Policy 1.1: Academic Performance and Progress

I. Policy Statement

The School of Nursing is committed to helping students succeed academically and professionally. All students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic performance and make timely progress toward degree completion. This includes meeting GPA and course grade expectations, demonstrating professionalism, and completing program-specific milestones.

The School of Nursing takes a proactive, student-centered approach to monitoring academic progress and provides support when students experience challenges. This policy outlines how academic performance and progress are monitored and supported in alignment with:

• UW Undergraduate Academic Policies
• UW Registrar’s Academic Standing Guidelines
• UW Graduate School Policy 3.7: Academic Performance and Progress
• UW School of Nursing Policy 4.1: Essential Qualifications and Behaviors

II. Academic Performance

Academic performance includes GPA, course grades, and professional behavior, which includes Essential Qualifications and Behaviors. When concerns arise, the School of Nursing focuses on early identification and collaborative planning to support student success.

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

Expectations:

• Maintain a quarterly and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
• Earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in all required nursing courses
• Demonstrate professionalism and meet Essential Qualifications and Behaviors

B. Graduate (CIPCT, DNP, Certs, PhD) Students

Expectations:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Earn a minimum of 2.7 in all required courses
• Demonstrate professionalism and meet Essential Qualifications and Behaviors

III. Academic Progress

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

Expected Timelines:

• BSN: 2 academic years (6 full-time quarters)
• ABSN: 4 full-time quarters
• Altered progression requires BSNCC review and approval

B. Graduate (CIPCT, DNP, PhD) Students

Expected Timelines:

• CIPCT: 6 years, which is the Graduate School master’s time-to-degree limit
• DNP: 4 years (unless DNPCC approved altered progression), which is the program’s expected timeline within the Graduate School ten-year doctoral limit
• PhD: 10 years, which is the Graduate School doctoral time-to-degree limit
• For a student who completed Graduate Non-Matriculated coursework that is later applied for credit, the time-to-degree limit commences at enrollment in the first such course.

See UW Graduate School Policy 1.1: Graduate Degree Requirements for time-to-degree limits and UW Graduate School Policy 3.5: On-Leave, Reinstatement, and Re-Entry for additional detail regarding reinstatement and Graduate School student-status maintenance. See UW Graduate School Policy 3.3: Enrollment of Graduate Non-Matriculated Students for the effect of GNM coursework on time to degree.

IV. Monitoring and Review Process

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

Academic Performance

The University uses academic standing to monitor student academic performance. Students are considered in good academic standing unless notified otherwise by the University Registrar, who automatically assigns academic standing based on quarterly and cumulative GPA:

• Academic Alert: Assigned when a student’s GPA falls below 2.00 in their first quarter at the University
• Academic Warning: Assigned at the end of any quarter other than the first quarter at the University in which the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.00
• Academic Drop: Assigned when a student on Academic Warning does not attain a quarterly GPA of at least 2.00 in a succeeding quarter

Academic Alert applies only in a student’s first quarter at the University. A student who was enrolled at the University before entering the nursing program receives Academic Warning rather than Academic Alert when their cumulative GPA falls below 2.00.

These actions are issued by the University, not the School of Nursing.

Academic Progress

• OSAA monitors student progression quarterly.
• For students with delays, course withdrawals, or clinical disruptions, OSAA coordinates with program faculty to develop an altered progression plan.
• Altered progression plans are reviewed and approved by BSNCC.
• When concerns about professionalism, clinical performance, or progression arise, a Development Plan may be assigned. See Section V: Student Support for a description of Development Plans, and related processes in UW School of Nursing Policy 1.4: Course Notification & Development Plan and School of Nursing Policy 4.1.

Readmission After Academic Drop

• A student dropped under University academic rules may be readmitted only at the discretion of the dean of the school or college to which readmission is sought.
• Students readmitted after academic drop re-enter on Academic Warning.
• The GPA upon return is the same as at the time of the drop; grades from other colleges/universities cannot be used to raise the UW GPA.
• Readmitted students are dropped again if they fail to attain either:
  • a quarterly GPA of 2.0 or higher in the next quarter, or
  • a cumulative UW GPA of 2.0 at the end of that quarter.
• A student is removed from Academic Warning when their cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 or higher.
• Seniors in their final quarter who complete the credit requirement for graduation but are placed on Academic Warning will not receive their degree until they are removed from Academic Warning. If dropped in the final quarter, the student must be readmitted and subsequently removed from Academic Warning before the degree is conferred.

B. Graduate (CIPCT, DNP, PhD) Students

Academic performance and progress are reviewed annually by the program-specific Coordinating Committee (DNPCC or M/PhDCC). The School of Nursing follows Graduate School Policy 3.7.

• OSAA facilitates annual reviews and documentation in collaboration with the program Coordinating Committee.
• Students are evaluated based on cumulative GPA, course performance, professional behavior, and progression timelines.

Referral Between Annual Reviews

The following performance or progress concerns are referred to the Coordinating Committee when they occur:

• Failure of a required course. A student who does not pass a required course is placed on Final Academic Alert under Expedited Status below. A course repeat is governed by UW School of Nursing Policy 1.6: Course Repeat Policy and the grade by UW School of Nursing Policy 1.3: Grading and Incompletes.
• A second course failure, whether of the same required course or of two required courses in different quarters. School of Nursing Policy 1.6 makes this grounds for a recommendation of Academic Drop, and the Coordinating Committee considers any petition for continued enrollment submitted under that policy.
• An examination outcome that UW School of Nursing Policy 1.9: Final Scholarly Project and/or Dissertation Requirements places at Academic Alert. Policy 1.9 states which examinations this reaches and the outcome that triggers it for each.

Communicating Performance and Progress

• Students meeting performance and progress expectations receive an emailed letter from OSAA confirming satisfactory progress.
• Students who are not meeting one or more performance or progress expectations receive an emailed letter from OSAA detailing the unsatisfactory progress status and next steps.

Process for Issuing Unsatisfactory Performance and Progress Status

• The Coordinating Committee votes to recommend an unsatisfactory status.
• OSAA drafts a formal letter to the student that includes:
  • The assigned progress status (see table below) and rationale
  • Required steps to resolve the status
  • Consequences if steps are not completed
  • A timeline for resolution
  • Any required Development Plan or follow-up expectations (see Section V: Student Support).
• OSAA sends the letter to the student.
  • A copy is sent to the Graduate School for Academic Alert, and recommendations for Final Academic Alert and Drop statuses.
  • For Final Academic Alert, the Graduate School sends an additional letter to the student confirming the Final Academic Alert Status.
  • For Academic Drop, the Graduate School issues the notification directly following a recommendation from the School of Nursing.
• OSAA and the Coordinating Committee monitor follow-up. If the issue is not resolved by the stated deadline, the status may be extended, escalated, or resolved, as appropriate.

Timing

• Academic Alert and Final Academic Alert recommendations must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the 10th business day of the quarter.
• Academic Drop recommendations must be submitted no later than the 5th business day of the drop quarter.

Duration

• A status may be assigned for up to three consecutive quarters (excluding summer).
• An updated recommendation and letter must be submitted if the student remains in status beyond the initial timeframe.
• If no update is received, the Graduate School will consider the status resolved.
• A status is not further changed until the quarter following the quarter in which the student returns from leave. Autumn, Winter, and Spring count for this purpose.
• A student who is reinstated resumes the status held when enrollment ended, unless the Coordinating Committee determines otherwise at the time of reinstatement. Reinstatement is governed by UW School of Nursing Policy 2.4: Reinstatement.

Expedited Status

Graduate School Policy 3.7.5 permits a program to place a student directly in Final Academic Alert, or in rare circumstances to recommend immediate Academic Drop, without a prior status, where the program has stated the circumstances in its own policy. The School of Nursing states them as follows:

• A student who does not pass a required course is placed on Final Academic Alert. Supplemental clinical under UW School of Nursing Policy 3.3: Clinical Evaluation II.F is a remediation pathway rather than a failure, and a student completing it is not placed in a status.
• An examination outcome for which School of Nursing Policy 1.9 provides that reexamination is not recommended results in a recommendation for Final Academic Alert or Academic Drop, as Policy 1.9 states.

Where continued failure in a laboratory, clinical, or practicum setting places patients, community members, or clinical partnerships at risk, the School may request that the Graduate School allow a status to be bypassed. An expedited status follows the same process, timing, and duration stated above.

Unsatisfactory Performance and Progress Statuses

Unsatisfactory Performance and Progress Statuses

Status	Definition	Issued By	Recorded on Transcript?
Academic Notification	An early status for students not meeting expectations, but for whom the program believes improvement is likely without formal Graduate School intervention	School of Nursing (internal only)	No
Academic Alert	Indicates significant concern regarding a student’s ability to meet degree requirements or lack of resolution following a prior Academic Notification	School of Nursing with copy to Graduate School	No
Final Academic Alert	Issued when a student fails to demonstrate improvement following an Academic Alert, meets a circumstance stated in Expedited Status above, or is unlikely to complete the program successfully	School of Nursing & Graduate School	No
Academic Drop	The Graduate School removes the student from the program due to continued unsatisfactory progress	Graduate School	Yes

V. Student Support

The School of Nursing takes a proactive and supportive approach when students experience academic or professional challenges. Support options are tailored to individual needs and may include:

• Academic planning meetings with OSAA or faculty
• Development plans (see description below)
• Professionalism coaching, reflective assignments, or behavioral expectations
• Altered progression plans, reviewed and approved by the appropriate Coordinating Committee
• Referrals to campus resources, such as:
  • Disability Resources for Students (DRS)
  • Counseling resources or Hall Health
  • Student Life or Financial Aid
  • Registrar for Religious Accommodations

Development Plans

Development Plans are supportive tools used to help students address identified concerns in academic performance, professionalism, or progression. Development Plans are co-created by the student and OSAA Program Advisor and may involve consultation with faculty or the Coordinating Committee. Each Development Plan documents:

• The identified concern
• Specific expectations for improvement
• Available resources and supports
• A timeline for resolution and follow-up

Development Plans are not punitive. They are distinct from Graduate School academic statuses (Academic Notification, Academic Alert, Final Academic Alert, and Academic Drop). Course-level Development Plans, initiated through the Course Notification process, are described in School of Nursing Policy 1.4. Program-level Development Plans, as described here, may follow an unsatisfactory progress status or professionalism concern.

These supports are intended to promote student well-being, uphold academic and professional standards, and assist students in progressing toward degree completion.

Early Student Alert

The Early Student Alert is an early intervention for a student experiencing academic difficulty at any point in the program. The School implements it through the Course Notification under School of Nursing Policy 1.4 and the notification under School of Nursing Policy 4.1. Course faculty and the Program Coordinating Committees may initiate one. OSAA Program Advisors coordinate follow-up with the student and connect the student to the support options in this section.

VI. Appeals

• Registrar actions for undergraduates (Academic Warning, Academic Alert, and Academic Drop) are issued by the University Registrar. Appeals and reinstatement after Academic Drop follow the UW academic standing process, with reinstatement decisions made at the discretion of the dean of the School of Nursing (see also Section IV.A above)
• A posted final course grade, including a grade determined by clinical evaluation, is appealed under the University grade appeal procedure, UW Student Governance and Policies Chapter 110, Section 2. School of Nursing Policy 1.3 states the School process. UW School of Nursing Policy 5.2: Student Grievance and Appeals Process does not process grade appeals; it is available where a student claims the grade appeal procedure itself was not applied uniformly.
• A decision that is not a grade, such as removal from a clinical placement or a decision on a petition under School of Nursing Policy 1.6, is raised under School of Nursing Policy 5.2. An instructional concern is raised first under UW School of Nursing Policy 5.1: Communicating Concerns about Instruction.
• Graduate progress-status determinations (Academic Notification, Academic Alert, Final Academic Alert, and Academic Drop recommendations) may be reconsidered through School of Nursing Policy 5.2, consistent with UW Graduate School Policy 3.8: Academic Grievance Procedure.
• Reinstatement after Academic Drop is addressed in Section IV.A (Readmission After Academic Drop) for undergraduates and in Graduate School Policy 3.5 for graduate students.

VII. Roles and Responsibilities Summary

Program Coordinating Committees include: BSNCC, DNPCC, M/PhDCC

Last updated: September 2026