Grading and Required Standards

A P grade is given when a student meets the overall basic requirements for the anticipated level of training. The student is able to function in a safe and competent manner. A Pass grade is not included in calculating grade point average. 

A Low Pass (LP) is given when the student’s performance is deficient but meets the minimal clinical performance standards. A Low Pass grade is not included in calculating grade point average. 

Students’ overall performance is below the expected level of training. A grade of F is included in calculating grade point average. Students are not able to progress in a program with a grade of F in a clinical course and are dismissed.

A student will receive an F in any non-clinical course in which the student fails to pass the course standards as described by the instructor and stated in the syllabus. A grade of F is included in calculating grade point average. In order to repeat the course graded as F, the student must re-register for the course, the next time the course is offered. *Please note this may require a LOA. A grade of F remains on the student’s official transcript even if the course is later repeated.

Students who do not officially drop a course and who have not completed enough substantive work to receive a grade in the course will be graded UW. However, for students who have not officially dropped a course, but who have completed substantive work, the outstanding requirements may be graded as a zero or an F and averaged into the final course grade. A student who wants to withdraw from a course is responsible for completing the paperwork necessary to avoid receiving a UW. A grade of UW is not included in calculating grade point average. In order to repeat the course graded as UW, the student must re- register for the course. A grade of UW remains on the student’s official transcript even if the course is later repeated. 

If a student is unable to complete course work due to extenuating circumstances, they may request a grade of incomplete (INC) from their appropriate course instructor. Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to, unforeseeable serious illness, serious family emergency, or circumstances of comparable gravity.

Requests for an Incomplete grade must be made in writing to the instructor, detailing the circumstances and including plans for course completion. The decision to grant an incomplete is at the discretion of the faculty member. An incomplete grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript.

If an Incomplete grade is permitted, the faculty member will set a deadline for completion of course requirements, which may not extend beyond the end of the student’s next term of attendance. The next term of attendance must be within one year, or three terms of the original registration. Failure to complete course requirements within this timeframe will result in a grade of an F for the course(s) and the course(s) must be repeated to obtain credit. 

Students may not be eligible to progress in the program if the “Incomplete” course is a pre-requisite to subsequent courses.  Students with an INC grade in a specialty course may not progress in subsequent specialty courses, or any course that the INC is a prerequisite for, until their INC grade is resolved. 

In cases of significant extenuating circumstances affecting multiple courses in a single term, students may be granted an INC across all course work and will develop a timeline for completion in collaboration with the course faculty and program director.

Students cannot graduate with a grade of INC on their transcript. 

Grades of CP are given when a student has not fulfilled all course requirements and cannot yet be graded. This grade is only given when the student is expected to fulfill course requirements by the last day of the add/drop period of the following semester. Once course requirements are completed, the CP grade will be changed to a letter grade by the instructor. If a student receives a grade of CP in a specialty course, they cannot continue in further specialty courses until their CP grade has been resolved. Students cannot graduate with a grade of CP on their transcripts.

Zero credit courses that students must complete to progress in the program will be graded as P/F Grading. In general, students may only take a for-credit course as P/F Grading if the course is not required for the student’s specialty or degree with approval from the Associate Dean. Some nursing courses are designated as P/F Grading by the school, in which case these courses will count towards student’s degrees.