Nursing
Purpose and Accountability
This policy defines Satisfactory Academic progress (SAP) for all who matriculate in the School of Nursing. The policy presents the standards adopted by the UCSF Graduate Studies Office, the School of Nursing, and the Student Financial Services Office. The School of Nursing Dean or designee(s) is/are responsible for implementing this policy. It will be reviewed regularly in collaboration with the Student Financial Services Office for federal compliance and revised when necessary.
Definition
Satisfactory Academic Progress is determined by measuring a student’s performance in four areas:
- Completion rate: percent of courses or credits attempted that must be completed each term;
- Grade Point Average (GPA): a calculation of the average of a student’s grades in a course, term or terms (cumulative GPA);
- Maximum time frame: number of terms or years allowed to complete the program of study; and,
- Maintaining the UCSF code of conduct for students.
Policy
Sound academic principles require that students maintain satisfactory academic progress. In addition, federal regulations require the School of Nursing to establish satisfactory academic progress standards for students who receive federal financial aid. The following standards apply to all matriculating students, whether they are financial aid recipients or not. Satisfactory academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each term or year as determined by degree program (see specific program guidelines, below). Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress may be placed on financial aid warning (if applicable), financial aid probation (if applicable) or may be dismissed.
Minimum Units Per Quarter
The School of Nursing Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requires that all students register for a minimum of 6 units per quarter to be considered full-time. Students who take 4 units will be considered part-time and will be eligible for Title IV funding. (This does not apply to the Post-MS DNP students)
Completion Rate
School of Nursing faculty advisors, specialty track coordinators, in consultation with the appropriate academic dean/graduate program director or designee, shall evaluate all students’ academic progress by comparing the number of attempted credit hours with the number of earned credit hours. All students must complete 75% of any credits attempted.
Grades
- Attempted and earned: A, B, C, D, P
- Attempted but not earned: F, W, I, IP
- Not attempted or earned: Audit and Transfer credits (transfer credits will not be included in the calculation of GPA or completion rate)
Grade Point Average
Nursing students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. This includes those in the MEPN, Master's, Post-master's, DNP and PhD programs.
Maximum Time Frame (Pace)
The maximum time frame is defined by the School of Nursing as the maximum number of terms a student may attempt in the pursuit of a degree or certificate. The maximum time frame for completion of any program is 150% of the usual, expected number of terms of enrollment (see Addendum A). The normative time to degree for each program is further defined below. Periods of non-matriculated study, leaves of absence and periods of inactive status are not included in the maximum time frame (pace).
Notification of Lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress and Reinstatement
Following evaluations of completion rate, GPA, pace, and behavior, the appropriate academic dean/graduate program director or designees shall transmit written notification to all students who have not met the standards of satisfactory academic progress. The notification will be copied to the Student Financial Services Office and appropriate faculty advisor or track coordinator.
Financial Aid Probation
Following evaluations of completion rate, GPA, pace, and behavior, the appropriate academic dean/graduate program director or designees shall transmit written notification to all students who have not met the standards of satisfactory academic progress. The notification will be copied to the Student Financial Services Office and appropriate faculty advisor or track coordinator.
Appeal of Unsatisfactory Progress designation
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Students are permitted to dispute a determination of unsatisfactory academic progress by submitting an appeal to the academic dean/graduate program director or designee, with a detailed statement of the facts and circumstances supporting an appeal and why the student believes the determination should be changed. Supporting information and a list of persons with information relevant to the change in designation must accompany the appeal. The academic dean/graduate program director or designee will notify the student of the decision in writing.
Dismissal or Withdrawal
Students who are dismissed or withdraw have not maintained satisfactory academic progress and are not eligible to receive financial aid.
Incomplete Grades
Occasionally, students receive an incomplete grade for one or more classes. Any incomplete grades must be removed within one calendar year or, if the course is not given yearly, by the end of the quarter in which the course is next offered. Each student must have an evaluation conference with his/her graduate adviser at least once a year. The results will be reported to the School of Nursing Office of Student and Curricular Affairs on the “Annual Report of Academic Review” form, which will be placed in the student’s academic file.
Documentation and Dissemination
Documentation of decisions regarding SAP shall be transmitted to the affected student and maintained in the student academic file in accordance with normal record retention requirements. Student appeal documents will be housed in the student files maintained by the appropriate academic dean/graduate program director or designee.
This policy shall be published in the same manner as other academic policies, will be disseminated to students upon enrollment and annually thereafter or whenever changes to the policy are made.
Satisfactory Academic Progress: Degree-Specific Policies
Master of Science In Nursing
The normative time allowed to complete the requirements for this degree is nine terms (three academic years). Students must complete between 57 – 98 program credits or units (depending on selected specialty), maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in core courses and/or clinical courses, and are subject to dismissal for failure to do so. A student shall be placed on financial aid probation if his/her cumulative GPA at the end of the academic year is below 3.00. The student shall be removed from financial aid probation if the cumulative GPA reaches 3.00 at the end of the probationary quarter. If the cumulative GPA does not reach 3.00 at the end of the probationary quarter, the student will be suspended from financial aid eligibility until the cumulative GPA returns to 3.00. When MEPN students are in the second and third years of the Master's program, the satisfactory academic progress policy described in the Master of Science in Nursing Program, below, applies.
Students originally enrolled in the MEPN program normally complete the program within 13 terms. If a student temporarily withdraws from school, the quarter in which the student withdraws will be considered a quarter of enrollment if the student attended up to or after the three-week census date. If the student was not enrolled at the census date it will not be considered a quarter of enrollment.
Students will be considered in academic jeopardy and subject to dismissal by the faculty of the School of Nursing if s/he:
- Fails to maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in graduate core course and/or clinical core courses in any quarter;
- Earns more than one “C” grade in any graduate core or clinical core course – OR- earns a D, F, or U, in any SON course;
- Is assigned 2 or more Incomplete grades;
- Demonstrates a continued pattern of documented unprofessional behavior despite attempts at remediation.
All students are required to meet with their advisor a minimum of twice per academic year. Students in academic jeopardy are required to meet with their advisor a minimum of once per quarter; additional meetings may be required at the advisors’ or Associate Dean, Academic Programs discretion.
All students must complete 100% of any credits attempted.
Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing
In addition to maintaining a 3.00 GPA, Post-Master's students must also:
- Complete 100% of any credits attempted
- Have none or one incomplete grade
- Meet regularly with the student’s academic advisor and
- Demonstrate professional behavior
- Complete the minimum number of units required per quarter
- Complete the degree program in the normative time allowed
DNP Program
BSN-DNP in Nursing Pathway (Year 1 only)
The normative time allowed to complete the requirements for the BSN-DNP degree is twelve terms (three academic years including Summer). Students must complete between 100–140 program credits or units (depending on selected specialty), maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher in all courses and are subject to dismissal for failure to do so. A student shall be placed on financial aid probation if his/her cumulative GPA at the end of the academic year is below 3.00. The student shall be removed from financial aid probation if the cumulative GPA reaches 3.00 at the end of the probationary quarter. If the cumulative GPA does not reach 3.00 at the end of the probationary quarter, the student will be suspended from financial aid eligibility until the cumulative GPA returns to 3.00. Students are expected to meet monthly with their academic advisor triad.
Students will be considered in academic jeopardy and subject to dismissal by the faculty of the School of Nursing if s/he:
- Fails to maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses in any quarter;
- Earns a grade of “C” grade or lower in any course in the curriculum;
- Is assigned more than one Incomplete grades;
- Demonstrates a continued pattern of documented unprofessional behavior despite attempts at remediation.
- Fails to successfully complete 100% of any credits attempted
Post-MS DNP in Nursing Pathway
In addition to the student’s performance areas mentioned above, the Post-MS DNP students are measured by:
- Behavioral Expectations: including the ANA code of Ethics for Nurses,
- Unsatisfactory progress indicators include:
- Falling below a 3.0 GPA
- Grades below a “B” in any course required in the curriculum and/or added to the student’s curriculum by the advisor/dissertation chair
- Failure to work with a DNP Committee Chair
- Unsatisfactory progress in developing the DNP Project
- Is assigned more than one incomplete grade
- Unprofessional conduct (as reported by the advisor, DNP Committee Chair, course instructor, other faculty, staff or peers)
- Disciplinary concerns and other conduct and professionalism infractions that fall within the scope of the School of Nursing behavioral expectations and/or the UCSF Code of Conduct.
Process by which failing Post-MS & BSN-DNP student will be notified and remediated
Students whose progress is unsatisfactory (according to one or more of the criteria listed above) will be notified in writing. The student will meet with the advisor, the Vice Chair/Academic Progress Committee Member, the Program Director/Associate Dean (or designee), the Specialty Coordinator (for BSN-DNP students only) and any other relevant faculty to develop an individualized remediation plan to address the deficiencies. Additional comments and information about academic progress and deficiencies will be solicited from course instructors and other faculty where necessary. The meeting results in a learning contract or memorandum of understanding (MOU) that clearly outlines specific steps and associated deadlines that the student must fulfill in order to meet and remain in good academic standing. The contract/MOU is then signed by the following parties: the student, the DNP Committee Chair (or advisor if the chair has not yet been chosen), the Program Director/Associate Dean or designee and the Specialty Coordinator (for BSN-DNP students only). The contract/MOU is filed in the student’s academic file and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs is notified.
Should the student be unable to fulfill any of the expectations according to the timeline outlined in the contract/MOU, the student will be subject to dismissal from the program. The process for in-depth review of a student’s eligibility for dismissal will follow the UCSF Divisional Procedure for Student Grievance in Academic Affairs (https://senate.ucsf.edu/appendix-VII)
PhD Program in Nursing
First- and second-year students must meet with their graduate advisors at least once a quarter. Satisfactory academic progress in years 1 and 2 of the Program is marked by timely and successful completion of all courses, with grades of “B” or better in all required courses, and cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above in all coursework. Student progress is assessed in the Fall quarter of the following year on the basis of course grades, the Annual Student Progress Review Form (completed by the student and advisor), an updated CV, individual goals, plus additional comments from course instructors and advisors about students. To maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must receive an evaluation of "excellent" or "good" annually on the Annual Student Progress Review form. Those who receive the evaluation "needs improvement" will be placed on academic jeopardy and may be in jeopardy of dismissal.
Third-year students meet with their graduate advisors at least once per quarter. Students are evaluated on the basis of their progress toward and then successful completion of the qualifying exam. Students are expected to pass their qualifying exam within 11 registered quarters after admission. Substandard work or unprofessional conduct (as reported by course instructors or research supervisors) would constitute unsatisfactory progress toward the qualifying exam, as would failing grades in any courses taken in year two. Student progress is assessed in the Fall quarter of the following year on the basis of the Annual Student Progress Review Form (completed by the student and advisor), an updated CV, individual goals, plus course grades (if applicable), and additional comments from qualifying examination committee chairs and graduate advisors about the student. To maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must receive an evaluation of "excellent" or "good" annually on the Annual Student Progress Review form. Those who receive the evaluation "needs improvement" will be placed on academic jeopardy and may be in jeopardy of dismissal.
A student may be advanced to candidacy after successful completion of the qualifying examination, provided there are no other deficiencies, e.g. incomplete grades. At least three quarters in registered student status must elapse between advancement to candidacy and conferral of the degree.
Students must form their dissertation committee and submit their research proposal within one quarter (or three months) of passing their qualifying exam.
Students must meet with the dissertation committee chair at least once per quarter. It is recommended that students communicate their progress to their committee members at minimum on a quarterly basis, and confer with individual committee members about specific aspects of their dissertation research and writing as needed. Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within six years. Students are expected to complete their dissertation no later than the end of the 12th quarter, or 4 years, after advancement to candidacy. Candidacy for the doctoral degree is considered "lapsed" when a student has not completed requirements for the degree within four years, or 12 quarters, after advancement to candidacy.
Student progress is assessed in the Fall quarter of the following year on the basis of the Annual Student Progress Review Form (completed by the student and advisor), an updated CV, individual goals plus additional comments from dissertation committee chair and members about students who might be exhibiting difficulty.
- Unsatisfactory progress indicators include:
- Falling below a 3.0 GPA
- Grades below a B in any course required in the foundation/modal curriculum and/or added to the student’s curriculum by the graduate advisor/dissertation chair
- Failing the qualifying exam the first time, and/or failing to meet the milestone to pass the qualifying exam within 11 registered quarters after admission
- Failure to find a dissertation advisor
- Unsatisfactory research work (as reported by the dissertation advisor)
- Unprofessional conduct (as reported by the dissertation advisor, a course instructor, other faculty, staff, or peers)
- Disciplinary concerns and other conduct and professionalism infractions that fall within the scope of the School of Nursing behavioral expectations and/or the UCSF’s Code of Conduct.
Process by which failing students will be notified and remediated:
Students whose progress is unsatisfactory (according to one or more of the criteria listed above) will be notified in writing. The student will meet with the advisor, the Vice Chair/Academic Jeopardy Committee Member, the Program Director/Associate Dean (or designee), and any other relevant faculty to develop an individualized remediation plan to address the deficiencies. Additional comments and information about academic progress and deficiencies will be solicited from course instructors and other faculty where necessary. The meeting results in a learning contract or memorandum of understanding (MOU) that clearly outlines specific steps and associated deadlines that the student must fulfill in order to meet and remain in good academic standing. The contract/MOU is then signed by the following parties: the student, the dissertation advisor (or graduate advisor if the dissertation advisor has not yet been chosen), and the Program Director/Associate Dean or designee. The contract/MOU is filed in the student’s academic file and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs is notified.
Should the student be unable to fulfill any of the expectations according to the timeline outlined in the MOU, the student will be subject to dismissal from the program. Depending on the student’s standing in the program and current School and university policies on the conferral of Master of Science degrees, s/he may be allowed to leave with a terminal Master’s degree. The process for in-depth review of a student’s eligibility for dismissal will follow the UCSF Divisional Procedure for Student Grievance in Academic Affairs, http://senate.ucsf.edu/0-bylaws/stugr.html
Addendum: Listing Required Program Length
| CURRICULUM | SUMMER REQUIRED? | NUMBER OF QUARTERS REQUIRED |
|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | No | 6 |
| Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (AC-PNP) | Highly Recommended | 6 |
| Adulte Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) | Yes | 7 |
| Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Critical Care/Trauma (AG CNS-CC/T) | Highly Recommended | 6 |
| Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG CNS) | Highly Recommended | 6 |
| Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist-Oncology (AG CNS-ONC) | Highly Recommended | 6 |
| Advanced Public Health Nursing (APHN) | No | 4-6 |
| Adulte Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) | Highly Recommended | 6 |
| Nurse Midwifery/Women's Health Practitioner (MW) | Yes | 8 |
| Health Policy | Yes | 5 |
| Adulte Gerontology Primary Care NP - Occupational and Environmental Health (AGPCNP-OEH) | Yes | 7 |
| Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) | No | 6 |
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) | Highly Recommended | 6 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Yes | 7 |
| CURRICULUM | SUMMER REQUIRED? | NUMBER OF QUARTERS REQUIRED |
|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | Yes | 5 to 6 |
| Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (AC-PNP) | Highly Recommended | 5 to 6 |
| Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) | Yes | 4 |
| Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Critical Care/Trauma (AG CNS-CC/T) | Maybe | 3 to 4 |
| Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG CNS) | Maybe | 3 to 4 |
| Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist-Oncology (AG CNS-ONC) | Maybe | 3 to 4 |
| Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) | Highly Recommended | 5 to 6 |
| Health Policy | Maybe | 3 to 4 |
| Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP - Occupational and Environmental Health (AGPCNP-OEH) | Yes | 6 to 7 |
| Nurse Midwifery/Women's Health Practitioner (MW) | Yes | 6 to 8 |
| Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) | No | 3 to 4 |
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) | Yes | 5 to 6 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) | Yes | 4 to 7 |
