Academic standing and dismissal policy for OSN undergraduate nursing program

A student may be dismissed from the Nursing 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 Nursing 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.

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

1. Complete each didactic nursing course with a grade of "C" or better for the units to be acceptable toward the degree.
2. For each semester, maintain a grade-point average ("GPA") of at least 2.0 in core and nursing specialization courses.
3. Have not been placed on probation by OSN for academic or clinical or practicum placement deficiencies.

A student may be placed on probation and dismissed from OSN 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) credits per semester toward the nursing degree (Exceptions can be made if the student has been granted a leave of absence by the University pursuant to its Leave of Absence Policy or exceptions can be granted on a case­ by-case basis by the dean of the OSN).
2. Unsatisfactory grades (including grades below C or its numerical equivalent, or repeated withdrawals from courses).
3. Failure to comply with specific Nursing Program requirements or policies as stated in Nursing Program's student handbook and website.
4. Failure to receive a "C" or higher in any nursing specialization course.
5. Failure to perform at a level commiserate with the training received from either the Nursing Program or the clinical/practicum placement site while the student is in a clinical or practicum setting.
6. Failure to maintain the standards of academic and professional integrity expected in the Nursing Program, as described in the Nursing Program's student handbook and website, while the student is in a clinical or practicum setting.

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

The OSN may place the student on probation and dismiss the student for failure to maintain academic good standing as stated in Section ll(B) and/or failure to make satisfactory progress as stated in Section ll(C}.

1. Probation

If the Nursing Program determines that the student has failed to maintain academic good standing or failed to make satisfactory progress, the department chair or the associate dean of undergraduate programs of OSN (the "Associate Dean") shall recommend to the dean of OSN (the "OSN Dean") that a student be placed on probation. The department chair or Associate Dean shall hereafter be referred to as the "Recommending Party." In the request, the Recommending Party shall provide documentation of the student's failure to meet the specific provisions(s) of this 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 OSN Dean to remove the student from probation.

If the OSN Dean approves the request to place the student on probation, the Recommending Party shall notify the student in writing that the student has been placed on academic probation (the "Academic Probation Notice"). The Recommending Party shall forward the Academic Probation Notice to the Office of Admissions and Records.

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 Nursing 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 Nursing Program, contain information about the appeal process that shall be used, either the appeal process in this policy or the appeal process in the University's dismissal policy for specialized programs and provide the student with the contact information for the OSN Dean 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 the Recommending Party to discuss the terms and conditions of the probation and that the student must submit a written request to the OSN to have a review conference within ten (10) Working Days from the date of the Academic Probation Notice.

The student shall be afforded the opportunity for a review conference, which shall be administered by the either the department chair or the 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 to have a review conference ("Review Conference Request"). 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(E), the Recommending Party shall make a written request to the OSN Dean to dismiss the student from the Nursing Program. In the request, the Recommending Party shall provide documentation of the student's failure to meet the terms of the probation or the grounds for dismissal without probation as stated in Section ll(E).

If the OSN Dean approves the request to dismiss the student, the Recommending Party shall notify the student in writing that the student is being dismissed from the Nursing Program ("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 must file an appeal (set forth in Section 11{1) below).

In rare instances, a student may be recommended for dismissal from the OSN 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.
2. When a sanction of expulsion is issued by the Office of Student Conduct resulting from a violation of the Student Code of Conduction 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.
4. When a Level I student fails to maintain academic good standing as stated in Section ll(B) or fails to make satisfactory progress as stated in Section ll(C) after completion of Level I. Level I is defined in the Nursing Program Handbook.

For those instances involving non-enrollment, the student is subject to the procedures outlined in Section ll(F). 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(G). For the other instances described above, the student is subject to the same procedures as outlined in Section ll(D)(2) for Nursing 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 11(1) below).

All students are required to be enrolled in three (3) credits per semester in classes required by the Nursing Program. If a student is unable to enroll in the minimum number of credits, the student shall submit a Leave of Absence Form signed by the Nursing Program and the OSN Dean.

Failure to submit the Leave of Absence Form or failure to return to the Nursing Program after the leave of absence has expired shall result in dismissal from the Nursing Program. The student has no right to appeal a dismissal for non-enrollment.

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 OSN. The OSN does not dismiss students from the Nursing Program as a result of a finding of responsibility of violations of the Student Code of Conduct or the Academic Standards Policy. The OSN does dismiss a student from the Nursing Program 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 OSN that the sanction imposed against the student is expulsion from the University and therefore, dismissal from the Nursing Program.

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

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

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 Vice Provost Undergraduate Education. Within ten (10) Working Days of receipt of the student's written request for appeal, the Vice Provost Undergraduate Education 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 Vice Provost Undergraduate Education. 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 Vice Provost Undergraduate Education, 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 Vice Provost Undergraduate Education; however, only the Vice Provost Undergraduate Education 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 Vice Provost Undergraduate Education also may include a representative from the applicable discipline of the Nursing 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 Vice Provost Undergraduate Education 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 Vice Provost Undergraduate Education for an extension of time for the Appeal Conference and the Vice Provost Undergraduate Education 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 Vice Provost Undergraduate Education, the Appeal Conference shall take place no later than forty-five (45) Working Days from the date that the Dismissal Notice.

3. Written Decision

After a review of all the materials, statements and relevant circumstances, the Vice Provost Undergraduate Education shall issue a written decision setting forth the reasons upon which the final decision is based. The Vice Provost Undergraduate Education'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 Nursing Program that warrant dismissal. If the Vice Provost Undergraduate Education does not uphold the recommendation for dismissal, the student shall be reinstated in the Nursing Program. The Vice Provost Undergraduate Education shall provide the written decision to the student and the Nursing Program within five (5) Working Days after the Appeal Conference.

4. Decision Final

The decision of the Vice Provost Undergraduate Education is final and is not subject to appeal.

1. A Level I student who is dismissed from the Nursing Program for academic reasons pursuant to Section l(B) or Section ll(C) may reapply for admission to the Nursing Program. Readmission is at the discretion of OSN and is available solely on a space available basis. Students may re-apply to the Nursing Program only one time.
2. Readmission or reinstatement is not allowed for a Level II, Ill, or Level IV student who has been dismissed from the Nursing Program.