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Undergraduate Progression (Policy UG-03)

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Effective Date

Spring 2016

Last Revision Date

February 2024

Responsible Party

Divisional Dean and Associate Divisional Dean/Chief Nurse Administrator of the School of Nursing, Program Director, SON Admissions, Pre-licensure and RN-BS Governance teams, Undergraduate Pre-licensure Progression team.

Scope and Audience

Students enrolled in the Pre-licensure or RN-BS Completion Tracks in the School of Nursing (SON), students in the Pre-licensure Program who are applying for continuation of progression and have completed the first semester successfully.

Additional Authority

BSU: Faculty Initiated Withdrawal (Policy 4190), SON: General Admission Health Requirements, Degree Progress Report

1. Policy Purpose

Progression in the Boise State University Pre-Licensure and RN-BS Completion tracks is based upon the successful completion of course and level objectives. Courses in each semester of the nursing curriculum are designed for achievement of increasingly complex learning outcomes. In addition, students in the School of Nursing must adhere to professional conduct and ethical behavior standards at all times during scheduled semesters and breaks from classes which include: The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, the ANA Standards for Professional Nursing Practice, all School of Nursing Student Policies, and the Boise State University Student Code of Conduct.

2. Policy Statement

Pre-licensure nursing courses are sequential and must be taken each semester in the order listed. Students are responsible for monitoring their progression in the Nursing Program and ensuring progression requirements are met. Pre-licensure students deviating from the Progression Policy for any reason must meet with the program director and submit a formal petition to the Program Director the semester prior to the planned deviation.

RN-BS students planning to deviate from the Undergraduate Progression Policy for any reason must contact their Academic Adviser. The Academic Adviser will consult with the Program Director as appropriate, during the semester prior to the requested deviation.

3. Processes

Students are required to attend classes during the first week of a semester, as per Faculty Initiated Withdrawal (Policy 4190).

To progress in the Nursing Program the student must:

  1. Maintain a minimum passing grade of 75% in each nursing course (courses beginning with NURS or NURS-RN) and 70% for all support courses. A grade of 74.9% in a nursing course will NOT be rounded up.
  2. Adhere to nationally accepted nursing practice standards.
    Complete and/or renew health requirements by renewal deadline (See School of Nursing Health Requirements Policy).
  3. Maintain a level of professional conduct, patient safety and appropriate legal- ethical behavior.

Additionally, RN-BS students must:

  1. Design a plan of study in collaboration with the Academic Adviser and Program Director.

The plan designates successful completion of at least one required course per calendar year. Electing not to take and successfully complete at least one required course per year means the student may be required to re-apply for admission to the RN-BS Completion Track in order to complete the degree.

Interruption of Progress for RN-BS Students

When progression in a required nursing course(s) is interrupted due to life events, and the student is passing at the time of the interruption, the student’s continuation will be subject to conditions including:

  1. Space availability after registration of students with uninterrupted progress.
  2. Time lapse of one calendar year or less with readmission not being required.

When progression in a required nursing course is interrupted due to failure (a grade below 75%) of a required nursing course, the student will be allowed to retake the course(s) in a subsequent semester based on the following conditions:

  1. Space availability after registration of students with uninterrupted progress.
  2. Adherence to Readmission Policy.

Note: Students who fail a nursing course after a second attempt will be required to meet with the academic advisor, re-assess their plan of study and notify the Program Director outlining what steps will be taken to assure successful progression.

A student may be dismissed from either program according to the dismissal policy. If dismissed, the student will receive a grade of “F” in all nursing courses. Students who are dismissed from the program due to the above stated reasons may be considered for readmission to the nursing program track after two years. (See Readmission Policy).

Interruption of Progress for Pre-licensure Students

Students who fail a nursing course or withdraw in the fourth semester (first semester of the
Program) must reapply for admission in the Nursing Program. Students who medically

withdraw may have this requirement waived based on approval by Program Director, Divisional Dean and Associate Divisional Dean/Chief Nurse Administrator, after review of student’s academic standing and adherence to professional standards. If waiver is granted, the student would come back into the program on a space available basis. The school of nursing follows Idaho Board of Nursing regulations and national accreditation guidelines regarding faculty to student ratios and sufficiency of resources. These regulations and guidelines may affect space availability for the program.

If waiver is NOT granted, the student may reapply for admission following the admission criteria at the time of reapplication. If accepted to start the Nursing Program, the student must retake ALL nursing courses regardless of the grade they received previously.

If progression is interrupted due to failure (a grade below 75%) of a required nursing course, other than the first semester, or failure (a grade below 70 %) in a required support course by the required progression semester, the student is out of progression. If a student fails 2 courses in the same semester or fails a 2nd course after being readmitted, the student will be permanently dismissed from the program. If a student withdraws from a course they are out of progression. A second withdrawal from any nursing course will also result in permanent dismissal.

The process to get back into progression based on space available is:

  1. Student must meet with the faculty of the course in which they were unsuccessful/ failing.
  2. Submit a letter of intent with a timeline to the Program Director.
  3. Review the Readmission Policy, which also includes the process for coming back into progression, and submit according to application deadlines.
  4. Once a student has been accepted back into progression, the student may retake a failed nursing course one time. If the student successfully completes the second attempt, he/she continues with progression. A second fail

Additional Requirements for Pre-licensure and RN-BS Students

  1. To get back in program progression students are required to be able to meet the performance standards for nursing students. Any student success plan on file prior to a stop in progression/withdrawal will remain in place upon restart or readmission to the program.
  2. A student may be dismissed from the program at any time for proven academic dishonesty, breach of professional ethics, unsafe clinical practice, impairment from alcohol or drug use, or a felony conviction. See Student Code of Conduct (Policy 2020). Students who are dismissed from the program due to the above stated reasons will be considered for readmission to the nursing program on a case by case basis.
  3. For academic accommodations the student must contact the Educational Access Center (EAC) to determine what accommodations may be appropriate. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis by meeting with an EAC coordinator. Documentation may be necessary to support your need for accommodations.

Continuation of Progression

  1. Continuation of Progression is determined on an individual basis and is contingent on eligibility for either readmission or progression as determined by the Divisional Dean of the School of Nursing, Associate Divisional Dean/Chief Nurse Administrator, and the Program Director and space availability in the particular cohort (if applicable).
  2. Applications for continuation of progression will be considered on a case by case basis if a student has been dismissed for unethical behavior, conduct issues, or has failed to meet the requirements stated in this policy.
  3. All students who have stopped progression, regardless of the reason for interruption, must go through the request for continuation of progression, as application, unless waived for medical reasons.
  4. If the Program curriculum has changed since the first acceptance, the student will need to meet the most current curriculum requirements.
  5. Students will need to renew all required health and background check requirements by a designated deadline, and are required to be able to meet the performance standards for nursing students.
  6. Continuation of Progression is at the discretion of the Divisional Dean, Associate Divisional Dean/Chief Nurse Administrator, and the Program Director. If a student is in the appeals process, the student will not be able to progress in the program.
  7. Students who have been selected for Continuation of Progression will be notified.
  8. Requests for readmission must be received by the admissions deadline.

To be eligible, the student will:

  1. Not have been out of progression for more than three semesters.
  2. Have a Program GPA of 3.0 or higher. A Nursing Program GPA of 3.0 or higher is defined as all courses identified in the Bachelor of Science Nursing Curriculum Advising Grid, which is available on the School of Nursing website.
  3. Submit an application for continuation letter to the Program Director containing the following information:
    1. A copy of the Student Success Plan that was developed when progression in the Program was interrupted. Prospective student must describe the steps taken to address and resolve issues discussed in the Student Success Plan
    2. Address any other factors that necessitated leaving the Program
    3. Describe what the applicant has done to keep current on nursing topics/content
    4. Identify the semester in which the student wishes to continue progression. Provide current student contact information and letters of recommendation from two full-time faculty who taught in the semester in which the student was unsuccessful, or from which the student withdrew
    5. Complete any incomplete courses for progression

The Divisional Dean, Associate Divisional Dean/Chief Nurse Administrator, and the Program Director will:

  1. Review all requests for continuation of progression and supporting documents to determine eligibility for continuation of progression.
  2. Determine space availability in the semester the student is requesting to enter back into progression, as well as all subsequent sequential semesters.

After currently enrolled nursing students wishing to continue have been placed, the Divisional Dean, Associate Divisional Dean/Chief Nurse Administrator, and the Program Director will approve requests for Continuation of Progression on a space available basis.

The school of nursing follows Idaho Board of Nursing regulations and national accreditation guidelines regarding faculty to student ratios and sufficiency of resources. These regulations and guidelines may affect space availability for program readmission.

Decisions will be made using the following prioritization:

  1. Returning students who left the program in good academic standing, including medical withdrawal.
  2. Transfer students in good standing.
  3. Returning students who left the program for academic reasons, including withdrawal, failing, or violation of any School, College or University policy not deemed flagrant enough for dismissal.

4. Forms

N/A

Related Information

BSU: Faculty Initiated Withdrawal (Policy 4190)

CHS: None

SON: General Admission Health Requirements, Degree Progress Report, Undergraduate Readmission (Policy UG-04), Academic Advising (Policy UG-05), Undergraduate Clinical Compliance (Policy UG-07), Grading (Policy SON-12)

Last Review Date

February 2024

Revision History

Spring 2016, Spring 2017, October 2018, May 2019, November 2019, August 2020, April 2022, June 2022, October 2022, February 2024