Policy 1.6: Course Repeat Policy

I. Policy Statement

The School of Nursing supports student success through clear academic expectations and opportunities for improvement when course performance does not meet program standards. Repeating a course may be necessary when a student does not achieve the minimum passing grade, withdraws, or, in limited cases, requires remediation after a period of approved leave of absence.

Course repeat eligibility, limitations, and transcript recording are determined by University of Washington policies for undergraduate and graduate students, supplemented by program-specific requirements. The School of Nursing applies these policies consistently while providing guidance, resources, and support to students navigating the course repeat process.

II. Minimum Passing Grades

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

• Minimum grade of 2.0 in all graded classes and “Credit” in non-graded classes.
• Courses below 2.0 do not apply toward the degree.
• Failure to meet the minimum grade requires the student to repeat the course and may result in an altered progression plan approved by the BSN Coordinating Committee.

B. Graduate (MS-CIPCT, DNP, GCPAPN, PhD) Students

• Minimum grade of 2.7 in all graded courses and “Credit” in Credit/No Credit courses.
• Courses below 2.7 do not apply toward the degree.
• Failure to meet the minimum grade requires the student to repeat the course and may result in an altered progression plan approved by the appropriate Program Coordinating Committee.

C. Counting Course Failures

• A course failure is a grade below the minimum passing grade for the student’s program, or a grade of “NC.”
• An Incomplete, a withdrawal, a Registrar drop, and the missing grade annotation “X” are not course failures. This includes an “X” held while supplemental clinical or another approved remediation plan is in progress.

III. University of Washington Course Repeat Rules

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

• May repeat a course once with the approval of the academic department offering the course; both grades remain on the transcript and are factored into the GPA, with credit earned only once.
• A third or subsequent attempt is not guaranteed. The student requests it under Section VI, Step 4, and the BSN Coordinating Committee decides. If the request is approved, the student works with their OSAA Program Adviser to register for the course. Grades from a third or later attempt appear on the transcript but are not included in the GPA.

B. Graduate (MS-CIPCT, DNP, GCPAPN, PhD) Students

• May repeat any course; both grades appear on the transcript and are included in the cumulative GPA.
• Third and subsequent grades appear on the permanent record but are not included in the cumulative GPA.
• Credit is counted only once toward degree requirements.
• Review financial implications of course repetition.

IV. Program-Specific Guidelines

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

• Course failure. A student who does not pass a required course repeats it under an altered progression plan approved by the BSN Coordinating Committee. The plan determines which courses, if any, the student may take until the course is passed. The OSAA Program Adviser meets with the student to review the plan, and a Development Plan may be assigned under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1: Academic Performance and Progress.
• Second failure of the same course. The University permits one repeat. A further attempt requires a third-attempt request under Section VI, Step 4, and the BSN Coordinating Committee decides. Without an approved attempt, the student cannot progress in the program. The student meets with the OSAA Program Adviser to review options.
• Academic standing. The University Registrar assigns academic standing based on GPA, as described in UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1. This is separate from any action under this policy.
• Appeal. A student may grieve a BSN Coordinating Committee decision on an altered progression plan or a third-attempt request under UW School of Nursing Policy 5.2: Student Grievance & Appeals Process.

B. Graduate (MS-CIPCT, DNP, GCPAPN, PhD) Students

• First failure. A student who does not pass a required course is placed on Final Academic Alert, as stated in UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1, and repeats the course under an altered progression plan approved by the Coordinating Committee.
• Second failure. Failing the same course twice, or failing two different courses in two different quarters, is grounds for a recommendation of Academic Drop.
• Petition for continued enrollment. Before an Academic Drop recommendation is finalized, the student may submit a written petition describing extenuating circumstances and proposing a path forward, such as a modified progression plan, a repeat of specific courses, remediation, or a leave of absence under UW School of Nursing Policy 2.3: Leave of Absence. Section VI, Step 5 states how to submit it.
• Committee review. The Coordinating Committee evaluates the referral together with the student’s academic record and any petition for continued enrollment, and makes a recommendation. During the review, the Coordinating Committee determines which courses, if any, the student may take.
  • MS-CIPCT, PhD, and non-clinical Certificate students are referred to the M/PhD Coordinating Committee.
  • DNP and GCPAPN students are referred to the DNP Coordinating Committee.
• Appeal. A student may grieve a Coordinating Committee recommendation for Academic Drop under UW School of Nursing Policy 5.2, which covers committee determinations on progression and states the timelines, hearing rights, and further appeal to the Dean of the Graduate School.
• Supplemental clinical (DNP and GCPAPN). Supplemental clinical (NCLIN 567) is not a course repeat. It is a remediation pathway, approved by the DNP Coordinating Committee as an altered progression plan, as described in UW School of Nursing Policy 3.3: Clinical Evaluation. A student who does not complete supplemental clinical successfully has two course failures: the original clinical course and NCLIN 567. The committee review and petition above apply, and the outcome may be a recommendation for Academic Drop or an approved repeat of the course.

C. In all programs:

• Repeating a course is subject to space availability and may delay progression.
• Students may be required to repeat prerequisites before enrolling in subsequent courses.
• Clinical courses may require remediation or competency validation before re-enrollment.
• In some cases, students may be placed on Academic Notification, Academic Alert, or Final Academic Alert per UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1 while repeating a course.

V. Student Responsibilities

• Consult with the OSAA Program Adviser to discuss a repeat plan and/or altered progression.
• Review financial implications of course repetition. Students receiving veterans education benefits confirm approval with the Veterans Education Benefits Office before registering for a repeated course.
• Follow University registration deadlines and petition processes as applicable.

VI. Process

1. Identification: A course grade below the program’s minimum passing standard or a Coordinating Committee decision regarding altered progression indicates a repeat is required.
2. Outreach: The OSAA Program Adviser (or designated OSAA staff) proactively contacts the student to discuss the need to repeat the course and next steps.
3. Advising and altered progression plan: The student meets with the OSAA Program Adviser to review timing and registration options. The OSAA Program Adviser and the Program Director develop the altered progression plan with the student. For PhD students, the M/PhD Coordinating Committee Chair serves in the Program Director’s role. The Adviser submits the plan to the student’s Coordinating Committee for approval.
4. Third attempt: A request for a third or subsequent attempt is submitted in writing to the OSAA Program Adviser, who routes it to the student’s Coordinating Committee. The request describes the circumstances affecting the prior attempts and the supports the student will use. Approval also requires the consent of the academic department offering the course. The decision is communicated to the student in writing.
5. Petition for continued enrollment (graduate students):
   • After a second course failure, the OSAA Program Adviser refers the student to the Coordinating Committee and sends the student written notice of the referral.
   • Within five business days of the notice, the student may submit a written petition to the OSAA Program Adviser, who routes it to the Coordinating Committee Chair.
   • During the review, the OSAA Program Adviser works with the student to adjust registration to the courses the Coordinating Committee approves.
   • The Committee considers the petition with the referral and communicates its recommendation to the student in writing.
   • The Graduate School accepts Academic Drop recommendations no later than the fifth business day of the quarter. If the review cannot be completed by that date, the recommendation applies to the following quarter.
6. Registration: The student registers for the repeated course in the quarter set by the approved altered progression plan, following UW registration procedures. A student approved for a third attempt registers with the support of their OSAA Program Adviser.
7. Documentation: The OSAA Program Adviser updates the student’s academic record to reflect the repeat requirement; any related academic progress status changes are documented per UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1.

VII. Roles and Responsibilities Summary

Last updated: September 2026