2016-2017 CATALOG AND STUDENT HANDBOOK ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND COLLEGE POLICIES School of Nursing Incomplete Grade Policy and Policy for Change of Grade The Incomplete Grade Policy and Policy for Change of Grade apply to students in the School of Nursing, with the following exceptions: Professional Nursing (ADN) Program: In order for an Associate Degree Nursing program student to complete and receive a final passing grade in the programmatic coursework that delivers two proctored NCLEX Comprehensive Predictor Exams, the student must earn an individual score (benchmark) on one of the two proctored Comprehensive Predictor Exams which equates to a 95% probability of passing the NCLEX exam. All students are required to take the two exams. If the student is not successful in reaching the required individual score, the student will receive an Extended Incomplete grade for the course, not to extend beyond the quarter following the initial two attempts of the proctored Comprehensive Predictor Exams. There are a maximum number of five attempts allowed during the quarter of extended incomplete status in order to achieve a successful benchmark on the Comprehensive Predictor Exam. Students who achieve the required individual score within five attempts by week 11 of the quarter of extended incomplete status will receive a grade change based upon the completion of all other assignments and exams within the course. If the student is not successful in meeting the required individual score during the quarter of extended incomplete status, the student will fail the course and be scheduled to repeat the failed course. Practical Nursing (PN) Program: In order for a Practical Degree Nursing program student to complete and receive a final passing grade in the programmatic coursework that delivers two proctored NCLEX Comprehensive Predictor Exams, the student must earn an individual score (benchmark) on one of the two proctored Comprehensive Predictor Exams which equates to a 92% probability of passing the NCLEX exam. All students are required to take the two exams. If the student is not successful in reaching the required individual score, the student will receive an Extended Incomplete grade for the course, not to extend beyond the quarter following the initial two attempts of the proctored Comprehensive Predictor Exams. There are a maximum number of five attempts allowed during the quarter of extended incomplete status in order to achieve a successful benchmark on the Comprehensive Predictor Exam. Students who achieve the required individual score within five attempts by week 11 of the quarter of extended incomplete status will receive a grade change based upon the completion of all other assignments and exams within the course. If the student is not successful in meeting the required individual score during the quarter of extended incomplete status, the student will fail the course and be scheduled to repeat the failed course. Program Transfers A student in good academic standing at the end of the current quarter will be allowed to transfer programs at the start of the next quarter as long as the request has been received prior to Friday of the first week of a quarter break. A student who is not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined in the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines in this catalog who is changing to a lower credential within the same program, or a student who is selecting a different specialization within the same program, or a student who is requesting to change catalogs within the same program at the time of the request will be allowed to make the change regardless of the number of prior program transfers. No appeal process is required. The request for the program transfer must be received prior to Friday of the first week of a quarter break. A student who is not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined in the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines in this catalog at the end of the current quarter and does not meet any of the criteria above must file an appeal with the campus Program Transfer Appeal Committee. As part of the appeal process, the student will be required to submit a letter following the appeal process guidelines. The appeal will either be approved or denied based on a review of academic standing and progress to date with Rasmussen College and the information provided in the appeal letter. A complete description and requirements of the program change appeal process is available through the Campus. A clear background check is required for enrollment in certain programs as determined in the background check section of the catalog. Students who do not successfully pass a background check will be terminated from the College. All program transfer appeals must be received no later than Friday of the first week of break prior to the start of the quarter in which the student wants to transfer programs. If a student chooses to change his/her academic program, the student defaults to the current catalog curriculum requirements. On occasion, a student may remain in his/her original catalog, assuming the desired program is still offered. A student who chooses to change programs must provide written authorization in the form of a completed change of status form and a new enrollment agreement. Independent Study Policy Independent study applies when a student contracts to meet regularly with a qualified instructor to fulfill the assignments, tests, projects, and other tasks necessary to achieve the performance objectives of a given course. Independent study requires a student to be motivated and organized. Because an independent study does not provide the student with the classroom interaction normally expected in higher education, it is to be offered only when there is no alternative and as infrequently as possible. Students may take, and the College may offer, a course through independent study when all of the following conditions are met:: 1. The course is not currently offered on-site or online. 2. Completion of the course is necessary for on-time graduation. 3. The need for the course in the term/ quarter in question does not arise from the student’s decision to withdraw from the course in an earlier term/quarter, the student’s failure to satisfactorily complete the course in an earlier quarter, the student’s decision to change programs, or the student’s decision to accelerate graduation near the end of their program. 4. The student will complete work of a similar quantity and quality as required in a regularly scheduled course and will meet the standard performance objectives for the course. If the method for meeting and assessing the performance objectives differs from the standard course syllabus, the changes will be noted within the course section. 5. Within the first week of the independent study, the student and instructor must meet to review the course schedule and determine how the course and weekly objectives will be met and assessed. 6. If the independent study is held residentially the instructor and student(s) will meet an equivalent of at least 11 hours which are distributed evenly across the weeks of the term/quarter. Equipment Rasmussen College strives to maintain its role as an educational leader by incorporating current technology. Rasmussen College provides technology and computer access, and internet access at each campus. Students will also have access to printers, additional software packages, electronic databases, and a helpdesk lab as needed at a Rasmussen College campus. Graduation Requirements Degrees, diplomas, and certificates are awarded solely on the merit and completion of requirements listed, and not on the basis of clock hours in attendance. Students must complete 33% of their program requirements at Rasmussen College, and no more than 67% may be completed via transfer credits, course waivers, credit by examination, or other means. The following are exceptions to this rule: • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN): at least 25% must be completed at Rasmussen College • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Standard Entry A-BSN, and Second Degree A-BSN): at least 56% must be completed at Rasmussen College • Medical Assisting Diploma: at least 50% must be completed at Rasmussen College • Medical Laboratory Technician Associate’s Degree: at least 50% must be completed at Rasmussen College • Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s Degree: at least 50% must be completed at Rasmussen College • Professional Nursing Associate’s Degree: at least 45% must be completed at Rasmussen College • Radiologic Technology Associate’s Degree: at least 50% must be completed at Rasmussen College • Surgical Technologist Associate’s Degree: at least 50% must be completed at Rasmussen College Clock hours listed in the synopsis of subjects are estimated hours of class work necessary to complete the subject. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher to receive a degree, diploma, or certificate with a passing grade in each area. Complete Status A Complete status is applied to students who were enrolled in a degree-seeking program and have either completed the time allowed or attempted the maximum allowable number of credits for the program of study and did not meet one or more of the following graduation requirements: • Achieve the cumulative GPA required by the program of enrollment. • Complete all program requirements. • Achieve a passing grade in each required course. All courses in the program must have been attempted. A withdrawal grade is not considered an attempt. • Complete all Developmental Education courses as determined by the entrance placement exam. • Submit official transcripts for all transferred courses. Prior students who were enrolled in a degree-seeking program who have a Complete status may be able to return to repeat failed courses or transfer them in through the submission of an official transcript in order to graduate. The ability to return to retake courses is determined at the point of reentry, students must be academically and financially eligible to return and the coursework or its equivalent must be available. Some programs such as Nursing and Health Sciences and Law Enforcement may have an alternate timeline to convert to a graduate status. If remediation is required in order to attempt a certification exam, the student may be required to attend said remediation prior to sitting for the certification. Students returning to complete coursework in order to graduate will be charged the prevailing tuition rate at the time of the return. Students with a Complete status in a degree-seeking program are eligible for certain graduate benefits as defined in the College catalog. Students who are completing coursework in non- degree-seeking opportunities will have their final status awarded as Complete. Students in non-degree seeking opportunities with a status of Complete are not eligible for graduate benefits. When applicable, coursework completed in non-degree seeking opportunities may have credits applied to eligible programs. Academic Overload Policy An academic or credit overload occurs when a student 888-5-RASMUSSEN 103 registers for more than 20 credits per quarter or more than 12 credits in either a 5.5-week term or six-week session. In order qualify for an overload, the student must have completed a minimum of 30 credits at Rasmussen College. The student must also be meeting the Rasmussen College Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.01 (3.5 for six-week programs) to apply for an overload. Students who qualify will be eligible to take up to 24 total credits in the designated quarter. Students who desire an overload should consult with their Advisor as well as the Academic Dean of the campus in which they are enrolled. Class Add Policy Students who are enrolled in courses at the beginning of a quarter may add Term/Session 1 courses through the second business day of Term/ Session 1 and add Term/Session 2 courses through the fifth business day of Term/Session 1, which is the close of the add period. Courses may be added through the second business day of Term/Session 2 only when Term/Session 2 is the student’s first Term/ Session of attendance. Students may add 11-week courses through the fifth business day of the quarter, which is the close of the add period. Business days are defined as Monday through Friday, excluding any College holidays. Class Drop Policy Students who are enrolled in courses at the beginning of a quarter may drop courses through the fifth business day of Term/Session 1 for both Term/ Session 1 and Term/Session 2 courses, which is the close of the drop period. Courses may be dropped through the fifth business day of Term/Session 2 only when Term/Session 2 is the student’s first Session of attendance. Students enrolled in 11-week courses may drop courses through the fifth business day of the quarter. Within the two-day Term/Session 2 add period, a student may be able to drop a course in Term/ Session 2 when a course can be added Term/Session 2 that is of the same credit value. The student will need to work with their Advisor to determine if this is an option. When a student notifies the College of withdrawal from a class on or before the close of the drop period, the class will be dropped without being recorded on the student’s transcript and tuition will not be charged. Business days are defined as Monday through Friday, excluding any College holidays. Course Withdrawal Policy Once the course drop period has passed, the course withdrawal policy is applied. From the 3rd through 15th business days for 5-1/2 and 6-week courses and the 6th through 30th business days for an 11- week course, a student will receive a withdrawal grade on their transcript for any classes from which they have been withdrawn. The student’s grade point average will not be affected, the credits will be counted as cumulative credits attempted, and tuition will continue to reflect the tuition billed at the close of the course drop period. Beginning on the 16th business day for a 5-1/2 and 6-week courses and on the 31st business day for an 11-week course, the student will receive a failing grade on their transcript for any classes from which they have been withdrawn. The student’s grade point average will be affected, the credits will be counted as cumulative credits attempted, and tuition will continue to reflect the tuition billed at the close of the course drop period. Students who fail to notify the College that they wish to withdraw from a class are still scheduled in the class, the credits for all courses will be counted as cumulative credits attempted, and tuition will continue to reflect the tuition billed at the close of the drop period. Online Courses Students may be required to take online courses INFORMATION AND COLLEGE POLICIES ACADEMIC
