advanced Practice Area/ Request for Dual Preparation	Form to be completed by all students desiring dual preparation or a change in their advanced practice specialty area. Please see instructions. Signature of student, APA Coordinators, and MSN Director required. In almost all cases, a dual preparation will lengthen the student's program of study. Change of specialty area is dependent on faculty and clinical resources available to safeguard the quality of the MSN progam.
	All forms may be located on the Graduate School Web Site ( http://gradschool.unc.edu/forms)
	Transfer Credit Recommendation	Used to request transfer of academic credit earned at a previous institution or at this institution. Transfer requests should be initiated in OASS with the School of Nursing registrar.
	Request Leave of Absence	Used to request a formal leave of absence. Student must write a brief paragraph summarizing reason for request. Academic advisor or Coordinator of the student's specialty area must support the leave of absence. The form should be turned into the OAA for the signature of the program director.
	Application for Readmission	Used to re-enter a graduate program after being away (not enrolled) during a regular semester (spring or fall). Academic advisor or Coordinator of the student's specialty area must support the application for readmission. Graduate School deadlines: Fall - July 1 Spring - December 1 Summer Session I - April 1 Summer Session II - June 1 Please check with the Office of Academic Affairs for internal dealines for processing by the School of Nursing. In general, internal deadlines are one month before Graduate School deadlines.
	Request Reinstatement	Used to request reinstatement to the Graduate School after having been declared academically ineligible to proceed.
	Request Extension of Time	Used to request an extension of time for (1) completion of degree OR (2) removal of IN/AB grade.