Academic Information and Policies

Statement of Student Responsibility

Students are solely responsible knowing and following Mount Carmel College of Nursing policies and procedures and for their own successful progress and completion of the degree program and requirements they select. While advisors are available to help students with course selection, each student is responsible for seeking clarification regarding progression through the curriculum. At all times, each student is also responsible for seeking clarification and/or assistance from faculty, staff, or administrators.

New Student Orientation (onsite students)

Attendance at New Student Orientation is a requirement for all new entering onsite students.

Technology Requirements

Onsite Campus Students

All entering Mount Carmel onsite students are required to demonstrate a minimum level of computer and Internet competency by successfully completing a technology proficiency assignment. Traditional Program students must demonstrate this competency by the end of week 8 of the first semester of enrollment. A new student will not be permitted to enroll for the second semester until successful completion of this requirement.

Second Degree Accelerated Program (SDAP) students must demonstrate this competency by the end of week 6 of the first semester of enrollment. A new SDAP student will not be permitted to enroll for subsequent courses until successful completion of this requirement.

The technology proficiency is an independent self-study course. For additional assistance or computer help sessions, contact the Academic Resource Center.

The student must have the ability to:

1. Log onto the Internet and other applications with a user ID and password.
2. Use a search engine on the Internet.
3. Use the Library databases to retrieve articles.
4. Receive, send, and reply to email.
5. Develop, file, revise, edit, and print Word® documents.
6. Attach documents/files to email messages and/or assignments.
7. Follow and participate in an online discussion or chat.

Online Students

All entering Mount Carmel Online RN-BSN students are required to demonstrate a minimum level of computer and Internet competency. The program begins with an Online Student Orientation Course that increases students’ comfort in an online learning environment.

Attendance

Class and clinical attendance is required at Mount Carmel College of Nursing. Each course syllabus includes faculty requirements for specific class and clinical attendance.

• An onsite program student listed on the class roster who has not attended class or clinical by the second class or clinical day and has not been excused will be administratively withdrawn from the course.
• A Second Degree Accelerated Program student who is absent without excuse will be withdrawn from the class and from the Program.
• An online student listed on the class roster who has not attended class, or participated in the online class, by the end of the first week of class and has not been excused will be administratively withdrawn from the course.
• In all cases, the faculty of the course must notify the Office of Records and Registration with the name of the absent student.

By the approval of the Academic Dean, a student will be dropped from a nursing clinical course if patient/client safety is at risk, and a grade of “W” will be posted to the student’s academic transcript.

Illness during class or clinical: A student who becomes ill or injured during class or clinical time will notify the instructor who will initiate an appropriate plan of action based on the circumstances and in accordance with related College policies.

All missed clinical experiences must be made up. Clinical make up is determined by the course coordinator. The College reserves the right to administratively withdraw students from clinical nursing courses based on clinical absences.

Students in onsite classes who have been admitted as a hospital inpatient or seen for treatment in a hospital Emergency Department must submit a signed release in order to return to class and/or clinical. This signed release must be submitted to the Student Health Nurse prior to the student’s return to class and/or clinical. The release must clearly identify all restrictions and the length of time the restrictions apply.

An online program student who becomes ill or injured during enrollment in an online course and cannot complete coursework due to that illness or injury should notify the instructor who will initiate an appropriate plan of action based on the circumstances and in accordance with related College policies.

Program Completion Time

• Traditional program pre-licensure students must complete the Mount Carmel Nursing Program within 6 years of the date of admission.
• Second Degree Accelerated Program students must complete the Mount Carmel Nursing program in 13 months.
• Online RN-BSN students must complete the Mount Carmel Nursing Program within 15 semesters, or 5 years, from the date of admission.

Textbooks

Mount Carmel students may order textbooks through the online bookstore, MBS Direct. Students should place orders early enough to ensure materials will arrive in time for the start of classes. Access the online bookstore via the MCCN website at: bookstore.mbsdirect.net/mccn.htm. In addition, MBS Direct will buy back used books. Assistance and contact information is available at the online bookstore website.

All students are required to purchase the latest edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) Style Manual.

Textbooks for courses taken through affiliation with Columbus State Community College or The Ohio State University or for courses taken at Ohio University-Lancaster by students in the MCCN-Fairfield Medical Center Program can be purchased at the respective institution bookstores or other retail textbook suppliers.

Nursing Supplies

All students are required to have the following medical equipment for the first Skills Lab in NURS 204 (traditional program) and NURS 294 (Second Degree Accelerated Program) :

1. Stethoscope (dual head)
2. Penlight
3. Bandage scissors
4. Watch (with second hand)
5. Lab coat (full [knee] length) must be purchased from www.robertsmed.com. Enter the Uniform Program Login Code “mc13” in the upper right corner (case sensitive). Lab coats come with the Mount Carmel College of Nursing shoulder patch attached to the upper left sleeve.

Student Uniform and Lab Coat

The MCCN student uniform is required, starting with enrollment in Nursing 205 (sophomore level). Students are required to obtain the approved nursing student uniform with a Mount Carmel College of Nursing shoulder patch attached to the upper left sleeve.

The approved MCCN uniform is available from:

Roberts Medical Uniforms
1135 Commercial Ave. SE
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Toll free:  877-512-9090
Fax:  330-339-6775
Website:  robertsmed.com/

This is the only accepted vendor for the MCCN nursing student uniform and lab coat. Both can be ordered directly from their website (robertsmed.com/).

For uniform and lab coat information specific to MCCN, enter mc13 in the “Enter Code” box located at the top middle of the webpage. Roberts uniforms and lab coats come with the MCCN shoulder patch already attached. 

See Dress Code  for additional details.

Community Service Requirement

The Community Service Requirement pertains only to Fall Semester 2016 juniors and seniors and Online RN-BSN Program students. For other students, this requirement is being replaced by Service Learning which is integrated into the curriculum. Students to whom Community Service applies should login to CARMELink > Student tab > Community Service page for details.

Online Courses

Any onsite program student who wishes to enroll in an online course must have a minimum level of computer competency in order to be successful. Tutorials are provided to assist the student to develop or refresh computer skills. All tutorials are to be completed prior to starting an online course. Students will be required to demonstrate minimum computer competence by successfully completing the Technology Proficiency Requirement prior to starting an online course.

Professional Liability Insurance (onsite students)

Onsite pre-licensure program students may elect to purchase professional liability insurance prior to their enrollment in clinical nursing courses (Fall Semester of the sophomore year). The College maintains liability insurance coverage for students and faculty functioning in their College-sanctioned roles. Information regarding professional liability insurance is available in the College Administrative office. For a complete copy of the Professional Liability insurance policy, click here  

Academic Advising

Academic advising is an integral part of the student’s educational experience. To ensure timely resolution of problems and to ensure progression to graduation, the student must assume responsibility in the advising process.

The Academic Resource Center provides the following advising services:

1. Interact with students in a sensitive and caring manner.
2. Maintain confidentiality when advising students.
3. Assist students in examining and improving study habits, time management skills, stress reduction techniques, and test taking strategies.
4. Assist with resolution of academic problems.
5. Provide information and/or advice about career opportunities.
6. Provide math and writing support.
7. Assist students with individual and group tutoring.
8. Provide APA assistance with editing and formatting individual papers an presentations.
9. Referrals for learning disability testing and employee assistance are available.
10. Provide test proctoring for students with accommodations.
11. Provide additional collaboration and follow-up with students and faculty.

Records and Registration staff provide the following advising services for pre-licensure students:

1. Assist in planning the student’s academic program.
2. Advise regarding course registration each semester.
3. Interpret academic requirements, policies, and procedures.
4. Monitor student progress toward fulfilling degree requirements and academic achievement.

The Online RN-BSN Completion Program Advisor provides the following advising services for RN-BSN students:

1. Assist in planning the student’s academic program.
2. Advise regarding course registration each semester.
3. Interpret academic requirements, policies, and procedures.
4. Monitor student progress toward fulfilling degree requirements and grade point achievement.

The Second Degree Accelerated Program staff provides the following advising services for SDAP students:

1. All the services listed above under “Academic Resource Center.”
2. Each SDAP student is also assigned a SDAP faculty advisor whose role is to provide academic and career guidance and support to the student throughout the College experience.

College and Career Success (FYEX 110-111)

The College and Career Success Seminar (FYEX 110  and FYEX 111  ) is required for all first-time freshmen during the first two semesters of enrollment. This course is also required for transfer students with less than 16 semester hours of transfer credit who have a TEAS-V Adjusted Individual Total Score of either Basic or Developmental. However, all entering students are eligible to participate in this seminar. This class meets one hour per week during both the Fall and Spring Semesters.

FYEX 110   and FYEX 111  fulfill 2 credit hours of required humanities electives in the curriculum plan. The College and Career Success Seminar offers strategies and principles to apply for a successful college experience.

English Placement

Students without equivalent transfer credit for English Composition are placed into ENGL 110 if their ACT-English score is 18 or higher. Students with an ACT-English score less than 18 are placed into ENGL 110 if their TEAS-V English level is Proficient or higher.

Students with an ACT-English score below 18 and a TEAS-V English level of Basic or Developmental are placed into ENGL 100. Credit for this course counts in hours earned but not in total hours for graduation requirements. Students who successfully complete ENGL 100 are required to subsequently take ENGL 110.

Math Competency

All students who score at either the Basic or Developmental level on the math section of the TEAS-V, regardless of previously completed college-level math courses, are required to successfully complete a non-credit, remedial, math course (MATH 090 ) during the first or second semester of enrollment. MATH 090 is required prior to enrolling in NURS 206  , Pharmacology, at the sophomore level. 

Math Across the Curriculum

Details of the MCCN Math Across the Curriculum policy are listed below:

• Students take a post-test (Test A) at the end of sophomore year in NURS 206  , Pharmacology. The same test (Test A) is given to juniors in Term 1 of the Fall semester as a pre-test. A different post-test (Test B) will be administered at the beginning of Term 4 of the junior year. Seniors take a pre-test (Test B) Term 1 of the senior year.
• This schedule allows ample time for remediation for those students who do not pass the test at 100%.
• Students who do not pass the test with 100% on the second try will be referred to the Pharmacology instructor and/or the Academic Resource Center for remediation. When the student has successfully completed remediation, the clinical faculty member will be notified. Successful completion of remediation is achieved when the student passes the test at 100%.
• Students may continue in their nursing clinical course but will not be allowed to pass medication to patients and will continue to receive “unsatisfactory” on the clinical evaluation until remediation has been successfully completed

APA Format

The College requires the latest edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) style manual for all student papers because it is the acceptable format for written papers in scientific disciplines.

APA format is included in the MCCN ENGL 110 course. All transfer students with equivalent credit for ENGL 110 but without instruction in APA format will be enrolled in ENGL 112, a one-credit, 8-week online course. Credit will count toward hours required to graduate. A course waiver will be considered for any student who provides to the Director of Records and Registration a syllabus (from the semester/quarter the course was taken) that shows adequate evidence of previous APA instruction.

Turnitin®

To encourage Mount Carmel students to maintain honesty and integrity, the College has partnered with Turnitin®, a web-based program that allows students and faculty to check papers and essays for plagiarism. Onsite students are encouraged to check their own papers prior to submitting their assignments to faculty.

Note:  Use of Turnitin is a requirement for all papers submitted by students enrolled in the Online RN-BSN Completion Program.

Tutoring

Mount Carmel College of Nursing offers a tutoring program to students at no charge. Student tutors are paid by the College, but there is no charge to students for tutoring services.

How to receive assistance in a course:

1. Contact the Academic Resource Center to make an appointment for a learning needs assessment. Allow at least one hour for the appointment. The learning needs assessment must be completed prior to having a tutor assigned.
2. Allow at least one week for the tutoring request to be processed. Tutors will be assigned based on the learning needs assessment.

What to bring to a tutoring session:

1. Bring the textbook, notes, syllabus, a calendar of test dates, past tests or quizzes, and any other information that would help plan the tutoring sessions.
2. Before meeting the tutor, take some time to review the course content and write down what is and is not understood. This will facilitate developing a more specific tutoring plan.

What to expect from a tutoring session:

1. Expect to meet the tutor at the agreed upon time. If you are going to be late or find it necessary to cancel the session, please notify the tutor as soon as possible.
2. You should expect the tutor to have you do the work. When working with the tutor in solving problems or trying to understand information, be sure that you are the person doing the writing and most of the talking.

Contact the Academic Resource Center with questions, comments, or suggestions about tutoring services.

Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI)

Mount Carmel College of Nursing partners with the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) in the administration of a package of teaching and assessment tools for all pre-licensure nursing students. Fees for ATI are included in educational costs each semester during sophomore, junior and senior years.

Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS-V)

As part of the first semester orientation process, all new pre-licensure students are required to complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS-V) in the areas of Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English/Language Usage.

• All students classified by MCCN as first-time freshman are required to successfully complete the College and Career Success courses (FYEX 110 and FYEX 111) during the first two semesters, regardless of their TEAS-V results.
• Transfer freshman with less than 16 semester hours of college credit whose TEAS-V Adjusted Individual Total Score is Basic or Developmental are required to complete FYEX 110 and FYEX 111 during the first two semesters.
• Transfer freshman with 16 or more semester hours of college credit are exempt from FYEX 110 and FYEX 111. However, any student in this category who scores at Basic or Developmental in Reading, English, and Language Usage, or Science will be referred to the Academic Resource Center.
• All entering students, regardless of class level or previously completed college-level math courses, who score at Basic or Developmental in Math are required to successfully complete a remedial math course (MATH 090). Transfer sophomores must take MATH 090 the first semester of enrollment; freshmen must take MATH 090 the first of second semester of enrollment.

Content Mastery Series

The College also administers diagnostic assessments to students following classroom instruction in the sophomore, junior, and senior years and throughout the Second Degree Accelerated Program (SDAP). Each assessment provides data regarding a student’s mastery of concepts of specific nursing content and offers a formative indication of developing NCLEX-RN readiness. A percentage of the nursing course grade will be based upon ATI achievement levels.

ATI Comprehensive Review

All students graduating from a pre-licensure nursing program (Traditional and SDAP) are required to participate in a three-day ATI Comprehensive Review for NCLEX Preparation whenever a class size numbers 15 graduates or more. The onsite format consists of a three-day comprehensive in-class review.

Virtual ATI (VATI)

Virtual-ATI NCLEX-RN review is an innovative program that provides 12-week access to interactive online review resources to prepare nursing graduates for NCLEX-RN success. The review is guided by a Master’s-prepared nurse educator and is individualized to each graduate. The program directly aligns with the current NCLEX-RN test plan, and provides access to a variety of resources. Graduates who complete the Virtual-ATI NCLEX-RN Review with full/active engagement have historically shown to have a high NCLEX-RN pass rate. Active engagement/participation in Virtual-ATI includes communicating with the coach, taking assigned assessments, completing designated remediation activities, and Focused Review under the direction of the coach. Graduates who meet the 100% completion status of the review, as well as, demonstrated proficiency in content areas and the Virtual ATI predictor within the set time/guidelines will achieve Green Light status, indicating they are ready to take the NCLEX-RN. It is highly recommended that the graduate sit for the NCLEX-RN within 3 weeks of achieving the Green Light.

ATI Guaranteed Support Policy

ATI offers guaranteed support to students after completing an ATI Live Review and completion and achievement of a “Green Light” from Virtual ATI. If a student does not pass on their initial attempt at NCLEX-RN, ATI will provide an additional 12 weeks of Virtual ATI (VATI) to the student at no additional cost. In order to receive this additional support, the student must do the following:

1. Student must attend all 3 days of the live ATI review.
2. Student must complete all Virtual ATI assignments and achieve “Green Light” status.
3. Student must contact ATI in writing within three weeks of taking NCLEX-RN to inform ATI that he/she did not pass the NCLEX-RN on initial attempt.
4. If the student contacts ATI after three weeks of taking the NCLEX-RN, the student must pay a $75 reactivation fee for an additional 12 weeks of evaluation and assistance.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

Mount Carmel College of Nursing is respectful of students’ rights and responsibilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) as amended by the ADA Amendment Act of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These laws require that no qualified person with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity which receives or benefits from Federal assistance.  In addition, the Fair Housing Act requires reasonable, housing-related accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

The Mount Carmel College of Nursing is committed to serving qualified students with disabilities in its programs and services. Any qualified student with a disability may request an accommodation to ensure that the academic program does not discriminate against or have the effect of discriminating against that student.

Since the nature and severity of disabilities vary, non-academic adjustments may be applicable only when they are appropriate to the needs of the individual student with a disability. To determine eligibility for accommodations, the College generally requires current and relevant documentation from a qualified professional with expertise in the area of the diagnosed disability/disorder that establishes a disability and its impact on the student and confirms the need for each accommodation requested.

Scope of this Policy

This policy applies to both academic and non-academic accommodations, including but not limited to, requests for accommodations in the student residence halls, with required community service activities, coursework, or in College technologies and services. 

Definition of Accommodation and Disability

Accommodations

Accommodations (also sometimes called adjustments) are modifications of policies, practices, or procedures that will allow the student with a disability/disorder to meet the requirements of the course or program.  Examples of available accommodations may include, but are not necessarily limited to, auxiliary aids and modifications to courses, programs, services, activities, or facilities. 

The College will take all steps necessary to ensure that its students are not excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any program or activity because of a lack of auxiliary aids and services for students with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills. The College, however, cannot honor requests for accommodations that would fundamentally alter its programs or services, are directly related to any licensing requirements, cause undue administrative or financial hardship on the College, or jeopardize the health or safety of others.

It is the responsibility of the student to make his or her disability status and/or need for an accommodation known to the College, following the process outlined below.  Once notified, the College will work with the student to identify potential accommodations and assess the practicality and effectiveness of each potential accommodation.

Determinations regarding accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.  An accommodation must be tailored to address the nature of the disability and the needs of the individual within the context of the requirements of the program.  If there are two or more possible accommodations, and one costs more or is more burdensome than the other, the College may choose the less expensive or less burdensome accommodation that is still effective.

Disability

Generally, a person with a disability is one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.  Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

Admission of Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities may apply to and are considered for admission to the College in the same manner as any other applicant.  Students must meet the same admission requirements and Functional Abilities and Performance Standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, as all other students.  

No student (or prospective student) is required by law to disclose a disability before or after admission to the College. However, disclosure and documentation of a disability is required if accommodations (academic or non-academic) are requested.

Students (and prospective students) are encouraged to review the Functional Abilities and Performance Standards that are essential for the safe practice of professional nursing and for successful participation in and completion of a nursing education program. Students will need to demonstrate satisfactory application of these functional abilities and performance standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, during their course of study in nursing. The Functional Abilities and Performance Standards can be found here.

Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

Service Animals: Mount Carmel College of Nursing permits the presence of Service Animals which perform tasks in support of persons with disabilities in College buildings, classrooms, and residence halls. Federal regulations define Service Animals as dogs (and in specific cases, miniature horses) that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, and alerting or protecting a person who is having a seizure. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Only the following two questions may be asked to determine if an animal is a service animal, as federally defined: 1) is the animal required because of a disability? (if the disability is not obvious), and 2) what work or task has the service animal been trained to do? There are no requirements to register service animals with the College but students are encouraged to notify the Title II/Section 504 Coordinator of the regular presence of a service animal so the Coordinator can provide support and education to others members of the campus community.

Emotional Support Animals: Mount Carmel College of Nursing permits residents of its on-campus residence halls to possess an Emotional Support Animal, as required by the Fair Housing Act. Emotional Support (or assistance) Animals may provide physical assistance, emotional support, calming, stability, and other kinds of support to persons with disabilities. The presence of the animal must be necessary in order to provide the resident with a disability the use and enjoyment of the dwelling. There must be an identifiable relationship or nexus between the disability and the assistance or support the animal provides. Emotional Support Animals do not perform work or tasks that qualify them as “Service Animals” under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Emotional Support Animals are only permitted on the premises of the student residence halls, including the in the student’s individual apartment, in the hallways leading to the exterior of the building, and in common areas outside the residence halls. Emotional support animals are not permitted in the public buildings of the College including Marian Hall, the Center for Learning and Education (CLE), simulation or clinical skills labs, library, hospital buildings, or in dining areas of public buildings. Emotional Support Animals require the approval of the Title II/Section 504 Coordinator, using the process outlined below.

Handler Responsibilities: The handlers/owners of Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals are obligated to comply with any applicable laws related to animal licensing, vaccination, and identification. Handlers must keep animals under their control at all times and are responsible to adequately care for, clean up after, and maintain the health of their animal. Handlers are responsible for any and all damage to physical facilities caused by their animal. Handlers assume all liability for the action of their animals, including injuries to other persons or damage of others’ personal property.

Emotional Support Animals must be “housebroken” (trained not to urinate or defecate inside the residence); animal waste deposited on the grounds outside the residence halls must be collected in plastic bags and disposed of in outside trash receptacles. Animals must be kept in the student’s bedroom when the student is away from the residence. While away from the animal, the use of pet “crates” (sturdy den-like enclosures) to provide safety and security to the animal is generally recommended by animal care experts. Suitemates should not be asked to take responsibility for caring for an Emotional Support Animal; any care provided by suitemates is entirely voluntary.

If the student plans to be gone from the residences for longer than the animal can safely stay alone (generally between 8 and 12 hours), the student must make prior arrangements for the animal’s care. If the student will be gone from the residences for more than 24 hours, the animal must be removed from the residence and cared for according to arrangements made by the student. Students with Emotional Support Animals are required to have current contact information for someone who can take responsibility for the animal in the case of an emergency on file with the Director of Student Life; this should be updated each semester or when there are changes.

Limitations: Service Animals or Emotional Support Animals may not be permitted when the animal poses a substantial and direct threat to the health or safety of others, or if the presence of the animal fundamentally alters the nature of the program or service in which the person with a disability is participating. Determinations of this kind are made on a case-by-case basis by the College’s Title II/Section 504 Coordinator.

Animals permitted in the residence halls must not unduly disrupt the quality of life or environment of safety for others living in the residence halls. The College reserves the right to immediately remove animals from its premises that pose a threat to the health or safety of others. Animals creating a disruptive (but not necessarily dangerous) environment may be removed if attempts to correct the problem are unsuccessful. Decisions to remove an animal are made by the Title II/Section 504 Coordinator in collaboration with the Director of Student Life and/or the Mount Carmel Safety and Security department.

Procedures

1. The Title II/Section 504 Coordinator (the “Coordinator”) has been designated to handle inquiries into academic and non-academic accommodations. A student requesting accommodations under this policy must notify the Coordinator as soon as possible after the need for an accommodation becomes apparent. The student should schedule a meeting with the Coordinator to discuss his or her needs and requested accommodations.
   
   Contact information: Title II/Section 504 Coordinator, Mount Carmel College of Nursing, 127 S. Davis Ave., Columbus, OH 43222, Phone: 614-234-5021 or equity@mccn.edu.
   ​
2. To support most accommodation requests, students are required to provide current (generally no more than three years old) documentation of the disability to the Coordinator. This documentation must be from a professional who has undergone appropriate and comprehensive training, has relevant experience and licensure appropriate to the profession (such as a licensed psychologist, physician, or nurse practitioner). The documentation should describe the nature of the disability, the extent to which the disability limits one or more major life activities, and the suggested accommodation(s). The Coordinator will provide application and approval forms to standardize the documentation process.
   1. While there are no specific requirements for documenting the need for a Service Animal (described in Section IV, above), requests to possess an Emotional Support Animal in the residence halls are processed using the request and approval procedures specified here.
3. Upon submission of required documentation, the Coordinator will engage in an individualized, interactive process with the student to determine possible accommodations.
   1. For academic accommodations: Coordinator will review the documentation and any requested accommodations with the appropriate Associate or Assistant Dean. If necessary, the Coordinator will discuss any alternative accommodations with the student and the Associate or Assistant Dean.
   2. For non-academic accommodations and when necessary: Coordinator will review the documentation and any requested accommodations with the appropriate College leader such as the Director of Student Life, Academic Dean, or Manager of Information Technology Services. 
   3. The determination as to whether a requested accommodation will be granted lies with the Coordinator. In some situations, a temporary plan may be developed and implemented by the Coordinator, upon notification to the appropriate College leader, where additional time is required for diagnostic evaluation.  A minimum of 3 business days is required to implement the accommodations. A copy of the official documentation will be maintained in the student’s file by the Coordinator.
4. The Coordinator will then notify the student of the determination.  If an accommodation is granted, the Coordinator will provide to the student a form setting forth the accommodation for the student to provide to members of the faculty and staff in support of implementing the accommodation. If needed, the instructor and Coordinator will collaborate to plan and implement an academic accommodation.
5. Students who receive accommodations must meet with the Coordinator at the end of each semester to discuss their progress.
6. If a student feels that his or her accommodations are not being met, he/she must notify the Coordinator immediately.
7. If a student has been granted an accommodation and chooses not to use the accommodation(s), the student is required to notify the in writing that the student will not be utilizing the accommodations.

Grievance Procedure

If the student’s request for an accommodation is denied or the student is dissatisfied with the accommodation being provided, the College encourages the student to engage in an informal dialog with the Coordinator in an attempt to resolve the issue.  

If a matter cannot be resolved informally or if the student prefers to file a formal grievance, a written grievance must be submitted to the Academic Dean. The informal resolution process is strictly voluntary and is not a prerequisite to filing a formal grievance.

The student may file a formal grievance by submitting a written grievance to the Academic Dean within fifteen (15) business days of an occurrence giving rise to the grievance. The Academic Dean will then review the issue, request to meet with the student, and then provide the student with a written decision in response to the grievance no later than fifteen (15) business days after the grievance is submitted.  The Academic Dean’s decision shall be final.

A student is not required to file a grievance with the College prior to pursuing any federal or state administrative remedy.

Discrimination based on Disability

If you believe you have been discriminated against or harassed due to a disability you should contact the Coordinator who will assist you in making a complaint under the College’s Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, Anti-Retaliation Policy .

Retaliation

The College prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a grievance under this policy or otherwise complains that he or she has been denied equal access in the form of appropriate accommodations, modifications, auxiliary aids or effective communication. This prohibition of retaliation similarly extends to anyone who has testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing related to a grievance or complaint under this policy.

Student Privacy

Except where necessary to further the purpose of this policy or where otherwise permitted by law, documentation of a student’s disability will be kept confidential and will not be shared with other administrators or faculty members without the student’s consent, in accordance with federal educational privacy regulations. Any request by a student to review the documents associated with his or her request for an accommodation or grievance under this policy should be submitted to the Coordinator.

Related Policies

Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, Anti-Retaliation Policy  

Functional Abilities-Performance Standards  

¹The Ohio Board of Nursing governs requests for accommodations by an applicant for the NCLEX-RN® Examination. The Board has promulgated a policy, available here directly from the Ohio Board of Nursing website. Students are encouraged to review these requirements, including the requirement for a letter for the nursing education program demonstrating that accommodations were in place during the nursing education program.

NCLEX-RN

In accordance with requirements of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (Council), the Ohio Board of Nursing (Board) has developed a procedure for maintaining the psychometric integrity of the examination while responding to the special needs of applicants with disabilities who are eligible for admission to the NCLEX-RN examination. Accommodation requests include assistance such as extra time, a separate room or reading assistance. All accommodation requests must be made in advance so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

To allow sufficient time to secure the required documentation, it is recommended that you notify the Board, in writing, six months prior to the date you wish to take the NCLEX® examination. Documentation required must include the following letters/documentation:

1. A letter from the applicant that includes information regarding the specific type of disability involved, the specific type of accommodations requested, and the applicant’s contact information.
2. A letter from the applicant’s nursing education program administrator stating hat accommodations of the same type that the applicant is requesting were provided to the applicant during the nursing education program, unless the disability occurred after the completion of the program.
3. Documentation submitted to the Board directly from a qualified professional with expertise in the area of the diagnosed disability, on the professional’s letterhead including:

• recent reports, diagnostic test results, interpretations of test results, evaluations and assessments of the applicant demonstrating the need for accommodations due to a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities; and
• information regarding the history of the disability, its impact on the applicant’s ability to function, and past accommodations granted to the applicant, if any.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing may grant accommodations for the examination related to the applicant’s disability. Your request will be forwarded to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for review and approval. You will be notified whether your request is approved, along with your authorization to test (ATT). If you have questions about accommodations, please contact the Licensure Unit at (614) 466-3947 or by e-mail at licensure@nursing.ohio.gov. Click here for the policy from the Ohio Board of Nursing.

Learning Disabilities

The diagnosis must be based on a comprehensive assessment battery with the resulting diagnostic report to include a diagnostic interview, an assessment of aptitude/cognitive ability, academic achievement, and information processing. Actual test scores (stated as graded equivalents, standard scores, and percentiles) from identified, formalized evaluation instruments must be provided.

The practitioner must provide an interpretative diagnostic summary which includes:

1. evidence that the evaluator ruled out any other explanations for academic problems;
2. a description of how the learning disability was determined (i.e., use of patterns in cognitive ability, achievement, and information processing);
3. a description of the limitation to learning caused by the disability and the degree to which the applicant’s NCLEX-RN performance may be affected; and
4. an explanation as to why specific accommodations are needed and how the accommodations will mediate the specific disability.

ADHD

The diagnosis must be consistent with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV, or subsequent editions) and be indicated by documented evidence of both early and persistent patterns of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity. The practitioner providing documentation to the Board must confirm the diagnosis in accordance with these criteria and provide clear evidence that:

1. actual test scores (stated as grade equivalents, standard scores, and percentiles);
2. an interpretative diagnostic summary indicating other diagnoses or explanations for the symptoms or behaviors have been ruled out;
3. a description as to how patterns of behaviors across the life span and across settings are used to determine the presence of ADHD;
4. a statement as to whether the application was evaluated while on medication and whether the prescribed treatment produced a positive response;
5. a statement regarding the substantial limitation to learning that results from ADHD and the degree to which the applicant’s NCLEX-RN performance may be affected; and
6. a statement as to why specific accommodations are needed and how the accommodations will mediate the ADHD.

After reviewing the request for modifications, along with supporting documents, the Board, in consultation with Council, will make a determination on the request. The Board’s determination is then subject to final approval by Council. The applicant will be notified in writing of the final disposition of the request and of any specific procedures which must be followed for the examination.

If the applicant becomes disabled within the six month period prior to the date the applicant wishes to take the examination, the applicant should contact the Board immediately to ascertain the procedure to follow.

All correspondence and inquiries should be addressed to the Ohio Board of Nursing, 17 S. High Street, Ste. 400, Columbus, Ohio 43215-7410, 614-466-3947, or visit the website at www.nursing.ohio.gov.

Academic and Professional Standards

The Mount Carmel College of Nursing (MCCN) faculty and staff are dedicated to facilitating student development of intellectual, moral, and professional standards. This development requires the student to become increasingly responsible for self-directed and engaged learning, thus practicing and achieving academic and professional standards in order to become a highly education, skilled, and professional nurse. For a complete copy of the Academic and Professional Standards policy, click here.

The nursing profession demands that the individual in practice be responsible, accountable, self-directed, and professional in behavior. The process of becoming a professional begins upon entering a professional education program such as the programs offered at MCCN. Opportunities to develop and practice these qualities exist in the student role. MCCN expects that students will demonstrate their professionalism by:

• Attending all clinical experiences and all classes (onsite or online).
• Exhibiting courteous behaviors in the classroom, clinical sites, while on the MCCN campus, within Residence Halls, and while representing MCCN at community events.
• Being prepared for class and clinical assignments, being punctual for classes and MCCN appointments.
• Being respectful toward all members of the MCCN community (faculty, staff, and students; particularly in the Residence Halls and even “off duty”).
• Being conscious of information shared over all social media platforms-in personal and professional communications and especially over MCCN0-sponsored social media platforms.
• Using effective communications, verbally and non-verbally, by remembering always the MCHS/MCCN guiding behaviors:
  • We support each other in serving our students, patients, and communities.
  • We communicate openly, honestly, respectfully, and directly.
  • We are fully present.
  • We are accountable.
  • We trust and assume the goodness of intentions.
  • We are continuous learners.

Students who do not adhere to academic and professional standards may encounter allegations of misconduct, which imply deception in fulfilling academic and professional standards. Misconduct may take many forms and includes, but is not limited to:

Plagiarism: Defined as submission of work that is not the student’s own work or submitting the ideas, writings, or thoughts of another person without proper documentation; use of someones exact works as quotes in assignments without proper citation; also use of material from the Internet without proper citation, etc.

Self-Plagiarism: Students are required to submit original work for all courses, papers and written work submitted for one course may not be used for an assignment, except through negotiation with the instructor. Submitted duplicate work is considered self-plagiarism and is an example of academic misconduct.

Cheating During an Examination: Defined as, but not limited to, using notes or textbooks without the instructor’s consent, looking at another person’s paper, bringing items with notes written on them with the intent of using the notes during an exam, communication with another student during an examination, using electronic devices (phones, wristwatches) without the instructor’s consent.

Fabrication: Defined as constructing, manufacturing, inventing, or creating for the sake of deception, any classroom or clinical assignment; forging or falsifying any clinical or academic information; documenting clinical hours that were not actually completed; falsifying any patient record or other document used during clinical experiences.

Academic and Professional Standards in Residence Halls

Please note that the Academic and Professional Standards policy and procedures will be implemented for misconduct that occurs in the Residence Halls in addition to the rules, policies, and sanctions for students living in the Residence Halls. Please refer to the Residence Life policies in the Residence Hall Handbook in the student tab under Residence Life in CARMELink (https://carmelink.mccn.edu/ICS/Student/Residence_Life.jnz).

Standards of Professional Nursing Organizations

The National Student Nurses Association, as well as the American Nurses Association, stipulate Codes of Professional, Academic, and Clinical Conduct. These codes are full supported by MCCN and students are expected to be familiar with and follow these codes (National Student Nurses Association, www.nsna.org).

The conduct of nursing students in providing patient care is also regulated by the state of Ohio through the Ohio Board of Nursing in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 4723-5-12(C). See section below for details.

Student Conduct in the Nursing Care of Patients

The following policy is taken from the Ohio Board of Nursing’s Rules Promulgated From the Law Regulating Practice of Nursing, effective February 1, 2014 (certified January 21, 2014), 4723-5-12(C) (accessed on the Ohio Board of Nursing website).

The policy, related to student conduct in providing nursing care, includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. A student shall, in a complete, accurate, and timely manner, report and document nursing assessments or observations, the care provided by the student for the patient, and the patient’s response to that care.
2. A student shall, in an accurate and timely manner, report to the appropriate practitioner errors in or deviations from the current valid order.
3. A student shall not falsify any patient record or any other document prepared or utilized in the course of, or in conjunction with, nursing practice. This includes, but is not limited to, case management documents or reports, time records or reports, and other documents related to billing for nursing services.
4. A student shall implement measures to promote a safe environment for each patient.
5. A student shall delineate, establish, and maintain professional boundaries with each patient.
6. At all times when a student is providing direct nursing care to a patient the student shall:
   a.   Provide privacy during examination or treatment and in the care of personal or bodily needs; and
   b.   Treat each patient with courtesy, respect, and with full recognition of dignity and individuality.
7. A student shall practice within the appropriate scope of practice as set forth in division (B) of section 4723.01 and division (B)(20) of section 4723.28 of the Revised Code for a registered nurse, and division (F) of section 4723.01 and division (B)(21) of section 4723.28 of the Revised Code for a practical nurse;
8. A student shall use universal and standard precautions established by Chapter 4723-20 of the Administrative Code;
9. A student shall not:
   a.   Engage in behavior that causes or may cause physical, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse to a patient;
   b.   Engage in behavior toward a patient that may reasonably be interpreted as physical, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse.
10. A student shall not misappropriate a patient’s property or:
    a.   Engage in behavior to seek or obtain personal gain at the patient’s expense;
    b.   Engage in behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as behavior to seek or obtain personal gain at the patient’s expense;
    c.   Engage in behavior that constitutes inappropriate involvement in the patient’s personal relationships; or
    d.   Engage in behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as inappropriate involvement in the patient’s personal relationships.

For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to the behaviors by the student set forth in this paragraph.

11. A student shall not:
    a.   Engage in sexual conduct with a patient;
    b.   Engage in conduct in the course of practice that may reasonably be interpreted as sexual;
    c.   Engage in any verbal behavior that is seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient;
    d.   Engage in verbal behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as seductive, or sexually demeaning to a patient.

For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to sexual activity with the student.

12. A student shall not, regardless of whether the contact or verbal behavior is consensual, engage with a patient other than the spouse of the student in any of the following:
    a.   Sexual contact, as defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code;
    b.   Verbal behavior that is sexually demeaning to the patient or may be reasonably interpreted by the patient as sexually demeaning.
13. A student shall not self-administer or otherwise take into the body any dangerous drug, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, in any way not in accordance with a legal, valid prescription issued for the student, or self-administer or otherwise take into the body any drug that is a schedule I controlled substance.
14. A student shall not habitually or excessively use controlled substances, other habit-forming drugs, or alcohol or other chemical substances to an extent that impairs ability to practice.
15. A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of use of drugs, alcohol, or other chemical substances.
16. A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of a physical or mental disability;
17. A student shall not assault or cause harm to a patient or deprive a patient of the means to summon assistance;
18. A student shall not misappropriate or attempt to misappropriate money or anything of value by intentional misrepresentation or material deception in the course of practice;
19. A student shall not have been adjudicated by a probate court of being mentally ill or mentally incompetent, unless restored to competency by the court.
20. A student shall not aid and abet a person in that person’s practice of nursing without a license, practice as a dialysis technician without a certificate issued by the board, or administration of medications as a medication aide without a certificate issued by the board.
21. A student shall not prescribe any drug or device to perform or induce an abortion, or otherwise perform or induce an abortion.
22. A student shall not assist suicide as defined in section 3795.01 of the Revised Code.
23. A student shall not submit or cause to be submitted any false, misleading or deceptive statements, information, or document to the nursing program, its faculty or preceptors, or to the board.
24. A student shall maintain the confidentiality of patient information. The student shall communicate patient information with other members of the health care team for health care purposes only, shall access patient information only for purposes of patient care or for otherwise fulfilling the student’s assigned clinical responsibilities, and shall not disseminate patient information for purposes other than patient care or for otherwise fulfilling the student’s assigned clinical responsibilities through social media, texting, emailing or any other form of communication.
25. To the maximum extent feasible, identifiable patient health care information shall not be disclosed by a student unless the patient has consented to the disclosure  of  identifiable  patient  health  care  information.  A  student  shall report individually identifiable patient information without written consent in limited circumstances only and in accordance with an authorized law, rule, or other recognized legal authority.
26. For purposes of paragraphs (C)(5), (C)(6), (C)(9), (C)(10), (C)(11) and (C)(12) of this rule, a student shall not use social media, texting, emailing, or other forms of communication with, or about a patient, for non-health care purposes or for purposes other than fulfilling the student’s assigned clinical responsibilities.

Effective: 02/01/2014
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 10/15/2016
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4723.07
Rule Amplifies: 4723.06
Prior Effective Dates: 02/01/1996, 04/01/1997, 02/01/2002, 02/01/2004, 02/01/2007, 02/01/2008, 02/01/2012

Academic and Professional Misconduct

Maintaining academic and professional standards is a serious matter for the professional nurse and nursing student, both in the work setting as well as outside the work setting. At MCCN, students with alleged academic or professional misconduct will be evaluated using the following processes and procedures: Initiation of a Performance Improvement Contract (PIC) and/or Hearing by the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee.

PIC Definition: The PIC is one of a larger repertoire of tools used to promote student learning, improvement, development, and success. Each PIC is initiated to assist the student in identifying, managing, and improving conduct and behaviors that inhibit a student’s full success at MCCN. The PIC is meant to provide the student with guided learning towards improvement and evaluation of that improvement. The PIC is intended to provide the student with due process regarding observed conduct and behaviors that may be questionable in terms of possible misconduct.

Faculty and staff members initiate PICs when students demonstrate a potential infraction of college or health system policies, conduct themselves in a less than professional manner, and/or demonstrate patterns of behavior that impede their ability to provide safe, high quality patient care. The PIC is initiated to help students examine behaviors that are causing them to be less than successful, to identify behaviors that may help them improve, and to engage with faculty and staff in an action plan for making progress toward improvement and success. Because the PIC is a learning tool, there is no appeal process once a PIC has been initiated. For a complete copy of the Academic and Professional Standards Policy, click here .

Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee

Students whose conduct/behaviors are found to be less than successful and/or who may have incurred three PICs are subject to hearings performed by the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee.

Suspected Misconduct

When academic or professional misconduct is alleged, it is the responsibility of the staff or faculty in either the graduate or undergraduate nursing program or Residence Halls to both discuss the matter with the student and file a written account of the alleged misconduct with the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee. The written account will include recommendations for action, including the grade recommended for the student if the academic misconduct allegation is connected to a graded portion of a course.

In cases where faculty and college officials are concerned that students pose immediate dangers to other people and property, especially in clinical cases related to patient safety, the student’s academic and clinical educational progression will be temporarily suspended by the MCCN Academic Dean until the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee hearing is conducted and recommendations are made about outcomes and potential sanctions.

When a student suspects misconduct by a peer:

Student peers have a responsibility to report alleged misconduct to the lead instructor or relevant staff member. The reporting student, lead instructor or staff member may submit an allegation or misconduct to the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee. The reporting student is expected to participate as a witness at the scheduled misconduct hearing.

The faculty/staff member will:

1. Maintain confidentiality at all times; not discussing the student with anyone except those involved directly with the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee.
2. Meet with the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee who will determine the action to be taken.
3. Hold a conference with the student to discuss the alleged misconduct.
4. Submit all documents relevant to the incident to the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee within five (5) business days of the conference with the student.

The Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee will:

1. Determine whether the alleged misconduct violates policy after receiving the written account and relevant documents.
2. If no alleged policy violation has occurred, the Chairperson will notify the faculty, staff or student and no record will be placed in the student’s file.
3. If the Chairperson determines sufficient information exists to support an alleged policy violation, he/she will immediately schedule a hearing within ten (10) business days. The nearing will consist of all Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee members and the student.
4. The Chairperson will notify the student via email to pick up a packet containing a letter from the Chairperson and all documents related to the alleged misconduct. The letter will contain the following information:
   1. The allegation of academic or professional misconduct;
   2. The date and time of the hearing; and
   3. Information about where and when the student can provide any mitigating evidence of the Committee’s packet of materials prior to the hearing.
5. Once the Chairperson receives all the relevant mitigating evidence from the student, the Chairperson will forward all documents to the Committee members prior to the hearing.

PLEASE NOTE:  The Compliance Officer must be informed by the Chairperson about the processes and procedures. Due to FERPA protections, only the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee or the Compliance Officer will have contact with the student or the student’s parents. Faculty and staff who are contacted by the student or parents must immediately refer these individuals to the Chairperson or to the Compliance Officer for information.

The student will:

1. Attend all meetings scheduled by the faculty or staff member or Chairperson as related to the alleged incident of academic or professional misconduct.
2. Coopertae with the faculty or staff member and the Chairperson.
3. Receive a letter from the Chairperson that contains the following information:
   1. The allegation of academic or professional misconduct.
   2. The date and time of the hearing; and
   3. Information about where and when the student can provide any mitigating evidence of the Committee’s packet of materials prior to the hearing.

Student Due Process Within the Policy

Students alleged to have violated College policies and/or committed acts associated with academic and professional misconduct will have their cases heard before the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee. Students have a right to due process, or fair procedure, that includes:

1. Presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
2. Submission of reasonable standards of proof or evidence.
3. Right to an impartial hearing.
4. Freedom to appropriately defend themselves.

​For a complete copy of the Academic and Professional Standards Policy, click here .

Semester Registration

Second Degree Accelerated Program students are registered for all classes by the Office of Records and Registration. A course registration period for traditional program and Online RN-BSN Program students is scheduled prior to the beginning of each semester. Students register online via CARMELink. Requested courses are in “reserved” status until approved. Approved courses will display on the student’s schedule in CARMELink. Any student with a “hold” cannot register for classes which may result in the student being closed out of a specific course or section.

Nursing clinical courses, laboratories, and seminar courses have predetermined enrollment limits. No student is guaranteed placement in his/her choice of a specific course, clinical, or laboratory section.

Students may attend classes only after they have completed the registration process and have made satisfactory financial arrangements. By registering, a student agrees to all academic and financial regulations, terms, and conditions set forth by the College. Late registrations will be processed only if there is space available in each requested course.

Semester Load

The semester hour is the basis of credit at Mount Carmel College of Nursing. To complete the degree in four academic years, the traditional program student must undertake 15-18 hours of credit per semester. Semester loads of more than 19 hours of credit require the permission of the Director of Records and Registration. For Second Degree Accelerated Program students to complete the program in 13 months, they must take the courses in the sequence they are offered.

Full-Time / Part-Time Status

Students are considered full-time when they carry at least 12 credit hours per semester. Students enrolled in less than 12 credit hours are considered part-time; those enrolled in less than 6 credit hours are not eligible for financial aid. Second Degree Accelerated Program students are considered full-time for the 13 months of their enrollment.

Administrative Withdrawal

• An onsite program student listed on the class roster who has not attended class or clinical by the second class or clinical day and has not been excused will be administratively withdrawn from the course.
• A Second Degree Accelerated Program student who is absent without excuse will be withdrawn from the class and from the Program.
• An online student listed on the class roster who has not attended class, or participated in the online class, by the end of the first week of class and has not been excused will be administratively withdrawn from the course.
• In all cases, the faculty of the course must notify the Office of Records and Registration with the name of the absent student.

By the approval of the Academic Dean, a student will be dropped from a nursing clinical course if patient/client safety is at risk, and a grade of “W” will be posted to the student’s academic transcript.

Add and Drop Courses

Adding a Course

In order to add a non-nursing course after the course start date, a student must obtain the instructor’s signature on the Add/Drop Form prior to submitting the form to the Office of Records and Registration. Signature of the Undergraduate Associate or Assistant Dean is required to add any nursing course after the class start date.

In every case, a student must obtain the instructor’s signature on the Add/Drop Form in order gain admission to any non-nursing course that has closed due to maximum registration.

Dropping or Withdrawing from a Course

For the purposes of this policy, there are two types of courses: non-nursing courses and nursing courses. Nursing courses include all courses with a prefix of NURS (with the exception of nursing seminars). Non-nursing courses include all other courses taken in the academic program (including nursing seminars).

After the course start date, a student must first notify the course instructor and obtain his/her signature prior to submitting an Add/Drop Form to the Office of Records and Registration. Submission of the form to Records and Registration is required for official withdrawal from a course. Non-attendance in a course after the withdrawal deadline is considered being absent from the course. Failure to submit a faculty-signed Add/Drop Form will result in a grade being assigned at the conclusion of the course. All course withdrawals are subject to the Institutional Refund Policy .

The “end of week” shall be understood as the Friday, or in the case of a holiday or other College closure, the last business day of the week in question.

• A student may drop any course by the end of week 1 and the course will not appear on the transcript.
• A student may withdraw, without academic penalty, from a 16-week semester course by the end of week 12 of the course. A grade of “W” will be posted to the student’s academic transcript.
• A student may withdraw, without academic penalty, from an 8-week term course by the end of week 6 of the course. A grade of “W” will be posted to the student’s academic transcript.
• A student may not withdraw from any course after week 12 of a 16-week semester course or week 6 of an 8-week term course.
• Summer courses operating on a modified schedule will follow deadlines equivalent to the proportional requirements stated above.
• A student may withdraw from only one nursing course during the program of study.
• A student may withdraw from only one science course during the program of study.
• A student may withdraw from a total of two different non-nursing, non-science courses during the program of study.
• A student who is retaking a course from which he/she has previously withdrawn may not withdraw from that course a second time; a course grade will be assigned at the conclusion of the retake.
• Withdrawing from a course does not force the student to also withdraw from a co-requisite course.

Class Level (Degree-Seeking Students)

Students are classified as freshmen until successful completion of all courses in the freshman curriculum plan. Sophomore status is achieved once students are eligible to enroll for the first nursing course in the sophomore curriculum plan. Students are classified as juniors when they begin the first nursing clinical course in the junior curriculum plan. Senior status is achieved once students have registered for the first nursing course in the senior curriculum plan, and this status is maintained until graduation.

Academic Requirements

Academic Progression

Mount Carmel College of Nursing will not implement changes to policies for student progression, or requirements for completion of the program, that affect students already enrolled in the program at the time the changes are adopted.

Academic Probation

A student whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below 2.00 is placed on academic probation. Probation is defined as the opportunity to continue conditionally in the program after failing to meet minimum academic standards. A student is also placed on probation for failure to achieve a minimum grade of “C” in any nursing (NURS) course or in any science (SCIE) course..

A student is advised of probationary status through an official notification letter issued by the Chair of the Academic Progress Committee. Following this notification, the student is required to meet with the Academic Resource Center to develop a plan for academic improvement.

Freshman Level GPA

A freshman with a grade point average (GPA) below 2.00 at the end of the first semester or the second semester of enrollment will be academically dismissed from the College. A minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA and a minimum 2.00 cumulative science GPA must be achieved to progress from freshman to sophomore level.

Science GPA (Traditional Program)

In addition to overall GPA and Freshman Level GPA Requirements, students must also maintain a minimum science GPA.

1. A minimum grade of “C” is required in all science courses.
2. Any science course in which a grade less than “C” is earned must be repeated. This repeat privilege is permitted in only one science course.
3. A minimum 2.00 cumulative science GPA is required at the end of each academic year in order to move to the next academic level.
4. A minimum 2.00 cumulative science GPA is required in order to graduate.

Science GPA (Second Degree Accelerated Program)

A minimum grade of “C” is required in all 200 and higher level science courses. A student who earns less than a grade of “C” in any science course will be academically dismissed from the Second Degree Accelerated Program. To be considered for readmission to the traditional pre-licensure program, the student must apply through the Admissions Office.

Science GPA (Online RN-BSN Program)

A minimum grade of “C” is required in SCIE 420  . A student who earns less than a grade of “C” in this course must repeat the course.

Forgiveness Policy

The Forgiveness Policy allows a student to eliminate grades of “D” or “F” in courses previously taken at Mount Carmel College of Nursing. When a course is retaken and the Forgiveness Policy is applied, the original course and grade remain on the transcript: however, the original grade is removed from the calculation of the cumulative GPA, and only the repeated grade is included in the calculation.

The Forgiveness Policy may be applied a maximum of three times throughout the nursing program. After the maximum is reached, any retakes will have both grades calculated in the cumulative GPA.

Repeating a Science Course

A student who fails to achieve a minimum grade of “C” in any science course is placed on academic probation and must repeat the course. This repeat privilege is permitted in only one science course. A student who fails a repeated science course will be dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.

Any Second Degree Accelerated Program student who fails to achieve a minimum grade of “C” in any science course will be academically dismissed from the Second Degree Accelerated Program. If the student is accepted to the traditional program at Mount Carmel College of Nursing, the failed science course must be repeated. This repeat privilege is permitted in only one science course. A student who fails a repeated science course will be dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.

Repeating a Nursing Course

A student who fails to achieve a minimum grade of “C” in any nursing clinical course is placed on academic probation and must repeat the course. This repeat privilege is permitted in only one nursing clinical course. A student who fails a repeated nursing clinical course will be dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.

Any Second Degree Accelerated Program student who fails to achieve a minimum grade of “C” in any clinical nursing course will be academically dismissed from the Second Degree Accelerated Program. If the student is accepted to the traditional program at Mount Carmel College of Nursing, the failed nursing course must be repeated. This repeat privilege is permitted in only one nursing clinical course. A student who fails a repeated nursing clinical or science course will be dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.

Academic Dismissal

• A student who fails to achieve a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for two consecutive semesters will be academically dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• A freshman with a grade point average (GPA) below 2.00 at the end of the first semester or the second semester of enrollment will be academically dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• A student who earns grades of ‘D’ or ‘F’ in any two science courses (or a repeated science course) will be academically dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• A student who fails two nursing clinical courses (or a repeated nursing clinical course) will be academically dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing. However, a student dismissed at mid-semester (end of Term 1) may continue through the end of the semester if also enrolled in 16-week non-clinical courses.

An appeals process is in place for students who are academically dismissed.

Reinstatement

Traditional Program:  Students who are academically dismissed may apply for reinstatement. The Petition for Reinstatement form is available from the Director of Records and Registration.

Academically dismissed students are eligible to apply for reinstatement after one term (8 weeks) of non-enrollment. A student will be permitted to apply for reinstatement to the College only one time. A student with less than a 2.00 MCCN cumulative GPA is not eligible to apply for reinstatement.

The Undergraduate Academic Progress Committee will review the student’s Petition for Reinstatement and any supporting documentation of potential for academic success. Reinstatement is not an automatic process and the student’s request may be denied.

If the request for reinstatement is granted, the Undergraduate Academic Progress Committee will determine specific conditions for reinstatement of the student to the BSN program. A reinstated student must follow the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of reinstatement.

Second Degree Accelerated Program:  SDAP students who are academically dismissed may apply for readmission for the following year. In order to be readmitted to the SDAP in the following year, or admitted to the traditional undergraduate program, the student must reapply following all current admission policies and procedures. Students who are academically dismissed may apply for reinstatement to the traditional undergraduate program. A student will be permitted to apply for reinstatement to the College only one time.

All students:  Dismissed students must request reinstatement, in writing, to the Chair of the Academic Progress Committee. A Petition for Reinstatement is available from the Director of Records and Registration. A current transcript of any academic work completed since the dismissal must be included with the Petition for Reinstatement.

The Academic Progress Committee will review the student’s petition and any supporting documentation for potential of academic success. Reinstatement is not an automatic process and the student’s request is subject to approval or denial.

If the request for reinstatement is granted, the Academic Progress Committee will determine any special learning needs that are required as conditions of reinstatement, and a student may be asked to meet specific study requirements prior to course enrollment.

Please note:

1. A student who has failed two nursing clinical courses and has less than a 2.00 cumulative GPA is not eligible for reinstatement.
2. A student with less than a 2.00 cumulative GPA will not be considered for reinstatement.
3. A student with less than a 2.00 cumulative GPA in non-nursing courses may enroll, with permission, as a non-degree student at Mount Carmel and must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA, or earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA from another institution, in order to be considered for reinstatement.
4. A student will be permitted to apply for reinstatement to the College only one time.
5. A reinstated student must follow the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of reinstatement.
6. Reinstatement to the College does not necessarily indicate reinstatement to the nursing program.
7. Following reinstatement to the College, enrollment in specific classes shall be on a space available basis.
8. A reinstated student will be placed on probationary status for at least one semester.

Academic Appeals

The academic appeal process is established to provide a vehicle to ensure due process, equitable management of student’s academic grievances, and adequate protection to the rights of all involved parties. The academic appeal process is limited in scope to address grievances, complaints or disputes related to a student’s general academic performance, including course or assignment grades.

Other grievances or complaints are handled according to the Student Complaints and Grievances policy outlined in the current Undergraduate or Graduate Student Handbook.

The following is the procedure for the appeal process:

1. The first level of appeal is with the faculty member assigning the grade or evaluation being disputed. Initial contact with the instructor must be made within 3 calendar days (48 hours for Second Degree Accelerated Program students) from the date of occurrence or from the date of course failure.

•  First-level appeals must be made in writing and submitted electronically using the Nightingmail email system. In this first level of appeal, the student should a) describe the academic issue they are appealing (e.g., a course grade), b) the reason for the appeal, c) any supporting evidence, and d) the desired resolution.
• Once received, the faculty member has 3 calendar days (48 hours for Second Degree Accelerated Program students) to provide a decision in writing via Nightingmail to the student. 

2. If the grievance or dispute is not resolved after the first level of appeal, the student has 3 calendar days (48 hours for Second Degree Accelerated Program students) to appeal the faculty member’s decision to the Associate or Assistant Dean who oversees the student’s program (contact information for the Associate or Assistant Dean can be found in the Directory of the current Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog-Handbook or at http://mccn.edu/faculty-and-staff).

• The student wishing to appeal to the Associate or Assistant Dean should request a meeting via the Nightingmail email system with the Associate or Assistant Dean and provide, in the message to the Associate or Assistant Dean, the following information: a) a description of the academic issue they are appealing (e.g., a course grade), b) the reason for the appeal, c) any supporting evidence including details of the communication with the faculty, and d) the desired resolution.
• Except in extraordinary circumstances, the meeting will be held within 5 calendar days (24 hours for the Second Degree Accelerated Program students) from the date of the student’s request. Whenever possible, the Associate or Assistant Dean will render a decision within 24 hours of the meeting and follow-up with written notification via email.
• If necessary due to scheduling or other conflicts, one of the College’s  Associate or Assistant Deans or the Academic Dean may serve in place of the student’s program Associate or Assistant Dean during this phase of appeals.

3. If the grievance or dispute remains unresolved after meeting with the Associate or Assistant Dean, the student has 3 calendar days (24 hours for Second Degree Accelerated Program students) to appeal the Associate or Assistant Dean’s decision to the Academic Appeals Committee. To initiate the appeal, the student must submit the appeal request through the online Student Complaint or Grievance Form, available via the Student tab in CARMELink.
4. During the appeals process, students are generally permitted to attend classes and clinical experiences until a decision is made unless it is determined by the Associate or Assistant Dean that there may be risks to patient safety.
5. If at any step in the process a student misses a due date required for responding to a decision or advancing an appeal to the next phase, the appeals process is terminated and the grievance or dispute is closed.

Appeal Hearings

1. Once an appeal has been submitted to the Academic Appeals Committee, the student will be notified of the hearing date by the Chair of the Academic Appeals Committee. Considering the availability of Committee members, the student, and faculty members, the Academic Appeals Committee will make every attempt to convene within 3 calendar days from submission of the appeal through the Student Complaint or Grievance Form.
2. Hearings are conducted in closed sessions. Only the Committee members, the student appealing, the class advisor for the student’s class or program (in a support role), and other individuals directly involved in the appeal are permitted to attend. All persons involved in the Committee hearing are required to sign a statement of confidentiality. Legal counsel is not permitted at academic appeals hearings.
3. Both the student and faculty member(s) have the right to present testimony and evidence and to respond to the testimony and evidence of the other party.
4. The hearing may be conducted electronically but not electronically video/audio recorded.
5. Minutes of the hearing are taken by a member of the College staff and are the property of the College.
6. The Chair of the Academic Appeals Committee shall notify the Academic Dean of the Committee’s decision. The student will be informed of the decision in writing by the Academic Dean within 48 hours of the Committee hearing.
7. The Academic Dean may reject a decision of the Academic Appeals Committee only for just cause. Decisions of the Academic Appeals Committee (as communicated by the Academic Dean) are final and are not subject to further appeal.

Grading Policies

The College uses a four point grading system:

Grading in Nursing Clinical Courses

A final grade of “F” will be assigned in a clinical nursing course if the clinical component of the course is not satisfactory and/or the theoretical component is less than a grade of “C.”

Grading in Online RN-BSN Completion Courses

There is no rounding of final grades in the Online RN-BSN Completion Program.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average (GPA) determines the student’s academic status. Mount Carmel College of Nursing reports both the semester and cumulative GPAs on the grade report. The grade point average is obtained by dividing the sum of the “points earned” by the sum of the “hours attempted.”

Canvas Scores

Canvas course management software provides students with centralized access to courses. Scores recorded in Canvas are not “official” course grades. Final course grades are official only when they have been verified by faculty and recorded by the Office of Records and Registration.

Grade Reports

Official reporting of student grades is through the Office of Records and Registration at the completion of each term/semester.

Students without “holds” on their accounts can view and print final grades via CARMELink. Final grade reports are not mailed to students. Students who require official hard-copy grade reports must contact the Office of Records and Registration in Marian Hall, Rm. 201.

Incomplete Grades

After discussion, faculty may issue an Incomplete (“I”) grade to a student who is unable to complete all course requirements due to illness or other serious problems. Under normal circumstances, the student must submit completed coursework by the end of the sixth week following the end of a semester (or by the end of the fourth week following the end of a course in the Second Degree Accelerated Program). Extensions beyond the deadline must be negotiated with the faculty member. If course requirements are not met by the deadline, the “I” grade is changed to a grade of “F.” A grade of “F” in any course will result in dismissal from the Second Degree Accelerated Program.

Transcript Request

A transcript is a copy of the student’s permanent academic record. All requests for official transcripts should be made to Office of Records and Registration (Rm 201, Marian Hall), using the Transcript Request Form  . A student’s signature is required to release a transcript. Transcripts are provided at no charge.

Transcripts will be denied to any graduate, current or former student with indebtedness to Mount Carmel College of Nursing.

Final Examinations

Students are required to take the final examination at the scheduled time unless prior alternate arrangements are made with the course instructor.

Final exams for nursing clinical courses are scheduled for the final Friday of the 8-week course. Sixteen-week nursing clinical courses follow the semester exam schedule. Non-clinical nursing courses follow the semester exam schedule.

If there is a “take home” final exam for a nursing clinical course, a class meeting with a specific agenda will be scheduled on the Monday of exam week. There will be no exceptions to the “take home” policy.

Semester Honors

President’s List (onsite students)

Onsite program students completing a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester who have a semester GPA of 3.40 or higher are placed on the President’s List.

Alpha Lambda Delta

Founded in 1924, Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society for students in their first year at Mount Carmel College of Nursing. We recognize those students who have succeeded in maintaining a 3.50 or higher GPA and are in the top 20% of their class, in their first year. Alpha Lambda Delta’s mission is to “encourage superior academic achievement … to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their unique roles in society”.

Students may participate in Alpha Lambda Delta at both the local and the national levels. There are opportunities to work with other members throughout your undergraduate career including annual scholarship and fellowship monetary awards. Please contact the Alpha Lambda Delta advisor at kfernandez@mccn.edu for additional information.

Sigma Theta Tau International

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing is an organization committed to fostering excellence, scholarship, and leadership in nursing. The Honor Society promotes the use of nursing research in health care and provides resources to communicate the latest knowledge in nursing care. Mount Carmel’s Rho Omicron chapter, chartered in 2002, is one of 478 chapters around the world.

Those invited to make application to Sigma Theta Tau International include students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, academic integrity, and professional leadership potential. The criteria for membership include:

• All candidates must meet the expectation of academic integrity.
• Undergraduate students must have completed at least one-half of the nursing curriculum and rank in the upper 35% of the graduating class.
• RN-BSN students must have completed 12 credit hours at MCCN, at least one-half of the nursing curriculum, and rank in the upper 35% of the graduating class.
• Graduate students must have completed a minimum of one-fourth of the graduate nursing curriculum.

Honors Program

The Mount Carmel College of Nursing Honors Program is designed to:

• cultivate an appreciation for lifelong learning for exceptional students’
• motivate students in the pursuit of graduate study;
• provide exceptional students with opportunities for challenging study; and
• provide faculty development opportunities to work with exceptional students.

The Honors Program consists of two nursing seminars at an advanced level. One seminar is placed in the sophomore year and one in the junior year, with an option in the senior year to take an MCCN graduate level course. These two nursing seminars replace the required four credit hours of nursing seminars in the curriculum.

Students are eligible to enter the program the first semester of the sophomore year. Students must have earned a 3.75 GPA at the completion of freshman coursework at MCCN. Upper level transfer students must complete a minimum of one semester of course work at MCCN to be eligible for the Honors Program. Students must maintain at least a 3.50 GPA to remain in the Program.

Senior Graduate Option

The Senior Graduate Option allows an eligible nursing student in the senior year of any baccalaureate nursing program (MCCN or other) the opportunity to begin work in graduate nursing. Students may complete one or two of the courses offered for a maximum of six (6) credit hours. If the student applies and is accepted in the Mount Carmel College of Nursing Graduate Program, the course credit will be transferred, providing the grade is “B” or higher. Credit hours are in addition to the total credits required for the baccalaureate degree. Tuition is charged at the undergraduate non-clinical credit hour rate.

Students are eligible for this option if they are enrolled at the senior level in an accredited baccalaureate nursing program, have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, have satisfactorily completed undergraduate research and statistics courses, and have received approval from the Mount Carmel College of Nursing Undergraduate and Graduate Associate or Assistant Deans.

Eligible students may choose from the following graduate level courses: NURS 501   - Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice, NURS 502  - Quality, Safety and Effectiveness of Nursing Care, NURS 503   - Theoretical Foundations of Nursing, or NURS 521  - Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Second Degree Accelerated Program:  Due to the design of the program, Second Degree Accelerated Program students are not eligible for Leave of Absence (LOA). If SDAP students need to take an extended period time of leave from the program, they are encouraged to apply to the traditional program or re-apply to the SDAP the following academic year if they are in good academic standing.

Traditional Program and Online RN-BSN Program: A Leave of Absence (LOA) from the College may be granted to students in good academic standing (minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA). LOA indicates a desire to interrupt, but not permanently discontinue, enrollment in the College. Normally, LOA is granted for a maximum of one year.

Typically, a student must submit a completed Request for Leave of Absence (available from the Director of Records and Registration). The student will be notified in writing of the approval status of the request. A pre-licensure student granted LOA must return his/her student ID badge to the Director of Records and Registration.

It is the pre-licensure student’s responsibility to notify the Director of Records and Registration (kgreene@mccn.edu) prior to the deadline referenced in the approval letter of his/her intent to return from LOA. RN-BSN students must notify the RN-BSN Program Advisor (tsnively@mccn.edu). Failure to notify by the designated date will result in administrative withdrawal from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.

The returning student must submit a Petition to Return from Leave of Absence and fulfill all indicated requirements. A returning LOA student must pay any outstanding account balance in full before being permitted to return to the College. Late fees and any collection costs will be added to the student’s account. Enrollment in any course will be on a space available basis for a student returning from LOA.

It is sometimes necessary for the College to request that a student take LOA due to health reasons. Before returning to the nursing program, the student must submit a physician’s statement to the Director of Records and Registration that indicates the student is physically and/or emotionally able to return to the nursing program.

Military Deployment Policy

This policy applies to a student at MCCN who is a member of the National Guard of any state, active, or reserve forces of the United States and who is ordered to state military service or federal service or duty. This same policy applies to the spouse (who is a MCCN student) of a member of the National Guard of any state, active, or reserve forces of the United States and who is ordered to state military service or federal service or duty, if the member has a dependent child.

A copy of the military orders for deployment must be provided to the Associate or Assistant Dean of the respective academic program before any of the actions below are initiated. Any combination of options #1 and/or #2 is acceptable.

1. Withdrawal
   1. ​There is no deadline for withdrawal from the student’s entire registration to receive a full 100% refund of tuition and mandatory fees.
   2. The student may drop/withdraw from all courses and remain in the academic program on Leave of Absence status.
   3. The student may drop/ withdrawal from all courses and MCCN.
2. Course Grade or “Incomplete” Grade
   1. Faculty and Staff are encouraged to be as flexible as possible for academic credit.
   2. The student may make arrangements with faculty for a course grade.
   3. The student may make arrangements with the faculty for the grade of “Incomplete” that shall be completed by the student at a later date. The student’s registration shall remain intact, and tuition and mandatory fees shall be assessed in full for the courses.
   4. Any courses for which arrangements cannot be made for grades of “Incomplete” shall be considered dropped and the tuition and mandatory fees for the courses refunded.
3. Re-entry
   1. ​If the student returns from Leave of Absence status and decides to re-enroll, it is necessary to contact the Associate or Assistant Dean of the respective academic program at least 2 months prior to restarting classes at MCCN.

Proficiency Exams

Some academic areas within the College have developed subject-based proficiency exams leading to the award of “EM” credit if passed with a grade of “C” (73%) or better. Credit by Examination is not an option for nursing clinical courses. Science exams are available to students who have not completed a science course within the past five years or those whose knowledge was gained from job experience or training. However, all students permitted to take science proficiency exams must have completed some college-level course work in the subject area.

There is a non-refundable fee for each proficiency exam that must be paid prior to taking the exam. Refer to Tuition and Fees  for the current fee.

Requests for proficiency exams are handled through the Transfer Credit Evaluation office.

Auditing a Course

A student may audit a course with the understanding that the course is taken for information only and that academic credit is not granted and cannot later be claimed as a result of the audited course. The course may be taken at a later date for college credit.

Permission to audit a course must be obtained from the Undergraduate Associate or Assistant Dean prior to the beginning of the class. Nursing courses may be audited only by those students enrolled in the Mount Carmel program.

The approved, written request for audit must be submitted to the Director of Records and Registration. Students granted permission to audit a course will be charged 50% the normal cost of the class.

Transient and Affiliated Course Credit

Once enrolled at Mount Carmel College of Nursing (MCCN), degree candidates are required to complete all degree course work at MCCN. Exceptions to this policy include only those selected humanities/social science elective courses included in the affiliation with Columbus State Community College and The Ohio State University (see General Education Affiliated Courses, below).

On rare occasions, students may be permitted to take a non-affiliated course at another institution. However, special permission must be granted in advance for such a course to count toward MCCN graduation requirements. Permission to transfer credit to MCCN may not be granted if students fail to seek permission prior to enrolling at another institution.

Contact the Director of Records and registration for additional details and the necessary paperwork.

General Education Affiliated Courses

Students are required to complete 5 semester credits of humanities/social science electives. They may choose to complete courses offered at MCCN or select courses through affiliation with either Columbus State Community College (CSCC) or The Ohio State University (OSU). The option and choice of institution is made by each individual student. Transfer students may already have credit awarded for this requirement.

Students who opt to attend either CSCC or OSU must sign an Affiliation Agreement prior to registering for an affiliated course and are provided with specific registration instructions by MCCN. Students register for classes and pay tuition at the affiliated institution. Only humanities/social science elective courses are included in this Affiliation Agreement.

A student enrolled in an affiliated course must provide the Office of Records and Registration a printed copy of the approved course schedule from the affiliated institution no later than Friday of the first week of the MCCN semester in which the course is taken. Permission to transfer credit to MCCN may not be granted if a student fails to meet this deadline.

Credit hours for affiliated general education courses are added to the student’s Mount Carmel schedule and financial aid load hours. Final grades are transcripted as part of the student’s Mount Carmel academic record.

Questions should be forwarded to the Office of Records and Registration.

Residency Requirement

The MCCN residency policy requires completion of  the following minimum credit hours to be granted a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Mount Carmel College of Nursing:

• Traditional Program = minimum of 32 semester hours, including all senior level nursing courses
• Online RN-BSN Program = minimum of 32 semester hours
• Second Degree Accelerated Programs = minimum of 64 semester hours

Graduation Requirements

In order to qualify for graduation, undergraduate degree candidates must complete all the requirements on the following checklist. A student deficient in any area will not receive a diploma until the requirement is complete.

• Submit an online Graduation Application by the posted deadline.
• Successfully complete a minimum of 128 semester hours of credit (133 semester hours for those admitted prior to Fall 2012). RN-BSN students must complete a minimum of 128 semester hours (including transfer credit from their pre-licensure program).
• Complete all required coursework with a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.
• Earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative science GPA.
• Make certain that official transcripts for all transfer and affiliated courses are on file at Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• Meet the Community Service Program requirement, as applicable (applies only to Fall Semester 2016 juniors and seniors and Online RN-BSN Program students).
• Complete the ATI Content Mastery Series of diagnostic assessments (pre-licensure students only).
• Fulfill all financial and library obligations to Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• Complete the online Financial Aid Exit Interview (required of every student who received any type of loan).
• Complete the Business Affairs Exit Interview (required of every student who received an institutional loan).
• Complete the online Graduation Exit Survey. Students will receive an email with specific instructions a few weeks prior to the end of their program.
• If attending May Commencement, order authorized graduation cap and gown from jostens.com (earliest available order date will be announced to graduating students).

Pre-licensure students may participate in May Commencement if they need to complete no more than two additional nursing clinical courses and are eligible to complete the nursing program within the calendar year. RN-BSN students may participate in May Commencement if they need to complete no more than two additional courses and are eligible to complete the nursing program by the end of Summer Session of the same calendar year. Second Degree Accelerated Program students who complete the program in February may participate in Commencement the following May.

The graduation fee is charged to the student’s account in the semester he/she graduates.

Graduation Honors

Latin honors are based on the student’s final cumulative GPA and indicate a consistently high level of scholastic achievement. Latin honors are awarded according to the following cumulative grade point averages:

A minimum of two years of full-time course work in the traditional program (60 semester hours) at Mount Carmel is required to qualify for Latin honors. Successful completion of the Second Degree Accelerated Program (13 months) at Mount Carmel is required to qualify for Latin honors.

Online RN-BSN Completion Program graduates and all other graduates completing degree requirements with less than 60 semester hours of Mount Carmel course work and a minimum 3.40 cumulative GPA are awarded Academic Distinction.

Undergraduate Pinning Ceremony

Several awards are presented at the Undergraduate Pinning Ceremony in May of each year. These awards recognize outstanding achievements of students graduating from the traditional pre-licensure nursing program. Pre-licensure recipients of three awards are selected by student peers and one is selected by faculty.

1. Humanitarian Award – for outstanding participation and leadership, promoting community service, and a commitment to equity and diversity within the College and the community
2. Inspiration Award – for serving as a positive role model, inspiring others to achieve at their highest potential
3. Lamp Award – for behavior which is most reflective of caring, as described in the philosophy of Mount Carmel College of Nursing
4. Clinical Excellence Award – for consistent outstanding achievement of clinical objectives throughout the nursing program (nominated and selected by faculty)

Awards in the Second Degree Accelerated Program are presented at the Completion Ceremony in February to recognize outstanding achievements of students. Two awards are selected by student peers and one is selected by faculty.

1. Inspiration Award – for serving as a positive role model, inspiring others to achieve at their highest potential
2. Lamp Award – for behavior which is most reflective of caring, as described in the philosophy of Mount Carmel College of Nursing
3. Clinical Excellence Award – for consistent outstanding achievement of clinical objectives throughout the nursing program (nominated and selected by faculty)

Commencement

Mount Carmel College of Nursing Commencement is held in early May each year.

The colorful hood of each university is reserved for those who attain the highest academic degree beyond the bachelor’s degree. It is a special part of academic regalia and denotes scholarly and professional achievements. The cap, the hood and the robe are the visual components of the academic costume. Gown designs represent the levels of academic degrees. The color of the velvet outer binding of the master’s and doctoral hoods represents the academic discipline to which the degree pertains. The color for the outer binding for the discipline of Nursing is apricot. The colors of the inner lining of the hood denote the institution awarding the degree. Mount Carmel’s colors are burgundy and silver. The tassel color for the MCCN Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) is apricot.

Details regarding Commencement and student academic regalia are posted to CARMELink at the appropriate time each year.

Withdrawing from the College

A student whose intent is to officially withdraw from the College must contact the Director of Records and Registration to submit a Notice to Withdraw. A pre-licensure student withdrawing from the College must return his/her student ID badge with the written notice.

A student who has not requested a Leave of Absence and has not registered for classes by the first week of the semester will be considered unofficially withdrawn from Mount Carmel College of Nursing. The student’s record will be noted as “unofficially withdrew.” All withdrawals are subject to the Institutional Refund Policy.

Students who have withdrawn from the College and wish to return must complete a new application which will be reviewed for decision by the Admissions Committee (the application and confirmation fees will be waived). Transcripts for work completed at any institution since the withdrawal must be included with the new application. Previously completed Mount Carmel courses will be accepted, as applicable.