Academic Participation and Withdrawal
Participation Policy
Regular participation is required.
Incoming Student Participation Requirement at New Term Start
Incoming students must participate within the first 28 days of the start date of the entering term or they will be canceled from the program. Student participation is defined as completing (having passed) a full competency within the 28-day new start period (entering term). All formative and summative assessments within one competency must be successfully passed during the current 28-day new start period. Students who do not meet this requirement will be cancelled from the program. If a student completes a course within the first 28 days of their new term, they will be billed for tuition for the term.
Administrative Withdrawal Policy
If at the end of a term, at least 50% of one course has not been completed and the students has been inactive for more than 60 days, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the program. If a student, who has been administratively withdrawn (due to non-participation), wishes to continue with the program, the student must formally re-apply through standard admissions process.
Reinstatement and Re-entry after Withdrawal
Within 7 days of a withdrawal request, a student may request to be reinstated to the program. The student must send their written reinstatement request to the President of Competency-Based Education. Reinstatement is not guaranteed and is at the discretion and approval of the President of Competency-Based Education.
If a student would like to re-enter the CBE program after withdrawal outside of the 7-day grace period for reinstatement, the student must apply for re-entry to the CBE program by sending a written re-entry request to the President of Competency-Based Education. Re-entry, if approved, may not be within the same 6-month term and will only be approved in a subsequent 6-month term.
Withdrawal Policy (within term)
If a student withdraws before the 5th month of any 6-month term, the student will be issued a W grade for any uncompleted courses, unless the student was on academic probation for not completing a course the prior term. In this case, the student will receive a letter grade of F for the course.
If a student withdraws after the 1st day of the 5th month of any 6-month term, any course that is not completed will be assigned the letter grade of F.
A student must request to withdraw using the Withdrawal Form located in the Student Portal.
Academic Standards, Candidate Progress, and Grading
Upon entering the graduate program, students are encouraged to confer with their Mentor as needed. Students’ academic progress is monitored each 6-month term to ensure satisfactory progression which is considered mastery of at least 8 credits per 6 month term.
- Failure to complete a minimum of 8 credits (Example two 4.5 credit courses, two 4 credit courses or one 9 credit course), per 6-month subscription with a final grade of A will result in the student being placed on academic probation.*
- Students who are placed on academic probation that did not successfully complete a minimum of 8 credits (Example two 4.5 credit courses, two 4 credit courses or one 9 credit course) must meet this requirement within the first 28 days of a new term or they will be administratively withdrawn from the program.
- On the 1st day of the 4th month of any term, any student who has not completed at least 1 course during the current term will receive an academic probation warning letter.
- If a student who received a SAP warning on the first day of 4th month does not reach SAP within 60 days of the warning, they will need to complete an Academic Plan on day 1 of the 6th month on how they will reach course completion. The Academic Plan must be signed, approved and on file prior to the start of the next term. Students who do not complete an Academic Plan will be academically dismissed from the program.
- Students may only enter probation one time in their program.
Students on Academic Probation who do not complete the required 8 credits within 28 days of the next consecutive term start are not eligible to progress and will be notified of dismissal from the program.
Students who were dismissed or voluntarily withdrew from the program and who wish to return to the program must submit an application for re-entry. Program requirements in effect at that time of approved reentry must be met. A student may only be readmitted to the program one time.
Student deficiencies that may impact academic standing, which may include probation or dismissal from the program, are monitored by the Student Success Mentor.
Categories of Academic Standing for Program Candidates are:
- Good Standing: Status of a student who has met academic requirements in a satisfactory manner.
- Academic Warning: Status of a student whose academic performance places him/her in jeopardy of falling below the minimum stated grade required or progression. Students who have not completed a course by the 1st day of the 4th month of the term will be placed on Academic Warning.
- Academic Probation: Status of a student who has failed to receive mastery in at least 8 credits within a 6-month term. Following a 28-day period of Academic Probation during the next consecutive term with an Academic Plan approved and in process, the student will either return to Good Standing by satisfactorily completing the minimum required credits during the probationary period or be dismissed from the program for not completing the minimum required courses. Students may only be placed on Academic Probation one time.
Grading
Course Instructors determine mastery of competencies and the resulting final grade in all courses. The requirements of each course are found in the course syllabus.
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Letter Grade
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Q.P.
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Percentage Score Range
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A (Mastery)
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4.00
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90-100%
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Minimum Requirements for Progression
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.00 to remain in the graduate program.
Each student’s scholastic achievement record is reviewed at the end of each quarter. The academic standards that must be met by each student are outlined in the South College School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook. Depending on the nature of the academic deficiency, the applicable Associate Dean of Nursing will determine the status of the student’s academic standing, which may include probation or dismissal from the program. Once a student attempts one or more graduate-level courses in a given term, graduate-level academic standing categories apply.
| Good Standing: |
Status of a student who has met course requirements in a satisfactory manner and has demonstrated good professional behavior. |
| Probation: |
Status of a student whose performance in an academic course has fallen below the minimum stated standards, or who has exhibited unacceptable professional behavior. |
| Dismissal: |
Action whereby a student will be dismissed from the program due to failure to adhere to academic standards. Dismissal will occur after review of the student’s academic deficiency by the Associate Dean of the School of Nursing and following approval by the Nursing Assistant Dean (CBE) for the DNP (MSN Entry) program. |
The causes of and consequences for receiving Probation or Dismissal are:
| Probation: |
A student will be placed on probation if his/her cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale or if a grade below 80% is received for any course. A student with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 at the end of any quarter or who earned below a grade of 80% for any course will receive notification from the applicable Associate Dean of Nursing that he/she is on probation. If a candidate’s cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00 a second time or an additional grade below 80% is earned, he/she will be dismissed from the program.
A voluntary or involuntary withdrawal from a nursing course does count as an attempt for that course. Each course enrollment is considered an attempt. If a student is unsuccessful in two or more attempts of the same course, he/she is ineligible for readmission.
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| Dismissal: |
Action whereby a student will be dismissed from the program due to failure to adhere to academic and program requirements.
- A student who achieves less than an 80% in any two nursing courses.
- A student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 for the second quarter.
- A student’s professional conduct violates the performance standards set forth in the South College Academic Honor Code, the South College Standards of Student Conduct, or for unprofessional behavior or criminal activity.
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South College reserves the right to dismiss at any time a student who, in its judgment, is undesirable and whose continued enrollment is detrimental to him/herself or his/her fellow candidates or whose presence is disruptive to the learning environment, or the orderly operation of the College.
Termination From the DNP (MSN Entry) Program
Grounds for termination from the nursing program are as follows. Some behaviors are critical to patient safety and integrity of the discipline; therefore, the following may be grounds for termination from the nursing program:
- Failure to comply with rule and/or policies as written in the South College School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook , the South College Student Handbook, and/or the South College Catalog;
- Falsification of any other information to South College or the School of Nursing;
- Any violations of academic integrity (cheating, plagiarism, sharing exams, obtaining unauthorized digital copies of exams, or photos of exam questions, test bank questions, etc.);
- Failure to meet attendance policy; and/or
- Nonpayment of tuition and fees.
Grievance Process
All efforts must be made to resolve issues at the department level before moving to the South College Formal Complaint and Grievance processes as listed in the Student Services section of the catalog.
Graduation Requirements
For a student to graduate from the Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN Entry) program, the student must be in a good academic and professional standing, have had satisfactory progress in all quarters of the academic program, and satisfactorily complete the following:
- Successfully complete the required quarter credit hours of academic coursework.
- Evidence a minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.00 for the required coursework.
- Achieve a designation of “mastery” for all course competencies.
- Achieve a successful “Pass” for the DNP Scholarship Portfolio.
- Complete all required South College and program documents in preparation for graduation.
- Honor all professional and financial obligations to South College.
South College reserves the right, and the student, by the act of matriculation, concedes to give South College the right to require withdrawal at any time the college deems it necessary to safeguard the standards of scholarship, conduct, and compliance with regulations, or for such other reasons deemed appropriate by South College as set forth in the South College Student Handbook and/or the South College Catalog.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN Entry) program is offered Online (CBE).
