Academic standing and dismissal policy for OSN graduate program

A student may be dismissed from the OSN Graduate Program for numerous reasons, which may include, but are not limited to:

1. Failure to maintain good academic standing as defined by this Dismissal Policy.
2. Failure to make satisfactory progress as defined by this Dismissal Policy.
3. Failure to meet the conditions of academic probation as described in the Academic Probation Notice.
4. Failure to comply with professional or ethical standards applicable to the OSN Graduate Program while the student is in a clinical or professional setting.
5. Violations of University Student Code of Conduct or the Academic Standards Policy for academic dishonesty (UAM 6,502) where the disciplinary sanction is expulsion.

All probation and dismissal recommendations shall be submitted by the OSN to the Graduate School. Only the Graduate School may officially place students on probation or dismiss students. OSN and the OSN Graduate Program may not place students on probation, nor dismiss students from the OSN and the OSN Graduate Program unless authorized to do so by the Graduate School.

A student may be placed on probation and dismissed from the OSN Graduate Program for failure to maintain academic good standing. To be considered in good academic standing in the OSN Graduate Program, OSN graduate students shall:

1. Complete each graduate course with a grade of ''B" or better for the units to be acceptable toward an advanced degree.
2. Maintain a University of Nevada, Reno grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
3. Maintain a grade of B or better in the clinical or practicum course.
4. Have not been placed on probation by the Graduate School for academic or clinical or practicum course deficiencies.

A student may be placed on probation and dismissed from the Graduate School and the OSN graduate degree for failure to make satisfactory progress in their course of study. Failure to make progress is indicated by one or more of the following academic progress standards ("Academic Progress Standards"):

1. A failure to complete three (3) graduate credits per semester toward the OSN Graduate Program; if an exception has been issued allowing a student to enroll for fewer than three (3) graduate credits, failure to complete the agreed-on number of graduate credits.
2. Unsatisfactory grades (including grades below or grades lower than a B.
3. Repeated withdrawals from courses.
4. Failure to consult with their advisor when requested.
5. Failure to establish a graduate advisory committee.
6. Failure to develop an official, approved program of study.
7. Failure to establish the groundwork for a thesis and/or MSN/DNP project.
8. Failure of comprehensive and/or qualifying exams, if required by the OSN Graduate Program, in the number of attempts specified by the OSN Graduate Program.
9. Failure to comply with specific Graduate Program requirements or policies as stated in OSN Graduate Program's student handbook and website.
10. Failure to meet a department milestone or benchmark within the timeframe specified by the OSN Graduate Program.
11. Failure to pass the culminating experience if required by the OSN Graduate Program.
12. Failure to successfully defend a thesis and/or MSN/DNP project, or to successfully defend a final document.
13. Failure to perform at a level commiserate with the training received from either the OSN Graduate Program or the clinical/practicum placement site while the student is in a clinical or practicum setting.
14. Faiture to maintain the standards of academic and professional integrity expected in a particular discipline or OSN Graduate Program, as described in the OSN Graduate Program's student handbook and website, while the student is in a clinical or practicum setting.

The OSN Graduate Program shall review the academic performance and progress of the graduate student at least once per year. The OSN Graduate Program benchmark or requirements for the Academic Progress Standards are stated in the OSN Graduate Program Handbook and website. The benchmarks or requirements for the Academic Progress Standards shall be consistent with OSN Graduate Program requirements, standards in the field and as specified in the OSN Graduate Program Handbook and on the website for the OSN Graduate Program.

If the program dismissal is based upon failure to maintain the required grades or the required GPA for the OSN Graduate Program or for a course within the OSN Graduate Program, the dismissal procedures described below in Section ll(E), do not apply and the student may be summarily dismissed from the OSN Graduate Program. The student's only recourse to challenge a grade is to utilize the University's grade appeal process. If the student's grade appeal is successful, the student shall be reinstated in the OSN Graduate Program.

1. Probation

If the OSN Graduate Program determines that the student has failed to make satisfactory progress, the Recommending Party shall make a written request to the Graduate School to place the student on probation. For purposes of this Dismissal Policy, the Recommending Party shall be the dean of the OSN ("OSN Dean"). In the request, the Recommending Party shall provide documentation of the student's failure to meet the specific provisions(s) of this Dismissal Policy warranting probation. The Recommending Party also shall provide specific requirements and/or conditions, including deadlines, which the student shall complete in order for the Graduate School to remove the student from probation.

If the Graduate School approves the request to place the student on probation, the Recommending Party shall notify the student in writing to indicate that the student has been placed on academic probation (the "Academic Probation Notice"). The Recommending Party shall forward the Academic Probation Notice to the Graduate School. The Academic Probation Notice shall outline what the student must do and the dates by which the student must do so in order to return to good standing in the OSN Graduate Program. The Academic Probation Notice also shall inform the student that if the student does not meet the conditions of probation, the student shall be dismissed from the OSN Graduate Program, contain information about the OSN Graduate Program dismissal appeal process and provide the student with the contact information for the Graduate School Director of Operations ("Director of Operations") for any questions or concerns the student may have.

The Academic Probation Notice also shall inform the student of the student's right to participate in a review conference with OSN to discuss the terms and conditions of the probation and that the student must submit, within ten (10) Working Days from the date ofthe Academic Probation Notice, a written request to the OSN to have a review conference. The student shall be afforded the opportunity for a review conference, which shall be administered by the Recommending Party or the Recommending Party's designee who shall be a department chair, program director or associate dean ("Review Conference Administrator"). The student shall have ten (10) Working Days from the date of the Academic Probation Notice to submit a written request to the OSN for a review conference ("Review Conference Request"). The OSN shall direct the Review Conference Administrator to schedule the Review Conference to occur no later than ten (10) Working Days from receipt of the Review Conference Request.

2. Dismissal

If the student fails to meet the requirements and/or conditions of probation, violates the terms of the probation, or is recommended for dismissal without probation under Section ll(F), the Recommending Party shall make a written request to the Graduate School to dismiss the student from the OSN Graduate Program and Graduate School. In the request, Recommending Party shall provide documentation of the student's failure to meet the terms of the probation or grounds for dismissal without probation as stated in Section ll(F).

If the Graduate School approves the request to dismiss the student, Recommending Party shall notify the student in writing that the student is being dismissed from the OSN Graduate Program and Graduate School ("Dismissal Notice"). The Dismissal Notice shall include a written statement of reasons for the dismissal action, information about the applicable appeal procedures and the time period by which the student shall file an appeal (set forth in Section ll(J) below).

Pursuant to the Academic Policies of the Graduate School, all students are required to be enrolled in either: (1) three (3) graduate-level credits per semester; or (2) the minimum number of credits agreed to by the Graduate School and the student prior to the beginning of the semester (the "Continuous Enrollment Policy''). Any student in violation of the Continuous Enrollment Policy is subject to discontinuation from the Graduate Program and the student's academic record shall be closed.

The Graduate School shall notify students prior to the beginning of the next semester if they are in danger of violating the Continuous Enrollment Policy ("Discontinuation Notice"). The Discontinuation Notice shall be issued by the Graduate School within 10 (ten) business days prior to the beginning of the semester. The Discontinuation Notice shall inform the student that failure to register for the minimum number of credits violates the Continuous Enrollment Policy and will result in their discontinuation. If thereafter, the student fails to register for the minimum number of required credits, the student is discontinued from the Graduate Program.

If a student is unable to enroll in the minimum number of credits the next semester, the student shall submit a Leave of Absence Form signed by the Graduate Program and the Graduate School prior to the start of that next semester.

Failure to timely submit the Leave of Absence form or failure to return to the Graduate Program after the leave of absence has expired shall result in discontinuation from the Graduate Program and the student's academic record shall be closed. The student may request reinstatement to the Graduate Program. The decision to reinstate is at the discretion of the Graduate Program.

In rare instances, a student may be dismissed or discontinued from the OSN and Graduate School without being placed on probation. These instances include the following circumstances:

1. When the academic reason for failing to progress is non-enrollment without being granted leave of absence for at least three (3) consecutive semesters, including the summer session (see Section ll(E) Continuous Enrollment Policy).
2. When a sanction of expulsion is issued by the Office of Student Conduct resulting from a student conduct issue or a violation of the Academic Standards policy (UAM 6,502) for academic dishonesty.
3. When a student's behaviors or actions while in a clinical or practicum setting endanger the life, health, well-being or safety of any person at the clinical or practicum setting. For those instances involving non-enrollment, the student is subject to the procedures outlined in Section ll(G).

For those instances involving a disciplinary sanction of expulsion by the Office of Student Conduct, the student is subject to the procedures as outlined in Section ll(H). For the other instances described above, the student is subject to the same procedures as outlined in Section ll(E) for OSN Graduate Program dismissal. The student shall be provided with a Dismissal Notice which shall include information about the appeal procedures, the appeal conference and the time period by which the student shall file an appeal (set forth in Section ll(J) below).

All disciplinary issues relating to a student's alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct and the Academic Standards Policy are processed through the Office of Student Conduct and not the Graduate School. The OSN and the Graduate School do not dismiss students from the OSN Graduate Program or the Graduate School as a finding of responsibility for violations of the Student Code of Conduct or the Academic Standards Policy. The Graduate School does dismiss a student from the OSN Graduate Program and Graduate School upon direction from the Office of Student Conduct after all conduct hearings and appeals have been completed and the Office of Student Conduct notifies the Graduate School that the sanction imposed against the student is expulsion from the University and therefore, dismissal from the OSN Graduate Program.

Students may be placed on probation or dismissed from the OSN Graduate Program for lack of professionalism or professional misconduct while in a clinical or practicum setting. OSN has established its own benchmarks or requirements for professionalism and professional conduct, consistent with its OSN Graduate Program requirements, licensing, accreditation and national standards. These benchmarks and requirements are stated in the OSN Graduate Program Handbook and the OSN Graduate Program website.

All probation and dismissal recommendations based upon lack of professionalism or professional misconduct in a clinical or practicum settling shall be submitted to the Graduate School and only the Graduate School may officially place students on probation or dismiss students.

A recommendation for probation and/or dismissal due to lack of professionalism or professional misconduct shall follow the procedures stated in this Dismissal policy for dismissals based upon failure to make adequate progress (Section ll(C)) or Section 11(1).

1. Student's Appeal Request

The student shall have ten (10) Working Days from the date of the Dismissal Notice to submit an appeal to the OSN. OSN then shall have ten (10) Working Days to submit the student's appeal to the Graduate School. Within ten (10) Working Days of receipt of the student's written request for appeal, the Dean of the Graduate School ("Graduate Dean") shall review the student's appeal and provide the student with written notification of the opportunity for a review conference on the appeal ("Appeal Conference").

2. Appeal Conference

The Appeal Conference shall be administered by the Graduate Dean. The Appeal Conference is a meeting that is not intended to be adversarial in nature. The student may be accompanied by an advisor during the Appeal Conference, who may serve in a support role to the student during the Appeal Conference. In this process, the advisor has no right to speak during the Appeal Conference except to the student.

If a student, who has been given notice does not appear for the Appeal Conference with the Graduate Dean, then the review conference shall proceed in the absence of the student.

The Appeal Conference is the time for presentation of the information, documents or witnesses in support of the dismissal. The Appeal Conference is the time at which the student is afforded the opportunity to present information, documents or witnesses on the student's behalf.

Witnesses may present a statement to the Graduate Dean; however, only the Graduate Dean is allowed to ask questions of any witnesses. Furthermore, the Recommending Party has the opportunity to participate in the Appeal Conference and may present information, documents or witnesses in support of the dismissal recommendation. The Graduate Dean also may include representatives from the OSN Graduate Program in the Appeal Conference.

The Appeal Conference shall occur within thirty-five (35) Working Days but no earlier than ten (10) Working Days after the date the Dismissal Notice was sent to the student by email or by personal delivery. The student can make a written request to the Graduate Dean asking that the 10-day period be waived if the student wants the Appeal Conference to occur sooner. If necessary, the student can make a written request to the Graduate Dean for an extension of time for the Appeal Conference and the Graduate Dean in their sole discretion, may grant the extension with regard to the Appeal Conference. If an extension of time for the Appeal Conference has been granted by the Graduate Dean, the Appeal Conference shall take place no later than forty-five (45) Working Days from the date of the Dismissal Notice3. Written Decision.

After a review of all the materials, statements and relevant circumstances, the Graduate Dean shall issue a written decision setting forth the reasons upon which the final decision is based. The Graduate Dean's determination shall be made on the basis of whether it is more likely than not that the student engaged in behavior or actions related to the Graduate Program that warrant dismissal.

If the Graduate Dean does not uphold the recommendation for dismissal, the student shall be reinstated in the Graduate Program. The Graduate Dean shall provide the written decision to the student and the Graduate Program within five (5) Working Days after the Appeal Conference.

3. Decision Final

The decision of the Graduate Dean is final and is not subject to appeal.