Program Policies

Each student is responsible for knowing all degree requirements and for monitoring their academic progression toward the completion of the degree requirements. Students should refer to the School of Professional and Graduate Studies Catalog for other academic policies that apply to all students enrolled in the School of Professional and Graduate Studies at St. Joseph's University.

• Nursing students must complete 128 credits to graduate, where a minimum of 55 must be taken at St. Joseph's University. The lower-division courses required for admission and the required courses of the upper-division major in nursing comprise the required credits. At least 60 of the 128 credits must be in liberal arts.
• A minimum 2.0 grade point average is required each semester as well as a cumulative 2.0 grade point average for graduation.
• A grade of C or better must be achieved in all upper-division required courses. Failure to obtain a C in a nursing course prohibits students from enrolling in the subsequent nursing course.
• If a grade of D or F is received in a required upper-division course, the course may be repeated once upon the recommendation of the nursing faculty. A grade of C or higher must be earned the next time the course is offered.
• Students must complete all lower-division course requirements prior to registering for the third semester past admission.
• Students who have not registered for a course for three consecutive semesters and who have not requested an educational leave of absence in writing to the nursing department director will be considered an administrative withdrawal. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING MOBILITY PROFILE II TESTS

• The National League for Nursing's Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exams (ACE) II RN-BSN are used to evaluate nursing knowledge obtained from previous learning and experience for graduates of hospital diploma nursing programs. Successful scores on the tests validate 24 credits in nursing. These tests must be taken no later than the second semester after admission to the program.

GRADING SYSTEM

• Grades and their interpretation are outlined in the School of Professional and Graduate Studies Catalog.
• Grades of C and D are considered passing grades at St. Joseph's University. Nursing students, however, must achieve a grade of C or above in all upper-division required courses.
• A grade of I (incomplete) is given at the discretion of the instructor when circumstances prevent the student’s completion of a limited portion of work in a course. The incomplete must be removed no later than three weeks after the closing date of the semester for all non-clinical nursing courses; for clinical nursing courses by the end of the next semester or at an earlier time of completion determined by the instructor. Any I grade may interrupt progression in the nursing program.

ACADEMIC WARNING

Academic warning is a written notice to a student in poor academic standing. In the written notification, the student will be informed of the warning and the specific conditions that must be satisfied for the warning to be removed. Conditions warranting academic warning include:

• A grade of D or F in an upper-division required course
• A grade point average of less than 2.0 for any given semester

Students placed on an academic warning, may not register for more than 9 credits during the warning period.

GRADE APPEAL PROCEDURE

• If a student wishes to appeal a grade, the appeal should be directed to the Department of Nursing director within five days of receiving the grade. The student will be encouraged to meet with the involved faculty member.
• *In the event that the student and the instructor do not confer, or the matter cannot be resolved through discussion, an ad hoc nursing faculty committee will be convened by the director.
• The student will submit the appeal in writing to the ad hoc faculty committee within seven days subsequent to the meeting with the instructor. All relevant materials should be submitted at this time.
• The ad hoc faculty committee will obtain all tests, papers, grade breakdowns and the course outline.
• The ad hoc faculty committee will review all submitted materials and meet with the faculty member to recommend a change in or retention of the grade. The student will be contacted at the completion of this process.
• If, however, the matter cannot be settled by agreement between the faculty member and the ad hoc committee, or if the student disagrees with the decision reached in the step above, the decision may be appealed to the director, who may seek consultation with objective parties as needed.
• If the student disagrees with the decision reached by the Director, the student may appeal, in writing, the decision of the Director to the Dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies within 7 (seven) days of the Directors decision. The Dean or his designee will meet with the student. If the student disagrees with the decision reached by the Dean, the student may appeal to the Provost. The Provost’s decision will be final.

PLAGIARISM AND OTHER FORMS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

• Plagiarism (the act of copying, stealing or representing the ideas or words of another as one’s own without giving credit to the source), cheating on examinations and all forms of academic dishonesty are forbidden.
• Students accused of such behavior are subject to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include a reduction in a grade, a failure in the course or, if it is a second offense, suspension or expulsion.
• The student may appeal the director’s decision to the Dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies by filing a written request within five days. The Dean will render a decision within five school days.
• The student may appeal the director’s decision to the provost by filing a written request within five days. The provost will render a decision within five school days. The student may appeal this decision, in writing, to the president within five days of the provost’s decision.

DISMISSAL FROM THE PROGRAM

Academic dismissal from the nursing program is based on continued unsatisfactory progress toward meeting course or degree requirements evidenced by:

• A cumulative grade point average of 1.999 or below.
• A student being on academic warning more than twice.

The nursing program reserves the right to require the withdrawal of students who do not maintain the required academic standing or whose enrollment in the nursing program would be detrimental to their health or to the health of others. Dismissal for other than academic reasons may be initiated for professional misconduct that reflects a lack of accountability in the care of clients or unsafe nursing care, or for any of the reasons specified in the Student Code of Conduct, as described in the School of Professional and Graduate Studies Student Policies booklet.

A nursing faculty committee will evaluate the documentation of professional misconduct or violation of the Student Code of Conduct and provide the involved student with an opportunity for an impartial hearing. The nursing department director will then evaluate the documentation and the committee’s recommendation and determine the appropriate disciplinary action. A student who is dissatisfied with the director’s decision may appeal in writing to St. Joseph's University president within seven days. The student grievance procedure in areas other than professional misconduct is described in the School of Professional and Graduate Studies Student Policies booklet.

A student who is dissatisfied with the director’s decision may appeal in writing to the Dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies within seven days.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Students may apply to the director for a leave of absence when it is necessary to temporarily interrupt their progression in the program. When a leave of absence is granted, a specific time period is designated. The student may return without reapplying for admission at the termination of the granted leave of absence.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM

Students who plan to withdraw from the nursing program should consult with the director and subsequently submit a written notification indicating reasons for withdrawal.

READMISSION

Readmission may be granted to students who withdrew from the program. A written request for readmission need be made to the director, Department of Nursing. Each request will be considered individually. Guidelines that will be followed are:

• Admission policies in practice at the time of readmission prevail.
• The student’s academic record and standing is evaluated.
• Academic requirements for readmission are specified.
• The student must meet the curriculum requirements that prevail at the time of readmission.
• Students may be readmitted only once.

CLINICAL ASSIGNMENTS

The Department of Nursing follows the recommendation contained in the American Nurses’ Association Code of Ethics for Nurses (2001), which states: “The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.”