School of Nursing POLICY ON SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FSA) RECIPIENTS

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1 1. SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS CFR SOURCE: Compilation of Federal Regulations (CFR): 34 CFR Student Assistance General Provisions 34 CFR (e) Administrative Capability 34 CFR (f) Student Eligibility - General Related policies are stated on the School of Nursing Handbook (page 9), available on the school website, AT LEAST AS STRICT NU will implement a single academic progress policy applicable to all students, regardless of whether they receive federal financial aid. This information is listed in the Nursing Student Handbook (pg 9). The Student Handbook is available to all students online at CONSISTENT APPLICATION Satisfactory Academic Progress is enforced consistently by degree level (BS/MS/Doc). Therefore, the Committee on Admissions (COA) will review academic standards by degree level. Degree programs offered by the School of Nursing are as follows (also listed in the Student Handbook on pages 2-5): COMBINED BS/MS (ENTRY TO PRACTICE) PROGRAM All degree requirements must be successfully completed within two (2) years. 1. the minimum number of credits is 96 credits 2. academic credentials are awarded sequentially: the BS after completion of the pre-licensure course work (minimum of 60 credits); the MS after completion of all core and specialty course work (minimum of 36 credits) and completion of designated program of study 3. students must be in continuous enrollment in both phases of the program* 1

2 4. students will transition between pre-licensure and specialty studies after the successful completion of all pre-licensure requirements and after the articulation process. The forms for this process are available in the Office of Student Services (OSS) * If a student fails to register and fails to contact OSS, the student is subject to withdrawal from the program. Please see the Academic Policies section of the Student Handbook for more information. II MASTER S PROGRAM (MS) All degree requirements must be successfully completed within five (5) years. 1. curriculum is constructed to include core and supporting science courses (shared by all students) and specialty-specific courses in 11 different advanced practice specialties 2. program requires a minimum of 45 credits 3. dual specialties are available in some instances; please check with your primary specialty program director for availability. Students receive one MS degree, and all requirements for both specialties must be completed before degree conferral. 4. candidates with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree are required to complete 5 credits in community health in addition to the Master specialty course requirements III DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (DNP) All degree requirements must be successfully completed within five (5) years. 1. the program is a full time, cohort program 2. program requires a minimum of 40 credits, post Master s 3. a portfolio is required for the degree IV PhD 2

3 All degree requirements must be successfully completed within seven (7) years (post MS). 1. program requires a minimum of 45 credits for the post Master s program and 75 credits for the post-baccalaureate program 2. a dissertation is required for the degree V MASTER S COMPLETION PROGRAM The School of Nursing recognizes that many baccalaureate prepared nurses pursued various pathways to professional certification on the advanced practice level and recognizes this with the award of up to fifteen (15) credits for this certification, based on evaluation of previous course work, transcripts, testing and references. All degree requirements must be successfully completed within five (5) years. 1. program requires at least 30 credits in School of Nursing 2. program is specially designed for CRNAs, CNMs, certified ANPs, FNPs, PNPs or WHNPs VI JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS Nursing and Public Health (MS/MPH): 1. program requires a minimum of 75 credits total 2. at least 30 credits must be completed in the SON and 30 credits in the SPH degrees can be conferred sequentially (but must be conferred within two years of each other) Note: Public Health will be changing their curriculum in the near future, and this could affect joint degree students. Nursing and Business (MS/MBA): 1. program requires a minimum of 75 credits total 3

4 2. program ONLY enrolls full time students in the autumn term, and students complete the program in 2½ years 3. both degrees are awarded simultaneously UNIVERSITY STATUTORY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM: This program allows registered nurses who hold a Master s degree in nursing to develop advanced clinical practice skills without completing another master s degree. All degree requirements must be successfully completed within five (5) years. 1. curricula are individually determined, depending on student credentials and specialty major 2. a University Statutory Certificate is awarded at the completion of the program 3. most certificate programs are comprised of credits VIII SUB-SPECIALTY PROGRAMS Sub-specialties are 7-12 credit clusters of courses, including a practicum, in a particular area of clinical interest. They can be taken alone or in conjunction with any of the Master s specialties. 1. Addictive Behaviors prepares nurses to provide advanced, specialized care to persons with chemical dependencies. (9 credits) 2. Genetics in Advanced Practice develops expertise for advanced practice nurses to improve the ability to work with families at risk for or with genetic disorders. (7 credits) 3. HIV/AIDS is designed to prepare nurses to provide advanced and specialized care to persons with HIV infection as clinicians, clinical nurse specialists, and patient care educators. Students will have an opportunity to do their clinical experience at many of the New York State designated AIDS Centers. (9 credits) 4

5 4. Oncology enables students to pursue scholarly activities in the nursing care of patients with cancer and their families. The program is based on a holistic philosophy of patient care in which the faculty and students integrate patients biophysical, psychological, cognitive, cultural, and spiritual needs to provide the highest quality of nursing care. (7-9 credits) 5. Palliative and End of Life Care is designed to prepare students to offer informed and compassionate palliative and end of life care to patients and families across the life span and in a variety of settings. Participants in this course will explore their own attitudes, feelings, values, and expectations about death and grief, as they explore ethical, cultural and legal issues influencing end of life decisions. This is a three-course subspecialty, including didactic course, seminar and clinical practice. (9 credits) REGULAR EVALUATIONS NU assesses academic progress after every term for every nursing student. The Committee on Admissions (COA) meets at the end of every term.and reviews the academic performance of students in the SON who are failing to meet the academic standards outlined in this policy and identified in the Student Handbook (page 9). 1.4 GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) SON uses letter grading for all courses. Students who fail to maintain a cumulative B average (3.0 GPA), or who receive a C in a clinical course will be placed on financial aid warning.. Letter grades map to a 4.0 scale as follows: A+ = 4.33 A = 4.0 5

6 A- = 3.67 B+ = 3.33 B = 3.0 B- = 2.67 C+ = 2.33 C = 2.0 C- = 1.67 F = 0.00 (Further guidelines for calculating GPA are included in Appendix I of the Student Handbooks.) Grades in non-clinical courses in the SON are A+ to C- and F. Grades for clinical courses in the SON are A, B, C or F. 1.5 MAXIMUM TIME FRAME AND PACE OF COMPLETION NU sets the Maximum Timeframe of 150% (of the number of credits required for graduation) and a pace of completion of 67% across the board for all of its programs. BS-maximum amount of attempted credits = 90;Max terms=6; MS-maximum amount of attempted credits = 90; Max terms 15; DNP-maximum amount of attempted credits = 60; Max terms=15; PhD-maximum amount of attempted credits = 172 [Max terms =?] 1.6 EFFECT/TREATMENT OF ATYPICAL COURSES/SITUATIONS EFFECT OF INCOMPLETES INC grades are treated as attempted credits (no credit earned yet). Once a final grade is earned replacing the INC, the final grade calculates into GPA. 6

7 1.6.2 EFFECT OF WITHDRAWALS UW grades are not counted in GPA, not assigned a numerical value EFFECT OF COURSE REPETITIONS Both grades of repeated courses calculate into GPA, and count as attempted credits towards degree EFFECT OF DUAL DEGREES Any earned credits taken while enrolled under SON are included in attempted credits and get calculated in GPA EFFECT OF ADVANCED STANDING Credit by exam credits count as attempted credits towards degree, but are not calculated into GPA. Course exemption courses do not count as attempted credits. Advanced Standing at NU is a waiver from taking the courses, but the students have to replace the credits by taking other courses EFFECT OF TRANSFERS OF CREDIT FROM OTHER SCHOOLS OR INSTITUTIONS Transfer credits count as attempted and earned credits towards degree, but are not calculated into GPA EFFECT OF CHANGES OF MAJOR OR PROGRAM OF STUDY All attempted courses calculate into student's GPA and attempted credits. 1.7 STATUS DEFINITIONS Financial Aid Warning: The School of Nursing will grant all nursing students placed on academic probation while receiving federal aid a Financial Aid warning that lasts one term/payment period. During this term, the student will 7

8 be allowed to receive federal funds while on academic probation. The student will not need to submit an appeal request. However, at the end of the term of warning, the student must meet satisfactory academic progress as defined in this document, or he or she will be ineligible for additional federal aid. Students will be notified in writing via Columbia by the Office of Financial Aid that they have been placed on financial aid warning. They will be informed that they will be reviewed for financial aid eligibility at the end of the subsequent term. Financial Aid Probation: Federal aid recipients who do not meet satisfactory academic progress after one term of Financial Aid Warning will be ineligible for federal aid, however may submit an appeal. Under federal regulations, a student would then need to file an appeal explaining why they were unable to maintain satisfactory academic progress; if approved, then the student is placed on Financial Aid Probation. The appeals process for the School of Nursing applies to extenuating circumstances and is outlined in section 1.9 below. 1.8 PROVISION FOR A FINANCIAL AID WARNING STATUS If a student placed on Financial Aid warning fails to change their status and is placed on academic probation a second term, financial aid will be terminated. The student will not be eligible to receive any federal financial aid on the second term of academic probation. Student may request an appeal in order to have financial aid reinstated.. If the appeal is granted by the Financial Aid SAP Review committee, the student will be eligible for financial federal aid. Students that appeal will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee on a case by case basis. 1.9 APPEALS Students seeking to appeal must submit a written appeal statement to the Office of Financial Aid. The appeal must be submitted within two weeks (10 business days) from the receipt date of the Termination of Federal Aid letter/ sent from the financial aid office. Student must submit any 8

9 documentation that will support their appeal statement at the time of request. Once the request is submitted, the Financial Aid Committee will meet and review the statement and documentation. An /letter will be sent to the student with the decision of the Financial Aid SAP Review Committee. If an appeal is approved, the student must also meet with [whom?] to design an Academic Plan (see section below) in order to regain federal aid eligibility. As stated in section 1.8 the committee reviews student appeals case by case. Examples of circumstances that may result in a successful appeal include: - Medical condition or illness - The loss of an immediate family member/dependent - Sudden or immediate financial difficulties - Change of life event such as a divorce or birth of a child or loss of employment 1.10 ACADEMIC PLANS Students who successfully appeal must also meet with their academic advisor to design an academic plan. Financial aid eligibility is provisional based on the student meeting the requirements of the plan in subsequent semesters. Academic Plans will be determined by the program director of the department at the School of Nursing or the SON COA committee if needed. If students need a different academic plan, they will be notified by the Office of Student Services and a copy of the academic plan will be provided to the Financial Aid Office RESTORING ELIGIBILITY At the end of each term, COA will review the students on academic probation. Students on Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Probation that have achieved SAP status will continue to be eligible to receive federal funds. Students will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid office that their eligibility 9

10 for financial aid has been restored and they are no longer on financial aid warning or probation status NOTIFICATIONS Students will be notified of any change in SAP status or federal aid eligibility via to their Columbia address by the Financial Aid office. A copy of the to the student will also be kept centrally. 10