School of Nursing: Academic Rules, Regulations, and Information

About

Academic Rules

Programs/Courses

Faculty

Click on a link to be taken to the entry below.

First Year Entry

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the School of Nursing is a full time four year program built for traditional entry from high school.  Students can also apply into the second year of this program from another college or university or from another school within the University of Virginia.  Application deadlines are November 1^st for Early Action and January 1^st for Regular Decision.  Please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for Admission Requirements.

External Transfer

Students from other colleges and universities can apply to transfer into the UVA School of Nursing.  In order to be eligible to apply for admission one must successfully complete 30 transferable college credits.  Within those 30 credits the applicant must have completed the prerequisite courses of Microbiology, Chemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, and Human Anatomy and Physiology II.  The application deadline for Transfer is March 1^st and accepted students will start in the second year of the Nursing curriculum.  Please refer to this link for more information.

RN to BSN 

The RN to BSN program at the UVA School of Nursing is a 21 month, part time program for Associates degree prepared nurses to obtain their BSN.  Classes meet one day per week and The University of Virginia has the Guaranteed Admission Agreement with the VCCS for the RN to BSN program.  Please refer to this link for more information.

Nursing students are required to meet with their faculty advisor once every semester. An advising hold, preventing enrollment in the following semester’s courses, is placed on the student’s account and cannot be lifted until that meeting has taken place. This hold can only be lifted by the student’s faculty advisor.

Good Academic Standing

First-year students in the pre-professional component of the program are considered to be in good academic standing if they earn no more than one grade below C-. Additionally, first year nursing students are required to earn a minimum C- grade in anatomy and physiology, chemistry for health professionals, and microbiology. Students who do not earn a C- or higher in either semester of anatomy and physiology, chemistry for health professionals, or microbiology are required to retake the course(s). This may alter the planned sequence of courses and may lengthen the time for completion of the program.

Second, third, and fourth year students in the professional component of the program are considered to be in good academic standing if they have a semester average of at least 2.000 and no grades below a C- in required nursing courses regardless of the semester average. Grades of D and F are failing grades for all required nursing courses in the professional component of the program. Students earning a grade of D or F in a required course in the professional component will be placed on academic probation and must successfully repeat the course with a grade of C- or above. This may alter the planned sequence of courses and may lengthen the time for completion of the program.

First year students must maintain a semester GPA average of 1.8. Students who do not meet these standards will be placed on academic probation.Nursing students in years two, three, or four will be placed on academic probation if their semester grade point average falls below 2.0. A grade of D is included in the student’s GPA and counts toward credits earned. An F grade is included in the student’s GPA but does not count toward credits earned.

A nursing student is subject to suspension if (1) the student earns a total of two D’s or one F at any time in the professional component of the program (years two through four), (2) the student’s GPA is below 2.000 for two semesters, or (3) the student has been placed on academic probation two semesters.

Grade Appeals

Students who wish to appeal a course grade must first attempt to resolve the issue with the instructor of the course. Absent a satisfactory outcome, the student consults with the following chain of communication: faculty advisor, program director/coordinator, prior to meeting with the Senior Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Services. 

The student will be advised by the Senior Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Services to file a formal appeal to either the Department Chair or the Associate Dean of Academic Programs.  The appeal letter must address the grounds for the appeal including any claims of grading errors, perceived inequities based on policies/syllabi discrepancies or extenuating circumstances. The documentation for the appeals process does not include email; it must be printed and presented to the Office of the Associate Dean of Academic Programs.

For grades awarded for the fall semester, the written appeal must be submitted no later than 14 calendar days after the beginning of the spring semester. For grades awarded for the spring semester or summer sessions: the written appeal must be submitted no later than 14 days after the first day of the fall semester. For January term, a written appeal must be submitted no later than 14 days after the end of that session or term. Appeals submitted after the deadline will be heard only in exceptional cases, as determined by the Senior Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Services.

The Associate Dean of Academic Programs shall make a final decision after full consideration of the materials submitted and/or a committee’s recommendation.  The student will be notified of the decision within three weeks of receiving the student’s appeal.

Dean’s List 

The School of Nursing recognizes exceptional academic achievement attained by undergraduate nursing students each semester. The requirements for this honor include:

1. No grade below D
2. No grade of NC, NG, IN or U
3. 12 hour minimum number of graded credits
4. Minimum grade point average of 3.400

Distinguished Majors 

Nursing students who demonstrate superior academic performance (GPA of 3.4 or above) are eligible to apply for the School’s Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) to pursue a substantive project of their own that they would not have the opportunity to develop as part of their regular program of study. The application process requires students to define a detailed research project and to obtain agreement of a faculty member to guide the research. The final product is a manuscript ready to submit for publication as well as an oral presentation. The student will submit possible journal names and author guidelines to the faculty advisor for approval. It is anticipated that the faculty advisor will be a co-author on most publications although the student must be the first author. The faculty advisor as well as the Course Professor review the manuscripts and approve the selection of the journal.

Graduation with Distinction 

Diploma with Distinction: Diplomas inscribed “with distinction” are awarded to graduates who have earned a cumulative UVA grade point average of 3.400 and successfully completed the distinguished majors program, or to students with a cumulative UVA GPA of 3.750 who have not completed the distinguished majors program.

Diploma with Highest Distinction 

Diplomas inscribed “with highest distinction” are awarded to graduates who have earned a cumulative UVA GPA of 3.750 and have successfully completed the distinguished majors program.

Professional Requirements

• Clinical Agency Requirements Students must meet the required competencies of the clinical agency to which they are assigned as outlined in the clinical agency contract.  This may include requirements such as infection control training, criminal background investigations, and mandatory drug screening.
• CPR Certification Students are required to obtain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adults, children, and infants prior to entering clinical courses. Certification must be maintained throughout the program, and validation must be presented each year. Students must complete the American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers course.
• Criminal Background Check (CBC) All students are required to complete a criminal background check. The selected vendor for criminal background checks is Certified Background (http://www.certifiedbackground.com). Additionally, different clinical agencies may require students to undergo a criminal background investigation using their own vendor when students are assigned to clinicals their third and fourth years. Clinical agencies may require students to undergo a secondary criminal background review or drug examination using their own vendor.
• Diagnostic Readiness Test Students are required to complete a standardized diagnostic test that evaluates their readiness to take the licensure examination. The test is administered in the spring of the fourth year.
• Drug Screening Please refer to the Student Handbook for detailed information on drug screening. Students are required to cover the cost of drug screening as dictated by a clinical agency or nursing course policy.
• ESAP Pre-licensure students are required to purchase access to the Elsevier Support and Assessment Program (ESAP) materials that are embedded within the core nursing courses that all students take in their respective programs. The ESAP materials include clinical case studies, practice tests, specialty course tests, and a NCLEX-preparation course.
• Hospital Insurance The Student Health Service does not provide for the expense of hospital care. The University requires that all students carry hospitalization insurance for year-round coverage. A preferred-risk group insurance program sponsored by the University is available. For an additional premium, the dependents of married students are included. Students or parents may substitute a plan comparable to that offered by the University.
• Immunization Titer Requirements The School of Nursing requires documentation of the dates of a series of three vaccinations (Twinrix or Hepatitis B) or the date of a positive Hepatitis B surface antibody titer. No student will be permitted to enroll in clinical courses without providing this documentation. Information regarding the vaccine and antibody titers can be obtained from the student’s local health care provider, district health department, or from Student Health.
• MMR, TD, and PPD Documentation of current measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization and tetanus booster (TD) is required for all students in clinical courses. Tuberculosis testing (PPD) is required on an annual basis for all students enrolled in clinical courses.
• NetLearning Throughout your educational experiences at the University, you will be required to complete competencies on a yearly basis. These competencies are delivered on the Internet through the NetLearning system. All students are required to complete all the assigned and mandatory learning modules and will be able to log onto the NetLearning system to complete this training.
• TYPHON The School of Nursing uses the TYPHON system for student portfolio development and for student clinical activity tracking, and access to this system is required for all students. There is a one-time access fee that students will pay at the time of the first log-on to the system. Initial training to TYPHON will be provided for all students. Following the training, students will be provided with individual log-on and password information. Students are introduced to TYPHON in the first clinical course. Ongoing use of TYPHON will continue throughout the program and for three years after graduation. Documentation of all student clinical activities is required for tracking clinical competency development, certification, and for successful post-graduate employment.
• Uniforms Prospective students receive information about uniforms with their welcome letters and registration materials.

Changes in Class Schedules

Students change their class schedules via SIS (www.virginia.edu/sis). If instructor permission is necessary for admission to a course, a form signed by that instructor is submitted to the School of Nursing Registrar’s office. Students may add and drop full-semester courses through the deadlines stated in the University Registrar’s Academic Calendar.

Course Load

Special permission from the Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Services is required for traditional BSN students to register for fewer than 12 credits or more than 17 credits each semester.

Transfer of Courses

The University of Virginia School of Nursing accepts a maximum of 60 credits of transfer credit from institutions other than the University of Virginia toward the baccalaureate degree.

Students who receive advanced standing for a required course transferred into the University of Virginia from another institution will be responsible for replacing the credits not earned in that course with another course at the University.

Exception: RN to BSN students. RN to BSN students receive 41 credit hours of advanced standing for their basic nursing programs. Therefore, not all prior credit hours may be transferable for credit. For example, pharmacology, assessment, life span, and nutrition are all part of the 41-credit-hour package of advanced credit hours; therefore, these credits do not transfer in as additional credits.

B.S. in Nursing (BSN)

The University of Virginia offers two tracts leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing: A traditional BSN program and an RN to BSN completion program. The degree is awarded after satisfactory completion of a prescribed program of study. All students at the School of Nursing take courses in anatomy and physiology, growth and development, pharmacology, pathophysiology, leadership, and nursing practice. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination.

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is conferred by the general faculty upon candidates recommended by the School of Nursing faculty as having completed a prescribed course of study of no less than 120 credits with a cumulative grade point average of 2.000 (C).

Residence Requirement

The residence requirement for a degree in nursing is two academic years. Students transferring from other schools of nursing and students with advanced standing credit may with permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs meet residence requirements in one academic year. The residence requirement for RN to BSN students is 30 credit hours.

Final examinations are given in regularly scheduled courses during a designated period of time at the end of each semester.  Final exams in courses may be given only at the times listed on the UREG (Office of the University Registrar) website. Examinations in courses not fitting the regular class times are scheduled by UREG in consultation with the instructor.  Faculty members are not authorized to change the announced times of their examinations.  Such changes may be authorized only by the Senior Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Services, and then only for compelling reasons.  All students must have the opportunity to take the exam at the time announced on the UREG website.

Students are not permitted to take a final exam before its regularly scheduled time.  When a student has three exams scheduled over two consecutive days, the student may request a postponement of one of their exams.  The student must file the exam postponement request, endorsed by the instructor of the course, no later than one week prior to the first day of the examination period.

Credit/No Credit Grades

Students have the option of receiving the grades CR (credit) or NC (no credit) in place of the regular grades, A through F, for a given course except for courses in the major or those that fulfill basic area requirements. School of Nursing students may take a maximum of twelve credits of CR/NC courses, including nursing electives, and general education electives. (Courses used to fulfill area requirements must be taken on a graded basis.)

This option is selected when students register for courses. The last day to change the CR/NC option is the same as the last day to add a course. Instructors may deny students permission to take courses on a CR/NC basis. If this occurs, students may either change back to the regular grading option or drop the course entirely. Students may not use a CR/NC course to repeat a course in which a grade has already been given.

Grade Changes

No grade may be changed without the approval of the School of Nursing after it has been submitted to the University Registrar (UREG). The School of Nursing is not authorized by the faculty to change a grade submitted to UREG except when an instructor certifies that, because of errors in calculation or transcription, an incorrect grade has been submitted. Extra work to raise a grade, once submitted, is not permitted.

Grades

An undergraduate student’s work in a course is graded on the basis of A+ (97-100), A (94-96), A- (90-93), B+ (87-89), B (84-86), B- (80-83), C+ (77-79), C (74-76), C- (70-73), D+ (67-69), D (64-66), D- (60-63) and F (59-0).

Incomplete Grades

A grade of incomplete is a non-grade designation given for a course. A grade of IN becomes a grade of F 30 days after the end of the examination period unless a form requesting an extension of time has been signed by the course instructor and approved by the Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Services. The faculty has adopted a policy that, unless authorized by the Dean’s office, students must complete all course work before taking the final examination. Instructors are not authorized to extend the time for completion of course work without the Dean’s approval. Forms for securing extensions are available from the School of Nursing website. Prior to the end of the course, students must initiate the request for a grade of IN and secure the instructor’s approval.

Students with two or more outstanding incomplete designations (in the same semester or cumulatively) may not enroll in courses in subsequent terms. An IN grade remaining at the time of graduation is converted to an F.

Students from other Schools within the University can transfer to the School of Nursing through the Internal Transfer process.  In order to be eligible to apply for Internal Transfer one must successfully complete the prerequisite courses of Microbiology, Chemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, and Human Anatomy and Physiology II.  The application deadline for Internal Transfer is February 1^st and accepted students will start in the second year of the Nursing curriculum. For more information, please visit the School of Nursing admissions pages: http://nursing.virginia.edu/programs/bsn/transfer_internal_uva_students/

Leave of Absence

A student in good standing may request a leave of absence from the School of Nursing for up to two semesters. Requests for leaves of absence must be submitted in writing to the assistant dean for academic and student services of the School of Nursing. Nursing students on an approved leave of absence who wish to enroll before the end of their second semester of approved leave, must apply in writing to the assistant dean for academic and student services at least 60 days prior to the first day of classes for the semester in which they want to re-enroll.

Readmission to the SON after Suspension or Withdrawal 

Students should consult “Returning to the University” in the University Regulations—Academic section of this Record for policies that govern their readmission to the University. Students in the School of Nursing who have been suspended must wait one full fall term and one full spring term before being eligible to apply for readmission. A student who has been readmitted following suspension will be permanently dropped from the school if she or he becomes subject to suspension a second time.

Minor/Second Major

If you decide to complete requirements for a minor or a second major, you must contact the department to request information on that course of study. Once a minor or second major has been declared, you must turn in to the Registrar in the School of Nursing a declaration of major/minor form. It must be signed by someone in the major/minor department before it is turned in to the School of Nursing. The second major or minor must be completed prior to or at the same time as the nursing major. Students may not return to the University to complete a second major/minor after the nursing curriculum has been completed.

The UVA School of Nursing boasts a revolving door to the world. We are enthusiastic about preparing our nursing students to embrace both the challenges and the exciting opportunities of our global community and to be enriched by programs that involve them with the people, cultures, and healthcare of our neighbors worldwide. We especially value programs that intertwine education, research, practice, and service.

The School of Nursing offers a variety of semester exchange programs. All UVA students can pursue opportunities for study abroad through the International Studies Office.

The University of Virginia School of Nursing faculty will consider requests for transfer of credit from other fully accredited two or four year colleges or universities for courses which may be equivalent to those in the baccalaureate or master’s nursing programs. Other University of Virginia faculty may evaluate courses equivalent to those in other areas. Implementation of this policy will not negate the residency requirement policy.

Undergraduate students may not transfer courses that are a required part of their curriculum in the Nursing school. Students may only transfer in courses that fulfill their general education requirements, with the exception of the second writing requirement. Students are required to fulfill the second writing requirement at the University.

International Baccalaureate

Pre-approved departmental equivalencies for qualifying higher-level IB examination scores can be found here: http://college.artsandsciences.virginia.edu/iclec. The School of Nursing accepts only IB scores sent directly from IB North America (http://www.ibo.org). We award no credit for subsidiary-level examinations.

Advanced Placement 

The University of Virginia participates in the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program by awarding advanced standing (course exemption and academic credit hours) or advanced placement (course exemption without credit hours) to entering students who have qualifying scores on the Advanced Placement (AP) tests. Students may receive credit in any academic discipline in which an AP test is offered and which is taken prior to matriculation at UVA or another college. If you did not take an AP test in high school, you cannot take one once you matriculate to the University. Also, if you take a course equivalent to that of your advanced placement course, you must waive the Advanced Placement credit. If you have placed out of a course without having received credit hours, you normally may not take that course for degree credit.

Course exemptions (without credit) are also granted for qualifying scores on the SAT II Subject Tests in English composition and foreign language. The University does not award credit or exemption based on College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests.

Accepted students should have AP score reports sent directly to the Office of Admissions at the University (College Code 5820) in the summer following the senior year of high school. Be sure to ask that tests you took prior to your senior year are sent directly to the Registrar, University of Virginia, School of Nursing, P.O. Box 800826, Charlottesville, VA 22908. Questions regarding advanced placement policies and procedures should be directed to the Office of Admissions, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400160 Charlottesville, VA 22904 (434)982-3200.

To predict an assessment of your AP credit course equivalent, go to: http://saz- webdmz.eservices.virginia.edu/asequivs/.