Academic Information and Policies

Ohio Registered Nurse License

• It is mandatory that each Master’s Program student maintains a current unrestricted Ohio Registered Nurse (RN) license during the entire program.
• Each DNP student must maintain a current unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license (currently Ohio only) and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certification or licensure in the state where the practicum courses will be completed (currently Ohio only).

If the RN license or APRN certification becomes “Inactive” at any time during the program, the student must notify the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs. Failure to do so may result in immediate dismissal from the College. The responsibility to keep current rests solely with the student.

Professional Liability Insurance

Students and faculty members participating in educational activities associated with the Mount Carmel College of Nursing are covered by a blanket professional liability insurance policy.

Graduate and undergraduate students and full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty members are covered by the insurance as long as they are acting within the scope of educational duties and responsibilities anywhere that the education takes place. In other words, students and faculty are covered when working in Mount Carmel Health System (MCHS) facilities as well as in other hospitals and community health facilities while participating in educational activities. Coverage under the blanket policy for educational activities is primary in the event that students purchase individual policies (the blanket insurance is activated first prior to any other individual policies).

Directors, officers, trustees, administrators, and committee members are also covered by the insurance. Staff members (registered nurses and others) are covered by the blanket insurance while proctoring, percepting, or supervising students.

Students and faculty insured under this policy do not need to purchase separate liability coverage for educational purposes. However, if faculty or students are working as staff (e.g., providing patient care) in other capacities or in other institutions outside the scope of their MCCN role, then separate coverage may be purchased at the discretion of the individual student, faculty, or staff member.

A copy of the College’s insurance policy is available in the President’s Office.

Academic Progression

After a student has been admitted to a graduate program, continuous progress toward completion of the degree is expected.

• The time limit for the completion of graduate course work is 5 years for the Master of Science in Nursing program.*
• This time limit is computed from the first date credit is recorded on the University transcript until the program curriculum requirements are completed.
• The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is offered exclusively online and consists of 7 consecutive semesters.

*The exception to the length of program is in the nurse practitioner tracks. Students are required to follow the prescribed curriculum plan-completion in 5-7 semesters.

Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice

Students in the MS degree program must take

Student Progression Responsibilities

To progress in a graduate program, students are responsible to keep current with the following requirements. The responsibility rests solely with the student.

Annually:

• Annual Compliance Education - students doing practicums in nursing schools, hospitals and health agencies will be required to meet the individual agency’s annual compliance education requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be knowledgeable of these agency requirements.
• Criminal Background Check  

Results of criminal background checks must be forwarded to the MCCN Office of Records and Registration.

• Influenza Vaccine  
• TB Skin Test  

Graduate students entering Mount Carmel Summer 2015 and later are required to upload the last 2 annual requirements (influenza and TB test) to CastleBranch (https://www.castlebranch.com/). Deadlines: All information must be uploaded to CastleBranch no later than July 30. Contact the College Nurse or Graduate Advisor for any difficulty with the CastleBranch website. Students will not be permitted to begin academic work unless all requirements are met.

Biennially:

• CPR Requirement - upon expiration, no grace period

Students must forward results of CPR certification to the MCCN Office of Records and Registration.

• Ohio Board of Nursing RN License Verification - (upon expiration, no grace period)

Graduate students entering Mount Carmel Summer 2015 and later are required to upload the last requirement (RN license verification) to CastleBranch (https://www.castlebranch.com/). Deadlines: All information must be uploaded to CastleBranch no later than July 30. Contact the College Nurse or Graduate Advisor for any difficulty with the CastleBranch website. Students will not be permitted to begin academic work unless all requirements are met.

Canvas - LMS

Canvas, the College’s Learning Management System (LMS) is available to students, and it is strongly recommended that students become familiar with Canvas navigation before classes begin. Students will have access to Canvas 30 days prior to the start date of each course. To access the Canvas orientation, students can either login to CARMELink > MyMCCN I Canvas or login directly to Canvas. Once logged into Canvas, students can find the student training information at Help > Student Resources > Canvas-Student Orientation.

The Graduate Student Advisor has developed a Graduate Student Advising course located in Canvas that all students will be invited to join and view announcements and important information. In the Canvas Resources module, students can find the link to Canvas-Student Orientation. In addition, a separate DNP student site within this Canvas course is available.

Attendance

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

• A 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.
• 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 addition, two unexcused absences will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the course.

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

The College reserves the right to administratively withdraw students from 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.

Any graduate student who is ill or injured and cannot attend class or attend the scheduled practicum experience MAY be asked to submit to the appropriate course faculty a note on letterhead or prescription pad that is dated and signed by hand with a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant signature.

Unexcused Absence

Two unexcused absences will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the course. Class sessions will be one week on-line or one day on-site.

Time Required for Coursework

It is customary for graduate students who are enrolled in a 3-credit hour class to have a face-to-face presence for approximately 3 hours per week, or an online classroom presence of approximately 3 hours per week.

In addition, for each credit hour of academic credit, the student can expect an average of 3 hours per week outside the classroom in reading, writing, quizzes, or assignment work. In summary, for each 3-credit hour class in which graduate students are enrolled, they can expect an average weekly time commitment of 12 hours of academic work.

Code of Conduct

It is understood that the Mount Carmel College of Nursing administration, faculty, staff, and student body share in the responsibility of upholding the College Mission and Core Values. The Code of Conduct strives to:

• ensure the integrity of the nursing and allied health professions;
• create an academic and professional environment that reflects the College’s Mission and Core Values;
• reflect the policies of the College on standards of conduct; and
• follow the policies on nursing practice from the Ohio Board of Nursing (Rules Promulgated From the Law Regulating Practice of Nursing, 4723-5-12 (B).

In accordance with the above the administration, faculty, staff, and students will commit to the following Code of Conduct:

Academic Excellence

1. Achieving the highest level of academic excellence that I can through honesty and integrity both in and out of the classroom and in clinical settings.
2. Striving to embody excellence and provide the highest quality work in the academic and in the clinical settings.
3. Acting in a professional manner while in the College of Nursing and in all activities, functions, and clinical sites associated with the College and the profession of nursing.

Respect

1. Contributing to creating a safe, respectful, and supportive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
2. Regarding privacy and confidentiality as essential obligations.
3. Communicating with peers, staff, and faculty in a professional and respectful manner.
4. Taking responsibility for my words and actions.

Compassion

1. Demonstrating a commitment to the attributes of compassion, empathy, altruism, responsibility, and tolerance.
2. Demonstrating caring behaviors at all times.
3. Respecting individual diversity through a non-judgmental attitude and approach.
4. Working to become a creative problem solver.

Social Responsibility

1. Refusing to tolerate discrimination, disrespect, or bullying.
2. Committing to bring any discrimination, disrespect, or bullying to the attention of the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee or the Director of Student Life.
3. Refusing to tolerate incidents of dishonesty or lack of integrity.
4. Committing to bring incidents of dishonesty or lack of integrity to the attention of the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee or the Director of Student Life.

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.

Community Service

The Community Service Requirement pertains only to graduate students who entered the program prior to Fall 2016. 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.

Course and Faculty Evaluations

Student completion of course and instructor evaluations is an expectation of each course. Students are expected to complete the appropriate evaluations during the last two weeks of the course. Data from these evaluations are used as part of the College’s regular continuous quality improvement efforts. Therefore, students are encouraged to provide constructive, accurate, and professional feedback during the course evaluation process.

Scholarly Manuscript Policy

If the student has already enrolled in any of the Master’s Degree program specialty classes such as NURS: 524, 526, 527, 528, 529, 542, 543, 546, 547, 550, 551, 552, 554, 555, 556, 570, 571, 572, 576, 577, 578, or 579 the completion of a publishable manuscript or participation as a Graduate Research Assistant is a graduation requirement. 

Students currently enrolled in the Master’s Degree program who have not yet taken the final specialty sequence in their program track as of August 2015 such as NURS: 524, 526, 527, 528, 529, 542, 543, 546, 547, 550, 551, 552, 554, 555, 556, 570, 571, 572, 576, 577, 578, or 579 will demonstrate achievement of Essential’s of Master’s Education in Nursing and other appropriate specialty-focused competencies through the completion of a synthesis experience within their final specialty course. The nature of the specialty-focused competency will be announced in the first Master’s program specialty course.

Process: Publishable Manuscript

Students already enrolled in the Master’s degree program specialty classes are required to develop a scholarly project consisting of a publishable manuscript. The manuscript is not an assignment in any one course, but rather a scholarly work that reflects student achievement over the total graduate program. Students should plan to work on the manuscript for at least two semesters. The manuscript evolves from a student area of interest/expertise. The manuscript topic needs to be related to the student’s program of study.

Advising and Developing the Project

During the process of manuscript development, a second faculty advisor will be chosen by the first faculty advisor. This faculty member will be a reviewer of the final document prior to awarding full approval. The completed manuscript must be approved by both faculty advisors.

To receive a diploma in May, completion of a satisfactory publishable manuscript must be approved by March 31 and all other obligations to the College fulfilled. To earn Master’s program completion in December, achievement of a satisfactory publishable manuscript must be approved by November 30 and all other obligations to the College fulfilled.

The process for scholarly manuscript:

• Receive a faculty advisor assignment from the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs.
• Become responsible for scheduling your first meeting with your assigned faculty advisor.
• Prepare for the first meeting with your faculty advisor by:
• Bringing a printed copy of the Scholarly Advisement Agreement for review and signatures.
• The form is to be completed during the first advisor meeting.
• Providing an overview of the proposed manuscript to include the focus and purpose of the manuscript. (Ideally the student should provide an outline or rough draft of the manuscript).
• Identifying the proposed journal(s) for publication. (Publication guidelines from a refereed nursing or non-nursing journal should be provided).
• Providing a timeline for completion of the manuscript to include a proposed schedule of goals and completion dates for review.
• Submit the signed Scholarly Advisement Agreement (link) to the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs.
• Work with the faculty advisor to expand, revise, and re-write the manuscript as needed in order to fulfill the graduation requirement.

A second faculty advisor is selected by the first advisor as a second reader/reviewer. The final manuscripts to be approved by both advisors by the deadlines of March 31 for a May graduation. The reason for this early date in May is that graduation materials need to be ordered and received in sufficient time by the College. If any forms are completed, but submitted late to the Graduate Advisor, the student may receive a blank diploma folder at graduation ceremonies and a printed diploma will be available later. For those students who anticipate a December degree completion date, the deadline for approval by both advisors is November 30 or for a July degree completion date, the deadline for approval by both advisors is July 5.

The Faculty Advisors will need to sign the Manuscript Completion Form  and the electronic copy of the completed manuscript is to be submitted to the Graduate Program Office (Graduate Program Advisor) by the same deadlines of March 31, November 30 or July 5. A copy of the manuscript will be kept in the student’s official student file or electronically by the faculty advisor.

Manuscript Completion

Research Assistant Program or Additional Learning Experience

Purpose: The purpose the Graduate Research Assistant Program (GRA) is to provide students with an alternative learning experience to the Scholarly Manuscript as part of the graduation requirement. The GRA will promote graduate student engagement in nursing research; provide graduate students with an authentic learning experience in nursing research; engage faculty and practicing nurses in the Mount Carmel Health System and others in nursing research; provide graduate students with an alternative to the completion of a scholarly manuscript; and support the Mount Carmel Health System Magnet ® designation endeavors.

Process: Each August and throughout the year as appropriate the College of Nursing Graduate Studies program will post via the web and the use of posters throughout the College current research being conducted by the College of Nursing (CON) faculty, various nursing units/nurses throughout the Mount Carmel Health System and others. This posting will include a brief overview of the research, including but not limited to the research question, goal, objectives, hypothesis; proposed study population, location of the study and the site researcher. The site researcher will identify the number of Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) the study will support (generally 1 or 2). Additionally, the student may also identify research opportunities and bring them to the Associate Dean for the Graduate Program for evaluation to serve as fulfillment of the Research Assistant Program.

Graduate Research Assistant: Students enrolled in a Graduate Nursing track of the CON who have completed NURS 501 - Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice   with a B or better may apply for the GRA experience. The research must be in the area of the students’ graduate track or clinical focus. The student(s) will meet with the site researcher/team and develop a Graduate Research Assistant Learning Contract  specifically outlining their role in the research. This may include: completion of the review of literature; recruitment of subjects, data collection, writing the literature review, to some extent data analysis and other activities as appropriate. The GRA is required to meet with the site researcher/team regularly, submit a written copy of their contribution to the research and upon completion of the research project present the research to a faculty group who will evaluate and determine the quality of the GRA’s participation (a rubric will be developed to guide both student and faculty).

Students are expected to function in a collaborative manner with the site researcher and the research team and participate in regular meetings with the faculty advisor. It is assumed that in many cases the role of a GRA will span several semesters and require the student to function independently in some aspects of the research process.

Site Researcher: The site researcher, for the purpose of engaging a GRA in the research, must be prepared at the Master’s level at the minimum. The site researcher will submit a completed Announcement of a Graduate Research Assistant Opportunity  to the faculty advisor providing the research topic, goals/objectives/hypothesis and a brief description of the project The site researcher will agree to involve the GRA in regular meetings of the research committee and identify the GRA as a tertiary author at a minimum. A doctoral prepared faculty advisor or other doctoral prepared individual will serve as lead researcher or principle investigator. A signed agreement will be maintained between the CON, research site, and the GRA.

The Site Researcher is expected to engage the GRA in a collaborative role, ensure the GRA is aware of all research team meetings and communicate with the faculty advisor as needed.

Faculty Advisor: The Associate Dean of Graduate Programs will identify a Faculty Advisory to oversee the operational aspects of the GRA program. This will include, but not limited to the following:

1. Be a doctoral prepared faculty member of the CON;
2. Serve as the liaison between the CON and the Mount Carmel Health System Evidenced-based Practice and Nursing Research Committee.
3. Work with CON and site researchers to develop a list of potential research projects to be distributed/posted each August;
4. Communicate with the site researchers as needed;
5. Oversee the student application for participation in the GRA program;
6. Approve the Student Learning Contracts;
7. Serve as an advisor to the GRAs; and
8. Assemble a faculty panel to hear/review research presentations.

The Faculty Advisor is expected to work in a collaborative manner with the site researchers/teams; serve as an advisor to the GRA and assist CON faculty members who are perusing research endeavors. The Faculty Advisor may be author or co-author on all publications.

Intellectual Property Rights: Intellectual property rights shall remain with the individuals conducting the research and/or the institution conducting the research. The CON shall have no institutional claim to the research.

Announcement of a Graduate Research Assistant Opportunity

Directions: The Announcement is to be completed by the lead researcher or individual overseeing the research at the site/College and submitted to: Mount Carmel College of Nursing, Graduate Research Assistant Program, 127 South Davis Avenue, Columbus, OH 43222.

Announcement of a Graduate Research Assistant Opportunity  

Application for the Position of Graduate Research Assistant

Application for the Position of Graduate Research Assistant  

Graduate Research Assistant Learning Contract

Graduate Research Assistant Learning Contract  

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 Graduate Advisor and DNP Advisor provide academic and career guidance and support the student throughout the Mount Carmel experience. Advisors assist in planning the student’s academic program, advise regarding course registration each semester, interpret academic requirements, policies, and procedures and monitor student progress toward fulfilling degree requirements and grade point achievement.

APA Writing Format

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

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. Students are encouraged to check their own papers prior to submitting their assignments to faculty.

Accommodations 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.

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. For a complete copy of the College’s Accommodations policy,  click here .

Since the nature and severity of disabilities varies, academic adjustments may be applicable only when they are appropriate to the needs of the individual student with a disability. To determine eligibility for academic accommodations, the College 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.

Accommodations

An accommodation (also sometimes called adjustments) is a modification 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 academic requirements that are essential to the instruction being pursued by a student or are directly related to any licensing requirements, cause undue 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 of study.  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 Definition

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.

Procedure

1. A student requesting academic and/or non-academic accommodations¹ under this policy must notify the College’s Title II/Section 504 Coordinator (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. The Title II/Section 504 Coordinator has been designated to handle inquiries into academic accommodations. Contact information:

2. 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).

3. Upon submission of required documentation, the Coordinator will engage in an individualized, interactive process with the student to determine possible accommodation(s). A copy of the official documentation will be maintained in the student’s file by the Coordinator. For requests for academic accommodations, the Coordinator will review the documentation and any requested accommodations with the appropriate Associate Dean.  If necessary, the Coordinator will discuss any alternative accommodations with the student and the Associate Dean. For requests for non-academic accommodations and when necessary, the 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. 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 Associate Dean, where additional time is required for diagnostic evaluation.  A minimum of 2 business days is required to implement the accommodations.)

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 instructors, the Director of Student Life or other faculty or staff as required.. If needed, the faculty or staff member andCoordinator will collaborate to plan and implement the accommodation(s).

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 academic accommodations and chooses not to use the accommodation(s), the student is required to notify the Coordinator in writing that the student will not be utilizing the accommodations.

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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 from the nursing education program demonstrating that accommodations were in place during the nursing education program.

Grievance Procedure

f 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 fourteen (14) 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

A student who believes he/she has been discriminated against or harassed due to a disability should contact the Coordinator who will assist with 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 standards. 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.

Requests for Modifications for the ANCC Certification Examinations

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and its testing vendor make every effort to reasonably accommodate candidates with documented disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you have a disability as defined under the ADA, you must notify ANCC by submitting the following information with your application:

A report regarding your request from your physician or a qualified health care professional is required. The information must be on the physician’s or other qualified health care professional’s letterhead, typed, dated, and signed by the health care professional. The report must document the following information in order to be considered:

• A specific diagnosis and date of your diagnosis
• Specific and current findings that support your diagnosis (relevant medical history, tests administered, date of the most current evaluation, within the last 3 years)
• A description of your substantial day-to-day functional limitations resulting from your stated disabilities
• Specific recommendations for your testing accommodation(s) including a detailed explanation of why the accommodation is needed. If the accommodation includes extra time, please indicate the amount of time requested.

Important Note: Additional information may be requested after a review of your information.

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 educated, skilled, and professional nurse.

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 the 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 MCCN-sponsored social media platforms.
• Using effective communication, 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 someone’s exact words 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 in another course, 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, communicating 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.nasa.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, or 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:

a.  The allegation of academic or professional misconduct;
b.  The date and time of the hearing; and
c.  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:

a.  The allegation of academic or professional misconduct.
b.  The date and time of the hearing; and
c.  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 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

Students are notified of the online registration period scheduled prior to the beginning of each semester. Instructions are distributed to students at the appropriate time during the academic year. Requested courses 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.

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.

Full-Time / Part-Time Status

Graduate students (not in the Nurse Practitioner tracks) are considered full-time when they carry at least 6 credit hours per semester. Those enrolled in at least 3 credit hours are considered half-time students and can qualify for financial aid.

Nurse Practitioner students are considered full-time when they follow the full-time NP Program of Study. 

Completion of the Master’s program averages 5 - 8 semesters of enrollment depending on full-time or part-time status (minimum is 3 credit hours for part-time status). Completion of the DNP is 8 consecutive semesters, for cohort one and 7 consecutive semesters for subsequent cohorts.

Administrative Withdrawal

A 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 must be reported by the faculty member to the Office of Records and Registration; the student will be administratively withdrawn from the course. A student’s attendance must be evident by the end of week 1 in an online course or the student will be administratively withdrawn from the course. In addition, two unexcused absences will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the course. The faculty of the course will notify the Office of Records and Registration with the name of the absent student.

By approval of the Academic Dean, a student will be dropped from a clinical nursing course and a grade of “W” posted if a patient/client safety is at risk or if a student illness or personal crisis so warrants.

A student wishing to withdraw from a course for reasons of illness or crisis after the specified deadline may seek approval from the Academic Dean or Associate Dean of Graduate Programs.

Add and Drop Courses

Adding a Course

During the first week of a semester, students may add a course with the consent of the instructor and proper notification to the advisor. Permission of the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs is required to enter a nursing course after the class has started. The appropriate documentation must be filed with the Records and Registration Office.

Withdrawing from a Course*

A student may withdraw from a semester course through the 12th week of the semester. Withdrawing from a course does not force the student to also withdraw from a co-requisite course. A grade of “W” will be posted to the student’s academic record for each withdrawn course. After the stated deadlines, withdrawing is not an option and a grade will be assigned. Students must first notify the course faculty prior to withdrawing from a course. 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.

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 Graduate Advisor. Submission of the form to Graduate Advisor is required for official withdrawal from a course.

Non-attendance in a course after the withdrawal deadline is considered as 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 “Refund Policy” section of the Student Catalog.

Students must complete and submit a Course Add / Drop Form to the Graduate Advisor. A student may withdraw from a course only one time.

Students may drop from a maximum of two graduate nursing courses. The student will be administratively dismissed if further withdraws are sought.

*Withdrawing from a Course in a Nurse Practitioner Track

After a student has been admitted to the NP track, continuous progress toward completion of the degree is expected as per the curriculum plan. Any deviation from this plan must be approved by the Graduate Advisor or Associate Dean of Graduate Programs. If the student withdrawals from a NP track course, the student must apply for reinstatement. Reinstatement is not an automatic process and the student’s request may be denied. Refer to Reinstatement policy and procedure.

Changing Program Tracks

When students are admitted into the graduate nursing program, they are placed in the track that was indicated on the Admission Application. Students who wish to change their declared track should talk with the Graduate Advisor. The student must complete the Change of Track form. The Graduate Advisor will evaluate the student’s transcript to determine needed courses for the new track. The request for change to another track may be granted on a space available basis. The Nurse Practitioner tracks do not accept transfers from other graduate tracks. Students wishing to transfer to the Nurse Practitioner tracks must complete the application process for the specific tracks. Transfer applicants will be reviewed with all other applications for the program.   

Academic Requirements

Academic Probation

A graduate student whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below 3.00 is placed on academic probation. Probation is defined as the opportunity to continue conditionally in the program after failing to meet minimum academic standards. Students are also placed on probation for failure to achieve a minimum grade of “C” in any nursing course.

In addition, a grade of B or better must be achieved in all nursing specialty courses across all tracks. Specialty track nursing courses are NURS 542, 543, 546, 547, 550, 551, 552, 554, 555, 557, 556, 570, 571, 572, 576, 577, 578, and 579. Current courses of 526 and 530 that are being re-evaluated and re-named with replacements are included. A grade of C in a specialty course will automatically place the student on probation. Students may repeat the course one time and must achieve a B or better.

The student may be placed on academic probation only one time. Probation moves the student out of the original progression plan.

Graduate students are advised of their probationary status through an official Notification of Probation Status letter issued by the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs. Following this notification, students are strongly encouraged to meet with the MS or DNP advisor to develop a plan for academic improvement.

Academic Dismissal

Students failing to achieve a minimum cumulative 3.00 average for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the College. An appeals process is in place for students who are academically dismissed.

Reinstatement

Students who are academically dismissed may apply for reinstatement after a minimum of one semester of non-enrollment. A student will be permitted to apply for reinstatement to the College only one time.

Dismissed Graduate students must request reinstatement, in writing, to the Chair of the Graduate Academic Progress Committee. The Petition for Reinstatement form 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 Graduate Academic Progress Committee will review the student’s petition 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 Graduate Academic Progress Committee will determine any special learning needs which are required as conditions of reinstatement, and a student may be asked to meet specific study requirements prior to course enrollment.

Following reinstatement to the College, enrollment in specific classes will be on a space available basis. A reinstated student must meet the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of reinstatement. A reinstated student will be placed on probationary status for one semester.

Academic Appeals

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 Catalog.

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 Dean who oversees the student’s program (contact information for the Associate Dean can be found in the Directory of the current Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog or at http://mccn.edu/faculty-and-staff).

• The student wishing to appeal to the Associate Dean should request a meeting via the Nightingmail email system with the Associate Dean and provide, in the message to the Associate 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 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 Deans or the Academic Dean may serve in place of the student’s program Associate Dean during this phase of appeals.

3. If the grievance or dispute remains unresolved after meeting with the Associate Dean, the student has 3 calendar days (24 hours for Second Degree Accelerated Program students) to appeal the Associate 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 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 o 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:

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.”

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 with the faculty, an Incomplete (I) grade will be issued to a student who is unable to complete all course requirements due to illness or other serious problems. Incompletes are assigned by the course instructor. Under normal circumstances, incomplete coursework must be completed by the end of the sixth week following the end of a semester. If course requirements are not met by this deadline, the “I” grade is changed to a grade of “F”. Extensions beyond the sixth week must be negotiated with the faculty member.

Auditing Courses

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 Associate Dean of Graduate Program 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.

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.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of 12 credit hours of equivalent course work, with a grade of “B,” may be transferred from another graduate program or proficiency examination into the Master’s Program. To review the DNP transfer credit policy, click here.  Once enrolled at Mount Carmel College of Nursing, degree candidates are required to complete all degree course work offered through Mount Carmel College of Nursing.

For those students who already hold a national nurse practitioner certification and seek a second nurse practitioner area of focus, their transcripts will be evaluated for clinical practicum hours and courses. Our Master’s nurse practitioner programs require the attainment of 650 clinical practicum hours. It is possible that a certified nurse practitioner will be given transfer credit for 150 hours of our 650 clinical practicum hour requirement, because national AG-ACNP and FNP certification exams require a minimum of 500 clinical practicum hours. We want to acknowledge the clinical expertise already demonstrated by the certificate student. Furthermore, it is possible that an actively practicing nurse practitioner with a certificate to prescribe seeking a second nurse practitioner certification, will be given transfer credit for NURS 579: Transition to Advanced Practice because this course discusses the legal implications of advanced practice and the responsibility of prescription authority, that already have actively practiced.

Military Credit

Credit for military training and experience in the armed forces of the United States, the National Guard or the Reserve Components may be granted in accordance with the credit recommendations provided by the American Council on Education. In order to have such work evaluated and added to the permanent academic record, a potential student needs to submit, to the Office of Records and Registration, certified copies of any documentation related to these experiences, including official military transcripts and discharge forms. Decisions regarding the utilization of credit granted through this program shall be made at the discretion of the transcript evaluator, in consultation with the Associate Dean of the applicable program.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

A personal Leave of Absence (LOA) from the graduate nursing program may be granted to students in satisfactory academic standing (minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA). A Leave of Absence indicates a desire to interrupt, but not permanently discontinue, enrollment in the graduate nursing program. Normally, a LOA is granted for a maximum of one academic year.

A student must submit a completed Request for Leave of Absence (available from the Graduate Program Advisor). The student will be notified in writing of the approval status of his/her request. If a LOA is granted, it will be the student’s responsibility to notify the Graduate Program Advisor, by the designated date, of intent to return from the LOA. Failure to notify the College 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 may be necessary for the College to request that a student take a LOA due to health reasons. Before returning to the nursing program, a 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.

The College reserves the right to enhance/revise the curriculum at any time. If this occurs during the LOA time for the student, the student might be required to progress in the revised program with different requirements than the original program of study.

Military Deployment

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 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

a. There is no deadline for withdrawal from the student’s entire registration to receive a full 100% refund of tuition and mandatory fees.
b. The student may drop/withdraw from all courses and remain in the academic program on Leave of Absence status.
c. The student may drop/ withdrawal from all courses and MCCN.

2. Course Grade or “Incomplete” Grade

a. Faculty and Staff are encouraged to be as flexible as possible for academic credit.
b. The student may make arrangements with faculty for a course grade.
c. 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.
d. 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

a. If the student returns from Leave of Absence status and decides to re-enroll, it is necessary to contact the Associate Dean of the respective academic program at least 2 months prior to restarting classes at MCCN.

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.

Transient Student Status

If a student requests to take a graduate course outside of MCCN, the first step in the process is to contact Director of Financial Aid to determine financial aid status (i.e., Consortium Agreement). The next step is to contact the graduate advisor or the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs for authorization of the course. If approved, the student must submit an approved course schedule from the transient institution to the Director of Records and Registration. Transfer of course credit is per Transfer Credit Policy. 

Graduation Requirements

For details regarding graduation from the DNP Program, click here.  

In order to qualify for graduation, MS degree candidates must complete all the following requirements. A student deficient in any area will not receive his/her diploma until the requirement is complete.

• Submit an online Graduation Application by the posted deadline.
• Complete all academic requirements; official transcripts for all transfer courses must be on file at MCCN.
• Program completion must be within 5 years of date of first enrollment.
• Completion of a satisfactory publishable manuscript or Graduate Research Assistant Program, if applicable.
• Professional service – 10 hours of  professional service or leadership.
• Complete all required coursework with a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA.
• Fulfill all financial obligations to Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• Fulfill all library obligations to Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• Complete a Financial Aid Exit Interview emailed from the Director of Financial Aid if the graduate student received Federal Stafford Loans.
• Complete a Business Affairs Exit Interview with the Director of Business Affairs if the graduate student received an institutional loan from MCCN during the program of study.
• Complete the online Graduation Exit Survey. Students will receive an email with specific instructions a few weeks prior to the end of their program.
• Order authorized graduation cap and gown from jostens.com (the earliest available order date will be announced to graduating students).

Graduate Students who will complete all requirements by the end of Summer Session of the same calendar year may participate in May Commencement activities.

To receive a diploma in May, completion of a satisfactory publishable manuscript must be approved by March 31, all required coursework must be completed by the end of Spring Semester, and all other obligations to the College must be fulfilled. To receive a diploma in December, completion of a satisfactory publishable manuscript must be approved by November 30 and all other obligations to the College fulfilled.

Commencement

Mount Carmel College of Nursing Commencement is held in early May each year. Graduate students will receive an academic hood. The hood has an historical significance for graduate education.

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 Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice is black.

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 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 Graduate Academic Progress 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.