Academic Progression & Review

DNP PROGRAM PROGRESSION

Progression in the doctoral program is based on satisfactory scholarship in required and support courses and adequate progress in the project. The policy related to academic progression in the doctoral program in nursing is based on the Graduate School’s policy stating that one or more failing grades or a cumulative grade point average below 3.0 for any semester or combination of semesters may be considered as evidence of failure to maintain satisfactory scholarship and may result in the student being dropped from the University. Beyond a failing grade and/or the cumulative/semester GPA, the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing considers all quality grades (including grades in required core courses and other courses) as indicators of satisfactory academic progress in the D.N.P. program in Nursing. When a student drops a course after the regular drop/add period, it is considered a late drop. This action will be reflected on his/her record with the symbol LD. 

It is expected that all graduate students will be properly registered at a credit level appropriate to their degree of activity.

 After a D.N.P candidate has passed the comprehensive examination the student must register continuously for each fall and spring semester until the project is accepted and approved by the doctoral committee. Students must register for 2 credits of NURS 835, the D.N.P. Project Course, each semester until the project is complete.  

If a D.N.P. student will not be registered for an extended period for compelling reasons, the Dean of the Graduate School will consider a petition for a waiver of the continuous registration requirement. The petition must come from the doctoral committee chair and carry the endorsement of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education. 

DNP PROGRAM

Graduate faculty perform a formal review of academic progress annually. Students are required to complete the update the D.N.P. student Individual Development Plan (IDP) in conjunction with the D.N.P. adviser. The IDP is then reviewed by the Director of the D.N.P. Program. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress toward program completion will meet with the D.N.P. adviser and the Director of the D.N.P. Program. A remediation plan will be developed, and the student will receive a letter from the Associate Dean for Graduate Education incorporating the recommendations. If the student does not follow the recommendations, the student may be dismissed from the program. 

A formal review is also initiated when a student fails to meet The Graduate School’s GPA requirements; achieves a quality grade of B- or lower in any required core course; or achieves a quality grade of B- or lower in any other course. In these cases, the D.N.P. adviser or the Director of the D.N.P. Program counsels the student and a remediation plan is developed with guidance of the Graduate Admissions and Standards Committee, if needed. The remediation plan will be addressed in subsequent annual evaluations to describe the student’s progress until the remediation has been successfully resolved. 

Updated by the Graduate Affairs Committee April 6, 2009

The Individual Development Plan (IDP) is used for both planning and evaluative purposes. The initial IDP is completed during the first doctoral intensive (NURS 590). In this phase, the student sets both short term and long terms educational and career goals, using the DNP Essentials as a guide.

Initial Completion (During NURS 590)

• Students complete their first IDP during the initial doctoral intensive (NURS 590).

• They set short-term and long-term educational and career goals, using the DNP Essentials as a guide.

• The adviser completes their section of the form prior to meeting with the student.

• During the meeting, both the student and adviser review, sign, and date the form.

• A final copy is maintained by both parties.

• The completed form is submitted to the College of Nursing Graduate Academic Coordinator for official filing.

The annual IDP update must be completed by April 30 of each academic year.

Advisers are responsible for evaluating the progress of their advisees each spring. Annually, the IDP is reviewed and evaluated to provide an opportunity for students to communicate their accomplishments, express concerns about their growth and development, and discuss potential opportunities for teaching, research, and other professional activities that the adviser and student believe are important to pursue.