Policies & Procedures

In keeping with the University of Minnesota Senate policy, a graduate student will be placed on probation if either the term or cumulative GPA is lower than 2.80. A student on probation will have a hold placed on their record and must meet with their faculty or staff advisor before registering.

Students in the Master of Arts and Certificate must achieve a 3.0 in all required Health Coaching core courses and maintain an overall 3.0 minimum GPA. Should a student receive a grade of less than 2.8 (B- average) in a required health coaching core course, the course may be repeated one time to replace the ineligible attempt. See Grounds for Dismissal for additional information.

Health coaching instructors will inform students at the beginning of the semester of their policies and procedures regarding absences from class, discussions, and examinations. Students are expected to attend all face-to-face course meetings and onsite dates. Students will not be penalized for absences due to legitimate circumstances such as serious illness or hospitalization, cancellation of flights, or road closures due to inclement weather, extreme family emergencies, subpoenas, jury duty, military service, bereavement, and religious observances. A legitimate absence does not include employment responsibilities, voting, family vacations, weddings, or childcare problems. Students are expected to negotiate with employers the time to attend class. 

Students must notify the instructor at the beginning of the semester about planned legitimate absences to make arrangements to complete the required make-up work. Make-up work is determined at the discretion of the instructor as there is no obligation to arrange student make-up work unless it is due to a legitimate circumstance. Instructors are not required to accommodate the makeup of coaching experiences, conferences, or group discussions to suit students’ personal convenience or vacation. For complete information, please review the ‘Makeup Work for Legitimate Absences’ policy. 

Core health coaching classes (CSPH 5701 & CSPH 5702) hold two synchronous (in-person) intensive group sessions per semester. Students are required to attend each of these in-person sessions in order to pass the class. Failure to do so, unless due to a legitimate absence, will result in a failing grade for the course.

Students will manage their registration via the online registration system through their MyU portal. Students changing their registration are encouraged to consult the staff advisor prior to taking action. Tuition and course fees are refunded on a prorated schedule. For more information, visit onestop.umn.edu. Students are responsible for their registration; they should carefully check the courses they have registered for and apprise themselves of the deadlines for cancellations, grade-based changes, and refunds.

The first step of any resolution should be at the unit level, between the parties involved or the parties and an appropriate third party (e.g., other faculty, Director of Graduate Studies, Director of Education, department chair, or administrator). Students may wish to contact the Student Conflict Resolution Center or similar support service for advice and possible mediation. If no informal resolution is reached at the unit level, a student may seek informal resolution at the collegiate level with the other party and higher-level administrators. If the issue is not resolved informally, the student may seek formal resolution. The formal resolution policy and procedure is outlined on the University of Minnesota Policy website.

Students are expected to regularly check Canvas Announcements, Canvas Inbox, and University Email. Failure to monitor these communication channels will not be considered an acceptable or valid excuse for missing important information or course/program deadlines vital to a student’s success in the Health Coaching Program. 

Announcements

Students are expected to check their Canvas courses daily for Announcements. You can set your Notification preferences in Canvas to receive emails and/or push notifications when Announcements are sent - see “Course Activities” in your Notification Preferences for options.

Canvas Inbox

Students must check their Canvas Inbox regularly in addition to University email. It is accessed via the Inbox icon in the maroon menu in Canvas and is used for correspondence regarding courses you are currently enrolled in. Your instructors will send you messages here, and you should also use the Canvas Inbox to send messages to your instructors. You can set your Notification preferences in Canvas to receive emails and/or push notifications when you receive Inbox messages. See “Conversations” in your Notification Preferences for options.

University Email

The University assigned student email account (internet ID@umn.edu) is the official means of communication from the University and the Bakken Center. Students must check their University-assigned account regularly. All students are expected to follow University of Minnesota's information technology policies and procedures. For further information please visit the “technology” portion of the University policy website.

Permission for course substitutions may be given by the Program Director if a student has taken a required course previously at the University of Minnesota for another degree. Although students will not be required to repeat the course, they will need to substitute another course(s) of equal value to make up the credits. Substitutions will only be allowed for the exact courses listed as program requirements in this Student Handbook. Similar or alternate courses may not be substituted, with the rare exception of CSPH 5101, for students who have completed a similar course at another accredited institution for a passing grade or who have extensive educational or professional experience. For more information, students may speak with their faculty or staff advisor. Students are not able to “test out” of any required or elective courses.

The University of Minnesota is committed to advancing access for everyone. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is the campus office that works with students with disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations. 

• Students who have, or think they may have, a disability (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, vision, hearing, physical, or systemic), are invited to contact the DRC to arrange a confidential discussion at 612- 626-1333 (V/TTY) or drc@umn.edu. 

• Students registered with the DRC, who have a letter requesting accommodations, are encouraged to contact the instructor early in the semester to discuss the accommodations outlined in their letter.

Students admitted to two graduate programs simultaneously must work closely with faculty and staff advisors in both programs to ensure that registration is completed correctly and the credits are applied to the appropriate program. Requirements may vary greatly depending on the programs a student is pursuing. In most cases, the same credits cannot be counted for two programs. Dual degree-seeking students should notify the Bakken Center Student Services and Academic Programs office about their dual status and registration each term. 

Equal Opportunity and Title IX responses to concerns of discrimination, sexual misconduct, nepotism, and related retaliation. For more information, please consult the Equal Opportunity & Title IX website and find resources.

The purpose of the Feedback and Improvement Form (FIF) is to facilitate student growth toward achieving program outcomes by providing honest, direct, and immediate feedback to students about areas in which faculty have concerns. When there are concerns around selected issues (e.g. absences/punctuality; preparation for class; accountability; initiative/independence; critical thinking/decision making; organizational skills/time management; oral or written communication skills; technical proficiency; professional attitude or participation in class activities) faculty will use the FIF form to provide feedback and design an intervention plan with the student. 

The FIF form is used anytime during a semester if a faculty member is concerned that a student may not pass the current class or may have a challenge that may predict difficulties in future courses. A member, or members, of the course faculty may meet with the student along with their advisor, the Program Director, and, in certain circumstances, the Director of Graduate Studies, to collaboratively create a plan to work on the area of concern. The course faculty and the student will then sign and date the form. Copies of the form are given to the student, the student’s Academic Advisor, the course faculty, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Center Student Services. The FIF will be kept in the student's file in the Bakken Center Student Services office and will be destroyed after a satisfactory resolution. It will not be part of the student’s permanent university record.

The FIF will be reviewed at the end of the semester and/or periodically if the duration of the plan of action noted on the FIF extends beyond the semester. If the FIF is not resolved within the timeline, the Director of Graduate Studies will be notified to assist in resolving the concern.

The University Policy Library contains detailed information on University Education & Student Life, including grading policies and practices.

Specific grading policies for the Health Coaching programs are as follows:

• For both programs, students must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA (B average). Students who fall below this will be given one semester to recover an acceptable GPA. If they do not, this may result in required remediation or termination from the program.

• Failure to pass any non-elective class with less than a B- may result in required remediation work at the discretion of the instructor, the Program Director, and the Director of Graduate Studies, which may include requiring a student to repeat the course within one calendar year. Failure to pass a class the second time around may result in the student’s termination from the program.

In addition to those listed above, the Certificate and Master of Arts programs have these grade expectations:

Certificate:

• These courses require a grade of B (3.0) or higher: CSPH 5701 and 5702. 

  • These courses each include a final skills assessment requiring a passing score of 80%. Students who do not pass a core course or a skills assessment portion of a course, with an acceptable grade may be required, at the instructors’ discretion, to repeat the course. Alternatively, students may also be required to take and pass a 1-credit CSPH 5712 Skills Advancement course for remediation.

• These courses require a grade of Satisfactory (S): CSPH 5703 and 5716.

• Additional required courses CSPH 5101 and CSPH 5714 require a passing grade of B-, provided an overall GPA of 3.0 is maintained. 

Master of Arts:

• These courses require a grade of B (3.0) or higher: CSPH 5701, CSPH 5702, CSPH 5704,  CSPH 5709, and CSPH 8701. 

  • CSPH 5701, CSPH 5702, and CSPH 8701 each include a final skills assessment requiring a passing score of 80%. Students who do not pass a core course or a skills assessment portion of a course, with an acceptable grade may be required, at the instructors’ discretion, to repeat the course. Alternatively, students may also be required to take and pass a 1-credit CSPH 5712 Skills Advancement course for remediation.

• These courses require a grade of Satisfactory (S): CSPH 5703 and 5716.

• Additional courses CSPH 5101, CSPH 5708, CSPH 5714, and CSPH 5715 require a passing grade of B-, provided an overall GPA of 3.0 is maintained. 

• CSPH 5707 (required for students entering with non-healthcare backgrounds) or PUBH 6751 (required for students entering with healthcare backgrounds) require a grade of B-, provided an overall GPA of 3.0 is maintained.

• Electives require a passing grade of C- or higher, provided an overall GPA of 3.0 is maintained. If electives are taken as a minor through another department, students are required to meet that department’s expectations for passing grades in those courses.

Degrees are awarded on the last business day of the month in which the student applies to graduate. To qualify for graduation, students must submit their Graduate Planning and Audit System (GPAS) plan the semester before they are scheduled to graduate. The GPAS form must be fully approved on or before the first workday of that month and all program requirements completed by the last workday of that month. The degree is formally posted on the transcript approximately three to six weeks after the last day of the month of graduation.

Your staff advisor will contact you when these steps are due so that they can be completed in the appropriate order and timeline. In order to graduate, students must meet the following guidelines:

• Remain an “active” student registered for at least 1 credit or GRAD 999 (the no tuition, no credit placeholder) in the semester students plan to graduate.

• Submit a Graduate Planning and Audit Systems (GPAS) plan no later than the semester before the intended graduation date.

• Apply for graduation on or before the first day of the month they wish to graduate; and

• Complete and have all grades posted for courses by the last day of the month they wish to graduate (any Incomplete grades must be changed to a grade).

• All degree requirements for the Health Coaching Certificate program must be completed within four years of initial enrollment. Master of Arts program requirements must be completed within five years of initial enrollment. These are maximum limits for completion; however, students are encouraged to complete their programs as quickly as possible without interruption.

When a student in the Master of Arts in Health Coaching degree or Health Coaching Graduate Certificate receives less than a 3.0 (B average) in a required core course, or when a student fails to complete a required core course, the student is out of progression and is required to submit a revised Center Progress Form to their Advisor, the Center Director of Graduate Studies, and the Center Student Services and Academic Programs office. If a B or higher is not achieved upon repeating the required core course, the student is subject to dismissal from the Health Coaching program.

If a student’s overall GPA falls below 3.0, the student will schedule a meeting with their faculty advisor and create a plan to recover an acceptable GPA within one semester. If at the end of the following semester, this requirement has not been met, the student may be subject to dismissal from the Health Coaching program.

Other academic grounds for dismissal are a) multiple failures in coursework, regardless of whether prior failures have been remediated successfully; b) failure to make satisfactory academic progress within required timelines; c) multiple Feedback and Improvement Form (FIF) that are unresolved; d) failure to meet the terms of academic probation; and e) failure to meet professionalism expectations in coursework, internship and practicum experiences and other program activities.

Students also may be dismissed for behavioral violations as outlined in the Student Conduct Code.

An incomplete (“I”) grade is assigned at the discretion of the course instructor when due to extraordinary circumstances a student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. The faculty member teaching the course completes an incomplete contract with the student and disperses copies of the contract to the student, the student’s Academic Advisor.

An incomplete grade may impact progression in sequential courses. Students will have up to one calendar year from the end of the term to complete incomplete coursework. Failure to complete coursework in one calendar year may result in the incomplete converting to an F or N grade. (Note that a contract for an incomplete grade established by a course instructor, agreed to by the student, and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies may require completion of the course within a specific time frame that is less than one calendar year.)

Students may request an incomplete by filling out the Incomplete Grade Contract (electronic form) found under the Registration tab.

In addition to the online request above, an Instructor/Student Incomplete Agreement form must be filled out, signed, and filed with the Student Services and Academic Programs office at the Center in order to allow tracking and completion. Both student and instructor should retain a copy for their records. Note that any required access to Canvas courses will not be granted unless the Incomplete Agreement form has been filed with the Academic Programs team at the Center. 

Failure to complete the steps outlined in the Incomplete Agreement results in the student's grade reverting to what was earned at the end of the regular class term. 

• For undergraduate students, an ‘I’ grade will revert to an ‘F’ or ‘N’ if the incomplete is not completed by the end of the following Fall or Spring semester. 

• For graduate students, grades will not revert automatically and need to be updated by the instructor if the terms of the incomplete contract are not met. 

The Office for Equity and Diversity (OED) works with campuses, colleges, units, and departments systemwide to create an inclusive environment where all members of the University of Minnesota community can thrive. OED is comprised of seven offices and seven major initiatives that provide critical services and support to students, faculty, and staff. 

For CSPH courses, students contact the Student Services and Academic Programs office (csh-academics@umn.edu) to obtain permission numbers. 

If prerequisites for a course indicate that instructor or department consent is required to register for the course if a course is closed, or if students are trying to register after the first week of the term, they are required to obtain a permission number in order to register. Permission numbers will be required for all core Health Coaching courses, as enrollment is limited to students within the Health Coaching Program. 

Other courses may require permission numbers as well. For courses outside of Bakken Center, students must contact the instructor or department of the course to obtain a permission number. Requests for permission numbers should be done via University of Minnesota email. Faculty emails are linked to the courses within the registration system.

Active Status

Graduate students are expected to maintain active status through continuous registration from the time they matriculate in the fall of admission until they graduate. Those who do not register every Fall and Spring semester are considered to have withdrawn and their student records are automatically deactivated. Deactivated students may not register for courses, take examinations, submit an application for degree, or otherwise participate in the University community as a graduate student. See Deactivated Students and Leave of Absences for more information. 

A zero-credit, zero-fee, non-graded registration option is available for those students who, because of extraordinary circumstances, are not able to take courses in a given semester, but must register solely to meet the continuous registration requirement. GRAD 999 does not meet any other internal/external departmental or agency requirements. Students must meet with their staff advisor to receive permission to register for GRAD 999. Students who will not be taking courses for two or more sequential semesters should consult with their advisor and request a leave of absence instead. The GRAD 999 placeholder should only be used when students will be taking a single semester off from coursework. 

Students receiving financial aid from the University or other agencies, international students with certain types of visas, and students who wish to use various University services and facilities may have specific registration requirements; these students are responsible for obtaining information about such requirements from the appropriate offices.

A late registration fee will be assessed for students who register past the drop/add deadline date. You can find more information about important dates and deadlines, please check this website. This website will also provide information regarding cancel/add refund dates. 

Deactivated Students 

Deactivated students who wish to resume coursework must complete the necessary steps to re-apply to the program by the annual March 15 deadline. Contact the Bakken Center Student Services and Academic Programs office at csh-academics@umn.edu for instructions. Please note that re-submitting an application does not guarantee readmission to the program if they have lost active status. 

Leave of Absence

Students who are not able to maintain active status are strongly encouraged to consult with their faculty and staff advisors to determine whether requesting a leave of absence is the most appropriate course of action. Students who do not have an approved leave of absence or are not continuously enrolled may experience negative consequences related to academic, visa, financial aid, and other student issues. For more information on the steps and paperwork for acquiring a leave of absence, please refer to the ‘Leave of Absence and Reinstatement from a Leave’ policy.

To request permission to depart from degree requirements and procedures, withdraw from a required course past the drop/add deadline, or to petition acceptance of transfer courses, students will need to fill out the appropriate petition available from the Bakken Center Academic Programs office. The signed petition and any relevant documents (e.g., a syllabus, medical documentation, etc.) must then be submitted to the Bakken Center Academic Programs office or another indicated department.

The University of Minnesota requires that admitted graduate students maintain a minimum term and cumulative GPA of 2.80. When a student’s cumulative and/or term GPA falls below 2.80 the student is subject to probation and possible dismissal. Be advised the University of Minnesota policy prohibits withdrawing from a course to avoid a grade penalty of F or N due to scholastic dishonesty. 

The Master of Arts and Health Coaching Track Certificate requires students to maintain a 2.8 GPA. Please see Grading for specific details. 

Sexual harassment shall mean unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex under certain conditions. This policy governs the University of Minnesota’s commitment to preventing and addressing sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, relationship violence, and related retaliation (“prohibited conduct”). For additional information, please consult the Board of Regents Policy, ‘Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Relationship Violence’. 

Any student who passes other aspects of a course but does not receive a passing score of 80% on the skills assessments, may be required to take and pass a 1 credit CSPH 5712 Health Coaching Skills Advancement course and repeat appropriate assessments successfully, before moving on to the next course in the training sequence. Skills remediation courses may not be counted toward required or elective credits for the Certificate or Master of Arts programs.

The Student Advisory and Leadership Council (SALC) is comprised of students enrolled in Center academic programs (the Master of Arts/Certificate in Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching and General Postbaccalaureate Certificate students); students representing other University of Minnesota graduate, or undergraduate, programs that require CSPH coursework; students who take CSPH courses as electives; as well as Center staff and leadership. This group is dedicated to enhancing student life, well-being, and engagement at the Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, and serves in a consultative capacity to Center leadership and staff. 

The University of Minnesota takes student complaints and grievances seriously and has processes in place to ensure that complaints are addressed appropriately and in a timely manner. 

The University seeks an environment that promotes academic achievement and integrity, that is protective of free inquiry, and that serves the educational mission of the University. Similarly, the University seeks a community that is free from violence, threats, and intimidation; that is respectful of the rights, opportunities, and welfare of students, faculty, staff, and guests of the University; and that does not threaten the physical or mental health or safety of members of the University community.

Note that the Student Conduct Code specifically addresses disruptive classroom conduct, which means, "engaging in behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor's ability to teach or student learning.” The classroom extends to any setting where a student is engaged in work toward academic credit or satisfaction of program-based requirements or related activities."

All University students are expected to adhere to the Board of Regents Policy: Student Conduct Code. 

Every student attending the University of Minnesota is expected to adhere to the Board of Regents University of Minnesota Student Conduct Code. A violation of this Student Conduct Code is considered an act of misconduct and warrants disciplinary action, including possible dismissal.

Other actions that warrant disciplinary action, including possible dismissal, are: 1) Conduct that violates behavioral and/or ethical standards of the health coaching profession; disrupts the operations of the University, the Health Coaching Program, or clinical training sites; or disregards the rights or welfare of patients, fellow students, clinical staff or other individuals; and  2) Unlawful conduct or improper behavior within or outside the University of Minnesota community which impairs the student's capacity to function as a health coaching student and prospective health professional.

A student has the right to contest any allegation of misconduct. Whenever possible, allegations of misconduct should be settled at the lowest possible level, that is, between the individuals involved, and resolved as quickly as possible. 

A student has the right to a Campus Community on Student Behavior hearing and to appeal any disciplinary action. Records of misconduct are kept on file in the Bakken Center Student Services office and in the Office for Community Standards. 

The Office of the Registrar maintains and releases student transcripts, the official University record of grades, and registration symbols for all courses students take. Students can request an official transcript online. With a picture ID students may pick up an unofficial transcript in person, free of charge, at the Student Service Center (Bruininks Hall, 222 Pleasant St S.E.).

University of Minnesota graduate level courses taken for graduate credit at the University of Minnesota as a non-degree graduate student before entrance into the program may be included in a student’s program, provided they meet program requirements and do not total more than 12 credits for the Master of Arts program (6 credits for the Certificate). Credits completed at other institutions or completed at the undergraduate level for a University of Minnesota degree may not be transferred.

All student work is expected to adhere to the style and formatting outlined in the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition style guide, which is an optional textbook in all core Health Coaching courses. For more information, consult the American Psychological Association website. 

The Center for Writing offers student writing support (SWS) and offers collaborative one-to-one writing consultations to help student writers develop confidence and effective writing strategies.