Progression Guidelines

1. Students registered in the Hon. BScN full-time program will register for a full course load each semester.

2. Students may repeat the same professional nursing course once only.

3. A leave of absence may be granted once. Only under extenuating circumstances will a second of leave of absence be permitted. Any leave of absence greater than one semester may result in the need to repeat courses in the interest of patient safety.

4. A student unsuccessful in any two professional courses may be withdrawn from the Hon. BScN program. Students experiencing academic challenges should contact the appropriate support person (faculty, student advisor, coordinator, counsellor).

• For course-specific content or evaluation concerns, contact the course professor

• For course schedule, adding, dropping courses, inquiring about a Leave of Absence, academic progression and referral to college support services, contact the Hon. BScN Academic Advisor. 

• For personal and academic counselling or accessibility needs, contact the office of Counselling and Student Accessibility.

• For program concerns, please contact the Hon. BScN Program Coordinator.

Promotion Policy

• The Hon. BScN Program requires students to achieve a minimum of C+ (65%) in all Professional Nursing Courses (BSN, ANP, IDI, PPY, STA). 

• With the exception of BSN105 - A minimum of A (80%) is required to pass. 

• A “SATISFACTORY” grade in all practicum courses is required to pass.

• A minimum of C (60%) for all other liberal studies courses.

• Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (C+ or 65%)

Withdrawing / Dropping a Course

Students must contact their academic advisor when dropping a course. Those who choose to drop a course without academic advisement, may jeopardize their progression in the program.

• Students may drop a professional nursing course once only. 

• Students may drop a clinical course once only with the approval of the Coordinator.

• Not attending class and/or notifying the professor of your intention to withdraw, does not qualify as a withdrawal.

• Students are considered to have withdrawn from a course only when they drop the course officially through Student Centre.

• Day 10 (week 2) – Courses dropped by this date will not appear on the transcript. This can be done independently on Student Centre or by an academic advisor.

• Day 45 (Week 9) - Courses dropped by this date will receive a Did Not Complete (DNC) code on the student transcript. This does not affect the Grade Point Average (GPA). Only an academic advisor can assist with dropping of courses after Day 10.

• Week 10 and beyond – If a course is dropped after week 10, the transcript will reflect the earned grade. This will affect the Grade Point Average (GPA).

• Students who do not complete their intent to enroll and pay semester tuition fees will automatically be withdrawn from the program.

Academic Standing

Academic standing is assessed at the end of each semester. 

● Good: Successfully completed all professional courses with a term GPA of 2.5 or greater

● Probation: Students are placed on Academic Probation if they are unsuccessful in any one professional nursing course. They will remain on academic probation until successfully completing a semester of full-time studies where all professional courses have a grade of 65% or higher and a term GPA of 2.5 or greater. Students may not drop a professional course while on probation.

● Academically Withdrawn: Does not meet program progression requirements. Failed two or more courses. You are no longer in the program.

Academic Probation

Students are placed on Academic Probation if they are unsuccessful in any one professional nursing course. They will remain on academic probation until successfully completing a semester of full-time studies where all professional courses have a grade of 65% or higher and a term GPA of 2.5 or greater. Academic standing is assessed at the end of each semester. 

**Students are not permitted to drop any professional nursing course while on probation. **

Academic Withdrawal from the Hon. BScN Program

The Promotions Committee may recommend to the Chair or designate, that a student be withdrawn from the Hon. BScN program. A student who is unsuccessful in two or more professional courses may be withdrawn from the program. Students who have been withdrawn should seek academic advisement.

Leave of Absence

• Students are required to contact the Academic Coordinator for a Leave of Absence (LOA) from one to three terms (one calendar year) for an extenuating circumstance which temporarily affects the student’s ability to continue in the program.

• A leave of absence may be granted once. Only under extenuating circumstances will a second of leave of absence be permitted.

• Students must carefully and fully complete the Leave of Absence Request: 

Full-Time Program form https://www.senecacollege.ca/registrar/forms/LeaveOfAbsenceFT.html

• A completed Leave of Absence form must be received by the tenth day of classes to receive a refund for that term. Students who apply for a leave of absence after the tenth day of classes are not entitled to a refund and are required to pay any balance of fees outstanding for the term. Other timelines will be considered in extenuating circumstances.

• Completed LOA request forms are submitted to and reviewed and approved by the Hon. BScN Academic Coordinator. Approved LOAs are submitted to registration by the Academic Coordinator. LOAs submitted directly to Registration by a student will not be processed.

• Students are expected to be continuously enrolled in the full-time program. Students who do not complete their intent to enroll and do not have an approved LOA will be withdrawn from the program.

• Students who drop all professional courses without approval from the Hon. BScN Academic Advisor or Hon. BScN Program Coordinator are considered to have taken an Unapproved Leave of Absence and may not be eligible for a future approved LOA.

Returning from a Leave of Absence

• Client safety is the highest priority when students return to the clinical setting. Students who have been out of the program for more than one term will be required to repeat the most recent clinical practicum and may be required to repeat any other professional nursing courses that support client safety.

• Students who have delayed BSN525 for more than one term may need to repeat BSN425 and BSN305 to support patient safety.

•  Students who have been out of direct clinical practice and also have delayed program completion must seek individual advisement to ensure patient safety.

• Students must contact the Program Coordinator and Clinical Coordinator 8 weeks before returning to the program to discuss program progression and ensure that a clinical placement request is submitted on your behalf.

• Clinical placements will not be requested for students who fail to notify the Clinical Coordinator of their intent to return within the required timeline.

• Space availability is determined when a student returns from the LOA, as students in current progression have first priority for a seat.

• If a leave of absence is granted for a medical condition, medical documentation of fitness to return is required before approval is granted to return to clinical practice.

• Clinical requirements must be current. Clinical requirements (CPP) that are not submitted by published deadlines will result in withdrawal from clinical and all co-requisite courses.

Voluntary Withdrawal from the College

A student who wishes to withdraw from the College must notify the Registrar's Office in writing to be eligible for appropriate academic standing and fees refund where applicable. The official date of withdrawal for grading and refund purposes will be the date on which the student’s letter of withdrawal is received in the Registrar’s Office.

http://www.senecacollege.ca/academic-policy/acpol-14.html

Mandatory Withdrawal from the College

A Promotion Meeting, regularly or specially convened, may recommend to the Dean, or designate, that a student be required to withdraw from the College. Such a College-initiated requirement may be made before the normal completion date of a course or program. The basis of mandatory withdrawal may be a student's behaviour; and/or attendance; and/or performance; where one or all of these are detrimental to the learning process or disruptive to the aims and objectives of the College. The unexpended portion of fees may be refunded.

http://www.senecacollege.ca/academic-policy/acpol-14.html