Nursing (ABSN) Academic Policies
Academic Advising
Professional staff academic advisors will assist in course selection with attention to degree requirements, course prerequisites, and other academic matters. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student to maintain normal progress, to select the proper courses, and to meet all graduation requirements.
Academic Grievance
Students who believe they have been subject to clerical or procedural grading errors or to arbitrary or discriminatory academic evaluation shall follow the recommended procedure.
Clerical and Procedural Error
It is the student’s responsibility to bring any error in grades to the attention of the instructor, in writing, within one (1) semester following the issued grade. Grade changes are made only because of computation or recording errors and must be corrected no later than the last day of classes of the next full semester. Submission of extra work after a semester is completed will be permitted only when a grade of “Incomplete” was assigned for the specific course.
Arbitrary or Discriminatory Academic Evaluation
The student may contact the Dean of the school where the course is housed to obtain the complete policy and procedure to resolve these matters.
Academic Honesty
The university expects all members of its community to act with responsibility and integrity. As an accredited institution of higher learning dedicated to the free inquiry after truth, goodness, and beauty, and to the development of “wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens,” Concordia University Irvine strives to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and seeks to heed the commands for honesty found in the Scriptures.
All courses and academic work at Concordia seek to empower students for independent learning, resourcefulness, clear thinking, and perception. All submitted work and activities should be genuine reflections of individual achievement from which the student can derive personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Academic dishonesty, in all its forms, subverts these goals.
The university's definition of academic honesty and disciplinary procedures can be found in the Student Code of Conduct.
Academic Standing
The university is committed to providing assistance to students for academic success, while at the same time maintaining a standard of academic integrity. When a student's academic achievement falls below the standards set by the university, academic probation and disqualification are imposed.
Academic Probation:
A student having a semester grade point average (GPA) below 2.00 will be placed on probation for the following semester. Students on probation may register for no more than 13 academic units. A student having a semester GPA above 2.00 but an institutional GPA below 2.00 will remain on academic probation until the institutional GPA is at least a 2.00.
Academic Disqualification:
Any student whose GPA has fallen below 2.00 for 2 consecutive semesters and whose institutional GPA is below 2.00 will be academically disqualified as a degree student. Any student whose institutional GPA is less than 1.00 in a single semester will be academically disqualified as a degree student. Upon dismissal the student has the right to appeal to the academic dismissal committee. A student can only appeal once during their participation in an undergraduate program at Concordia University Irvine.
Good Academic Standing (GAS)
Undergraduate students are in GAS at Concordia University Irvine when their overall cumulative GPA is 2.0 or above.
Graduate students are in GAS at Concordia when their overall cumulative GPA is 3.0 or above.
If a student leaves Concordia University Irvine on academic probation and is subsequently readmitted, or if the student is dismissed and readmitted, the student will return on academic probation, regardless of any courses the student may have taken and grades earned in the interim and transferred into Concordia.
Add-Drop-Withdrawal Changes
It is the student's responsibility to complete and to submit the proper form on time for an add, drop, or withdrawal to be officially processed and implemented. Students may not petition because of a missed deadline. A late registration fee of $50 per class will be assessed to those students who do not complete course registration by the deadlines published in the university’s Academic Calendar, available through the Office of the Registrar.
Failure to follow the official procedures outlined above will result in credit not being granted for courses not officially added or the assigning of the grade of “F” for courses not officially dropped. Non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal from a class.
Auditing
Students who wish to enroll in a course without receiving credit may choose to audit the course. Not all courses are eligible to be audited and not all programs allow students to audit courses. Enrollment must occur by the last day to add each semester. Exams and papers assigned to students taking the course for credit do not apply to audit students; all other expectations are the same. A notation of “Audit” will be assigned upon satisfactory completion of the course. Audited courses do not count toward graduation requirements. Additional information may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar.
Class Attendance
Registered students have freely accepted personal responsibility for enrollment and class attendance. Students are expected to attend all class and laboratory sessions for the courses in which they are enrolled. Students are expected to notify their instructor(s) of planned absences in advance and unplanned absences, due to sickness or emergency, within a reasonable period of time. Instructors are expected, per university policy and procedures, to record student attendance. Course syllabi will specify each instructor's procedures for handling absences consistent with university, school, and program requirements.
Concurrent Registration
Students who wish to take coursework outside of Concordia University Irvine may register concurrently at other regionally accredited institutions. It is recommended that students consult with their academic advisor before taking courses to make sure the course(s) will fulfill degree requirements. If the course is being used for a major or minor requirement, approval will be required from the Department Chair, Program Director, or Dean for that major/minor. No student may receive credit for more than 21 units in a semester, including units from regular courses taken on campus, courses taken off campus, individualized study courses, and correspondence courses. No more than 6 units may be taken outside of Concordia during a student’s last semester. Additionally, only grades of C- or better may be transferred and applied to major, minor, Q&I general education, or elective requirements.
Consortium Agreement
Students wishing to be considered full time (12 units) by being part time at Concordia University Irvine and part time at another accredited institution may enter into a consortium agreement and receive Title IV federal financial aid. A minimum of 9 units must be taken at Concordia and all units taken must apply towards the student’s degree. Additional information about a consortium agreement can be supplied by the Financial Aid Office.
Course Registration and Load
To be considered full-time, an undergraduate student must be registered for a minimum of 12 units each semester.
Undergraduate students are required to register each year to reserve classes for the following academic year. Specific dates are published yearly through the Office of the Registrar, and each undergraduate will be sent information explaining the procedure.
A late registration fee of $50 per class will be assessed to those students who do not complete course registration by the deadlines published in the university’s Academic Calendar.
Deans' List
A full-time undergraduate student whose semester GPA is 3.80 or higher is recognized as an outstanding student and is placed on the Deans' List. A full-time undergraduate student whose semester GPA is between 3.50 and 3.79 is recognized for Academic Commendation. Students must carry a minimum of 12 units to be considered for recognition. The university publishes the Deans' List and a notation for Deans' List or Academic Commendation is made on the student's transcript.
Grading System
Concordia University Irvine computes the grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0-point scale (see below). Specific grading requirements for each course will vary greatly and the letter grades cannot be defined here other than in a general manner. For graduate programs/certificates, see the Minimum Grade Per Course section for applicable grades.
A 4.0 grade points - Excellent
A- 3.7 grade points
B+ 3.3 grade points
B 3.0 grade points - Good
B- 2.7 grade points
C+ 2.3 grade points
C 2.0 grade points - Satisfactory*
C- 1.7 grade points
D+ 1.3 grade points
D 1.0 grade points - Barely Passing**
D- 0.7 grade points
F 0.0 grade points - Failure
* Unsatisfactory for graduate and certificate students.
** Graduate and certificate students do not receive grades lower than a C.
Audit (AU)
Assigned for classes attended for no credit and for the purpose of gaining information without the requirement of tests or papers.
Grade Delay (GD)
Assigned when a grade is not submitted by the instructor by the grade deadline. Grade Delays will remain on the transcript until the instructor submits a grade change to the Office of the Registrar for processing.
Incomplete (I*)
Assigned when a student, with the consent of the instructor, postpones the submission of certain work because of extenuating circumstances. Incomplete grades must be resolved within four (4) weeks from the end of the course unless an extension is granted by the instructor with the approval from the dean. Incompletes will be calculated for academic standing using the default grade. Students with incomplete grades are subject to academic probation and academic dismissal based on the default grade. Failure to resolve an incomplete will result in the automatic change to the alternate grade given at the same time as the incomplete. Default grades are C, D, F, or NP.
In Progress (IP)
Assigned when an educational experience (e.g., student teaching, practicum, internship, thesis, or graduate capstone, etc.) is designed to extend beyond a single grading period. Students have four (4) continuous semesters, including the semester of enrollment and summer, to complete the requirements for the course. A grade of "IP" will be issued after the first semester of enrolment if the work is not completed. For undergraduate programs, the “IP” grade will default to the grade of F or NP if the work is not completed in the allotted amount of time. For graduate and doctoral programs, the "IP" grade will remain on the transcript and the student will receive a grade in a subsequent term.
Pass (P) / No Pass (NP)
Assigned in selected courses and educational experiences where a letter grade is not assigned (e.g. capstone projects, doctoral dissertations, master’s theses, internships, practicums, and other courses as determined by individual programs and published in the program handbook). The Pass/ No Pass grade will appear on the transcript but is not calculated in the GPA.
Satisfactory (S) / Unsatisfactory (U)
Assigned when tracking progress of some practicum or fieldwork hours. The Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grade will appear on the transcript but is not calculated in the GPA.
Withdrawal (W)
Full-semester courses may be dropped without record of enrollment during the first 2 weeks of the semester. From weeks 3 through week 11 of the full semester, courses may be withdrawn from with a “W” grade. For shorter terms (7 to 11 weeks), courses may be dropped without record of enrollment for the first week of the term. During weeks 2-5 (for 7-week terms), weeks 2-6 (for 8-week terms) and weeks 2-9 (for 11-week terms), courses may be withdrawn from with a "W" grade. Instructor or dean/assistant dean consent is required to withdraw from undergraduate courses. Core courses require the director of general education approval to withdraw. The "W" grade will appear on the transcript but is not calculated in the GPA.
Graduation Requirements
As you begin your last semester you will need to make sure you apply for graduation with the Office of the Registrar. This process is required and the application for graduation can be obtained from your academic adviser. Typically the deadline for submitting graduation applications to have the degree posted is as follows: fall semester due in September; summer semester due in May. Concordia University conducts two Nursing pinning and commencement ceremonies, one in August and one in December, providing you, your family and friends a chance to celebrate your accomplishments and achievements.
Bachelor's degree students must meet the following criteria:
Complete at least 124 semester units or the equivalent.
Complete the required units in the major course of study.
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all academic work.
File an application for graduation form with the Office of the Registrar by the dates published in the Academic Calendar.
The application will stipulate the commencement ceremony in which the student is eligible to participate. Students are eligible to participate if all degree requirements are successfully completed or if the student is enrolled in all course work which, when successfully completed, will fulfill all degree requirements.
Complete payment of all fees and tuition due to Concordia.
Handbook
More information on these and other policies can be found in the program handbook.
Independent Study
An Independent Study course is one that is normally found in the Academic Catalog but is not offered in the current semester or cannot be taken at its scheduled time in the current semester. No more than six (6) units of independent study may count towards fulfilling degree requirements.
Military Orders
Concordia students called to active duty or who have deployment orders can find the policy for withdrawal, refund of payment and readmission on the Student Services page in the Veterans Resource Center section.
Progression
Students must maintain a GPA of C (2.0) or better, and receive no grade lower than a C (75%) to remain in the program. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower in a theory course may repeat the course once. If the student receives a grade of C- or lower upon retaking, or subsequently fails any other nursing course, the student will be dropped from the program. If the student receives a grade of C- or lower in a theory course that has a clinical practicum associated with it, the student must repeat both the theory and clinical practicum that is linked to that course. Students who receive a failing grade in a clinical practicum will be dropped from the program.
Right to Petition
Students may petition for the review of certain university academic policies when unusual circumstances exist. After action has been taken on the petition, the student will be notified of the decision. A copy of the action will be placed in the student’s permanent file. Petition forms and additional information may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar. The missing of deadlines is not subject to petition.
Stop Out
This policy is intended to outline the process for when a student decides to stop participating in the nursing program. This is considered as “stopping out”.
If a student is stopping out from a course due to failing grades, it will be considered a nursing course failure. (Refer to Theory and/or Clinical Failure Policies in the handbook)
Students may stop out due to extenuating circumstances or a medical reason. If a student is stopping out due to a medical reason a note must be written by a Health Care Provider stating reasons for stopping out and provided to nursing administration
a. Students will be academically stopped out from all remaining enrolled courses for that session.
b. Student must apply for readmission within 6 months of stop out date.
c. Re-entry into the program is on a space-availability basis.
The student will need to apply for readmission to the nursing program (refer to Readmission in the Nursing Program Policy)
When space permits and student is readmitted to the program, it will be at the current tuition rate for the program.
Stopping out from the University may or may not result in a credit on the student's account. Students desiring to withdraw from the nursing program must formally notify the University by contacting the Office of the Registrar and submit an official withdrawal form. In the event a student withdraws from the University after the beginning of classes, a pro-ration of tuition is applied by the Bursar’s office. For the current rates of prorated tuition see the following link: http:// www.cui.edu/studentlife/bursar
Student Conduct and Personal Development
The faculty and staff of Concordia University Irvine expect that all students will exhibit personal evidence of development in all aspects of their lives. Assistance in promoting such growth is provided through academic programs, co-curricular activities, and individual consultation involving regular evaluation.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible manner in all aspects of their daily living. Students are present on campus by privilege accorded annually to those who contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the university and not by right. At the discretion of the administration, a student may be dismissed from school for serious misconduct. For further details on student conduct, student records, and disciplinary matters, consult the Concordia Student Code of Conduct, which can be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Students, the Office of Student Conduct, or online.
Student Records
Pursuant to federal law, all student records, including evaluations, transcripts, letters, and descriptions of individual students are open to review by the student to whom they pertain. Student records are the property of the university. Should any student believe records maintained in the university file to be inaccurate or unjust, that student is entitled to prepare a disclaimer or a reply to that student’s record. One copy of such a disclaimer will be stapled to each copy of the student record.
Officers of the federal and state government and representatives of accreditation agencies may have legal access to these files, as well as Concordia University Irvine officials who are required to perform duties which necessitate having access to these files. No official is permitted to make any use of the information contained in personal files other than what is required by that official’s normal duties.
Student Rights and Privacy
Each student of Concordia University Irvine has a right to:
review their official educational records, files, documents, and other materials which contain information directly related to them, and
challenge such records that are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise inappropriate.
It is the policy of the university that unless excluded by state or federal law, no record, files, documents, materials, or personally identifiable information contained therein shall be released to any individual, agency, or organization without the express written consent of the student/ alumnus.
Any student desiring to review or challenge their official educational records should contact the Office of the Registrar to determine procedures for such review. Any student desiring to challenge the content of their official educational records should contact the Office of the Registrar.
While the university does not provide general directory services, it may, by law, under special circumstances, release the following information about a student: name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, class schedule, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degree and awards received, and the most recent previous public or private school of attendance. Any student who does not wish such information to be released about their participation or status should notify the Office of the Registrar in writing, at the beginning of each semester. The university is required to comply with all federal regulations governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Transcripts of Record
Students may obtain an official transcript of their academic record by filing a request with the Office of the Registrar. A fee, paid in advance, is charged for transcripts. The issuance of partial transcripts is strictly prohibited. Transcripts from other academic institutions are the property of Concordia University Irvine and, as such, are under the control of the Office of the Registrar. Transcripts submitted to Concordia for admission or credit transfer become the property of Concordia and will not be returned to students or forwarded to other institutions. Under federal policy, students have the right to view the documents in their file; the university will not make copies of these documents.
Withdrawal from School
Undergraduate students who no longer wish to continue their enrollment at Concordia University Irvine must formally withdraw from the university through the Office of the Registrar by completing a withdrawal form. Withdrawal from all courses may take place through the last day of the semester. Non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal from classes and will result in grades of “F.” Contact the Office of the Bursar to learn about the refund policy and financial aid regarding eligibility after withdrawal. Students who return to the university after withdrawing, regardless of the reason, must be readmitted by the admissions department before they will be allowed to register for classes. If a student leaves Concordia on academic probation and is subsequently readmitted, or if the student is dismissed and readmitted, the student will return on academic probation, regardless of any courses the student may have taken and grades earned in the interim and transferred into Concordia.