College of Nursing | Academic Policies

ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Undergraduate (RN-BSN/ABSN) Program

1. A student must earn a grade of 2.5 in each program required course. A student earning a grade of less than 2.5 or “WF”, "WP", "WR", or "WD" must repeat the course. If a student earns less than 2.5 or “WF”, "WP", "WR" or "WD" in a second program required course, the student is dismissed from the program and is ineligible for readmission into the College of Nursing. A program required course can be repeated one time only.

2. Courses must be completed in the prescribed sequence and within 1 ½ times the plan of study.

3. For the RN-BSN program, a student must achieve an average grade of 75% on all tests/examinations in order to successfully complete nursing courses. If less than a 75% average on tests/examinations is earned, the course grade will be computed on the basis of tests/examinations only (i.e., grades earned on papers, projects, etc., will not be computed in the final course grade.) If a 75% average on tests/examinations is earned, all course requirements will be computed into the final course grade.

4. For the ABSN program, in order to successfully complete the following nursing courses:

NURUS 451 & 452 Pathophysiology – Pharmacology 1 & 2
NURSU 315 Health Assessment
NURSU 461 Foundations and Gerontological Nursing
NURSU 454 & 455 Medical Surgical Nursing 1 & 2
NURSU 387 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
NURSU 405 Nursing Care with Children and their Families
NURSU 409 Population Focused Nursing
NURSU 417 Women’s Health

A student must achieve a cumulative average of 75% from all course quizzes/tests/examinations. NCLEX preparation tests and the Pathopharmacology Dosage and Calculation tests are not included in the cumulative quizzes/tests/examinations average. If a 75% average on quizzes/tests/examinations is earned, all course grades will be computer into the final course grade.

5. For the ABSN program, the drug dosage calculation examination must be passed with a 95% grade in order to progress in the program and specifics regarding this process are located in the NURSU 451 Pathophysiology_Pharmacology I course syllabus.

6. For ABSN students only: When a student’s clinical performance in a clinical nursing course indicates an inability to perform at a safe level of practice, the clinical instructor, in consultation with the course coordinator, may assign a course grade of “0.0" at any time during the semester. In such case, the student will fail the course regardless of the didactic grade.

7. When a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.5, the student will be placed on academic probation. To be removed from academic probation, the student must raise the cumulative GPA to 2.5 by the end of the next semester. The student must also successfully complete the nursing course in which a grade below 2.5 was earned. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.

Graduate (MSN/DNP) program

1. A student must earn a grade of 3.5 in each program required course. A student earning a grade of less than 3.5 or “WF”, "WP", "WR", or "WD" must repeat the course. A course can be repeated one time only. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below a 3.5, the student is placed on academic probation for the following semester. The student must improve the cumulative GPA to 3.5 or greater upon completion of the next semester to remain in the program. The student must successfully complete the course in which a grade below 3.5 was earned. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program and the student is ineligible for readmission into the CON. If a student earns less than 3.5 or “WF”, "WP", "WR" or "WD" in a second program required course, the student is dismissed from the program and is ineligible for readmission into the CON.

2. A student must receive a passing grade in the clinical portion of a combined clinical-didactic/seminar course in order to pass the course, regardless of the didactic/seminar grade.

3. When a student’s clinical performance in a clinical nursing course indicates an inability to perform at a safe level of practice, the clinical instructor, in consultation with the course coordinator, may assign a course grade of “0.0" at any time during the semester. In such case, the student will fail the course regardless of the didactic grade.

Graduate (PhD) program

ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONALISM WARNINGS

An Academic/Professionalism Advisement will be issued when a student’s performance puts them in jeopardy for failing the course or plan of study and can occur at any time during the semester. Students registered in the College of Nursing will receive an electronic advisement form for unsatisfactory or borderline performance in any didactic/seminar and/or clinical nursing course from the course faculty/coordinator. The “Academic/Professionalism Advisement Form” indicates recommendations and strategies for improvement and students are encouraged to add or assist in the creation of the improvement plan. The form must be signed by the student and returned to the course faculty/coordinator. If a student chooses to not sign the academic advisement, they are still responsible for the information and improvement plan. An electronic copy is placed in a central file in the Office of Student Services. The Assistant Dean, Director of Student Services, and the Compliance Manager to the Executive Associate Dean for Academics are notified of the Academic/Professionalism Advisement. The course faculty/coordinator will follow-up with the student two weeks after the advisement is issued and every two weeks thereafter until the improvement plan is completed using an Academic/Professionalism Follow-up Form to document the student’s ongoing or completion of work. If a student receives a second Professional Advisement during the plan of study, the student will be referred to the Program Director to develop a performance improvement plan with expectations of what needs to be accomplished to be successful in the course.

REGISTRATION

The Office of Student Services will register students for their courses according to their plan of study posted in WebAdvisor. Preregistration dates are determined by the Office of Enrollment Management. It is the student’s responsibility to verify they are registered for the appropriate courses by reviewing their class registration against their plans of study in life.musc.edu. If there is a discrepancy, students should notify CON Student Services so changes can be made.

Dropping a Course

After the drop period, a student may withdraw from a course if permission is obtained in writing from the course instructor, the student’s faculty advisor and/or the Assistant Dean. However, withdrawal from a course for any reason (academic, personal, health, etc.) regardless of the grade assigned (i.e., Withdraw/Passing, Withdraw/Failing, Withdrawal) constitutes one attempt in the course. A second attempt to take the same course will exhaust a student’s repeat option and may lead to dismissal from the College of Nursing.

Incomplete Grade

An “Incomplete” (IN) is awarded when all requirements of a course have not been completed by the end of the semester due to circumstances beyond the student’s control. When the IN is given in a course that is a pre- /or co-requisite to a course in which the student enrolls in the following semester, the student has until the end of the drop/add period of the following semester to complete the work and have the IN changed to a merit grade. Students who fail to have the incomplete changed by drop/add will have to drop the pre- / or co-requisite course(s). If the student fails to remove the IN within these time limits, the IN will be converted to a merit grade of 0.0. The Assistant Dean of Students and Program Director must approve any extension. Incomplete grades will not be extended into a term in which the student is not enrolled in other coursework.

A leave of absence may be granted by the Assistant Dean and Director of Student Services upon request by the student. “University Withdrawal/Leave of Absence” forms are completed by the Program Coordinators. The leave will begin immediately and will apply to the semester(s) for which it is granted. After the specified time, the student will be readmitted to the College upon permission from the Executive Associate Dean for Academics and the Dean of the CON. If the student does not return before the leave of absence expires, the student will be withdrawn from the College. Only one leave of absence, up to one year in length, will be granted during a program of study.

For students considering a leave of absence or withdrawal, prior to completion of appropriate university paperwork, the student must meet with the MUSC Office of Financial Aid to ensure understanding of the student’s financial obligations to the university.

The College of Nursing is not obligated to hold a student slot open for students who do not return at the end of the designated time frame leave of absence agreement (1 year). The student is accountable to maintain communication with the Assistant Dean and the Office of Student Services regarding any changes in plans during the leave time period.

Students returning from any leave of absence may be required to adjust the plan of study based upon new program requirements. Students returning from a leave of absence may not have immediate access to some courses, primarily because of student clinical placements and faculty- student ratios. Students who are unable to return after a one-year leave of absence will be withdrawn from the program and would need to re-apply for admission.

Procedure:

Students who request a leave of absence (LOA) from the program must adhere to the following procedures:

1. Make an appointment with the Assistant Dean to discuss reasons for the leave of absence.

2. Review and approve the “University Withdrawal/Leave of Absence” form completed by the Office of Student Services.

3. All medical leave of absences require a letter from the health care provider outlining the need for accommodation. Upon return from a medical leave of absence, the student must provide documentation from the health care provider approving the student’s return to the College of Nursing. These letters must be submitted to the Office of Student Services.

Withdrawal from the Program

When withdrawing from the program, the student notifies the Assistant Dean and reviews and approves the “University Withdrawal” form completed by the Program Coordinator. These completed forms are then forwarded to the Assistant Dean for Students for final approval and then placed in the student’s academic record.

Any student who withdraws from the program of study at the College of Nursing voluntarily and then would like to return should submit a new application for admission to the MUSC Office of Enrollment Management. The new application should include a typewritten letter stating the circumstance that resulted in the student’s withdrawing from the program and reason(s) that readmission to the program is justified. Applications for re-admission to reenter a program, following voluntary withdrawal, outside of three years will not be considered; in this situation students must start the program of study over.

A student who is dismissed from the program is ineligible for readmission into the College of Nursing. The Program Director will make a recommendation to the Assistant Dean for Students of the CON that a student be dismissed from the program if the student:

For All Programs - Additional circumstances that may result in dismissal from the program include non-payment of fees, academic or professional misconduct, failure to return after a leave of absence (LOA) expires, and loss of license to practice as an RN.

Undergraduate (RN-BS/ABSN) Programs

The student’s GPA indicates the student will not be able to meet the 2.5 grade requirement for graduation or has failed two program required courses. A student must receive a passing grade on both the didactic and the clinical portions of a course in order to pass the course or does not complete requirements for the BSN degree within 1 ½ times the length of the plan of study.

Graduate (MSN/DNP) Programs

The student’s GPA indicates the student will not be able to meet the 3.5 grade requirement for graduation or has failed two program required courses or failed the didactic and/or clinical portions of a course or does not complete requirement for the DNP degree within 1 ½ times the length of the plan of study.

Graduate (PhD) Program

The student’s GPA indicates the student will not be able to meet the 3.5 grade requirement for graduation or has failed two program required courses or does not complete requirements for the degree within 1 ½ times the length of the plan of study after initial registration for the doctoral program.

The University respects and protects the diverse interests of all students, faculty, and employees and promotes a philosophy of mutual respect. The University is committed to providing students with a quality learning experience in an environment where constructive feedback is encouraged and complaints are effectively addressed. It is the intent of the University to provide an open, fair, and accessible process, which encourages the prompt resolution of complaints/issues, encountered by MUSC students. The University recognizes that in spite of every effort to make the MUSC experience a positive one, students may have concerns or complaints; and, therefore, a process is in place to ensure these concerns are addressed both fairly and efficiently. The MUSC policy can be found at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/esl/bulletin/acad_policies/scc/ and the CON Policy can be found at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/nursing/intranet/student/index.htm under CON Student Complaint Procedure.

UNDERGRADUATE ADVANCED STANDING

Students are admitted with advanced standing on the basis of credits earned at an accredited college or university. A grade of “C” or better must be earned in course work to be eligible for transfer. Course work must also meet the minimum equivalency for transfer.

Advanced standing course work is accepted as earned credit hours but carry no grade points, and therefore, do not become part of the cumulative grade point average. The student’s status is determined by the number of credit hours earned: 60-89 semester hours for junior status and 90 or more hours for senior status.

UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER OF COURSE CREDITS

Course work completed at an accredited baccalaureate program prior to enrollment in the College of Nursing may be eligible for transfer credit. To be considered, a grade of “C” or better must have been earned in the course work and been completed within the previous three years. An official transcript and copy of the course syllabus must be submitted to the College of Nursing Office of Student Services to determine course equivalency. Transfer credit is not granted automatically and is restricted to didactic courses with no clinical component.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to meeting academic requirements for graduation, all students are required to submit a degree application and are expected to attend College of Nursing Convocation and MUSC Commencement ceremonies. Permission to graduate in absentia must be requested in writing to the Dean of the College of Nursing. All graduation requirements must be completed prior to participation in convocation and graduation. Candidates for graduation are voted on by faculty and forwarded to the Board of Trustees for final approval.

Undergraduate

Requirements for graduation and for the award of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) degree are as follows:

1. Completion of 120 semester hours, including 30 semester hours (sh) of prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or above; 60 sh of validated pre-licensure coursework; and 30 sh of MUSC RN-BSN program coursework.

2. Completion of RN-BSN coursework at MUSC with a minimum grade of 2.5 and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Requirements for graduation and for the award of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree are as follows:

1. Completion of a minimum of 121 semester hours, including 60 sh of prescribed prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or above from a regionally accredited college or university and 61 sh of prescribed upper division course work within three years of initial enrollment in the CON.

2. Completion of the nursing and general education courses prescribed by the faculty.

3. Completion of nursing courses with a minimum grade of 2.5 in each course.

4. Attainment of a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

5. Completion of at least 33% of semester hours in residence at MUSC CON.

6. It is the student’s responsibility to assure that all prerequisite and upper division requirements are met. The CON appoints a faculty advisor for each student to assist the student with program planning and tracking of prerequisites and upper division requirements. However, the responsibility for assuring that all requirements are met rests solely with the student.

7. Exit Surveys are completed with MUSC Office of Financial Aid prior to graduation.

Graduate

Requirements for graduation and for the award of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and/or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree are as follows:

1. Candidates must meet all scholastic requirements and complete all specified courses in their prescribed program of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

2. Courses must be completed in the prescribed sequence and within 1 ½ years times the length of the program.

3. Students are also required to complete the Exit Survey in order to graduate.

4. It is the student’s responsibility to assure that all requirements for graduation are met including:

a. Presentation of the DNP Scholarly Project Proposal

b. Presentation of the DNP Scholarly Project Defense

c. Submission of Paper for Publication: This paper submission is required as evidence of completion of the DNP Scholarly Project.

Requirements for graduation and for the award of the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science (PhD) degree are as follows:

1. Candidates must meet all scholastic requirements and complete all specified courses in their prescribed program of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

2. Courses must be completed in the prescribed sequence and within 1 ½ years times the length of the program.

3. Students are also required to complete the Exit Survey in order to graduate.

4. It is the student’s responsibility to assure that all requirements for graduation are met including:

a. Presentation of the PhD Dissertation Proposal

b. Presentation of the PhD Dissertation Defense

c. Completion of the graduation checklist located in the PhD Guidelines including activities such as closing the dissertation study with the IRB and submitting the completed dissertation to Medica.