Bachelor Science of Nursing (BSN and ABSN) Progression Policies

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UST Peavy School of Nursing Grading Scale

A 95-100
A- 90-94
B+ 87-89
B 84-86
B- 81-83
C+ 78-80
C 75-77*
C- 72-74
D+ 69-71
D 65-68
F < 65

*C or higher is required to pass any Nursing course.

A grade of C (75 – 77) or higher is required to pass all nursing courses. A weighted 75% test average is required for successful course completion regardless of other course grades. A student must achieve a 75% weighted course average on tests before other evaluative components are added for the final course grade. Students who do not achieve a 75% weighted average will be awarded his/her exam average grade as the final course grade. A course in the major for which the student has received less than a C, and/or an unsatisfactory clinical grade, must be repeated. For clinical nursing courses, both the classroom and clinical portions must be repeated regardless of what part(s) of the course were failed. A student failing to earn a C in a course with a clinical component must successfully repeat the course with a grade of C or higher.

Successful completion of a Nursing Non–Clinical Course is defined as follows:

  1. Weighted 75% test average.
  2. Completion of all course assignments and tests.
  3. Achievement of a final course grade of C or higher (≥ 75).
  4. Final course grades at 0.5 or higher will be rounded up.

Successful completion of a Nursing Clinical Course is defined as follows:

  1. Grade of “A” (90-100%) on Dosage and Solutions quiz prior to starting clinicals.
  2. Weighted 75% test average.
  3. Completion of all course assignments and tests.
  4. Completion and submission of clinical assignments and written work.
  5. A satisfactory clinical evaluation.
  6. Achievement of a final course grade of C or higher (≥ 75) AND
  7. Final course grades at 0.5 or higher will be rounded up.

NOTE: Students will receive a final course grade of C– or lower when their overall course grade is higher, but they receive an unsatisfactory grade in clinical. If their overall grade for the course is less than a C–, they will receive the grade earned. Students who fail a course must apply to repeat the course.

BSN Program Time Limits

The four–year BSN degree plan must be completed within six years. Students will work with academic advisors to develop a progression plan, which will be reviewed twice a year.

BSN Program Readiness Assessment and Readiness Courses

For Conditionally Admitted BSN Nursing Students

 The goal of the readiness assessment process for incoming students is to identify potential areas of needed academic skill development to support success in the nursing curriculum. Students need highly developed reading and math skills and strong content knowledge in anatomy and physiology as a foundation for success in the BSN program.

For Junior and Senior-Level BSN Nursing Students

The goals of the readiness course for students engaged in coursework in the nursing major are to 1) address academic performance patterns that reflect potential barriers to successful achievement of BSN program outcomes and NCLEX–RN readiness and 2) provide a structured framework for academic support that is individualized to address student learning needs. The readiness enhancement strategies included in the course are designed to help students achieve success in nursing courses, on the HESI Comprehensive Exit exam, and the NCLEX–RN licensure exam.

The readiness enhancement course, NURS 2032 Clinical Reasoning in Nursing, is designed for junior and/or senior nursing students enrolled in nursing courses who demonstrate academic performance patterns which may include the following:

    1. Course failure of NURS 3651 Care of Adults/Older Adults and/or NURS 4653 Care of the Critically Ill.
    2. Test average below 75 in NURS 3651 Care of Adults/Older Adults course.
    3. Highest standardized Med–Surg specialty test score below 900 in NURS 3651 Care of Adults/Older Adults.
    4. Inconsistent performance on formal clinical competency assessments; and/or,
    5. Insufficient progress on readiness course goal attainment scales.

Readiness course credits may count toward financial aid requirements but do NOT count towards total degree program completion credits. Students may need to repeat the courses if learning goals are not fully met.

Repeating Courses

BSN Program

Students who need to repeat a BSN course to complete the curriculum must:

  1. Submit a request to repeat a course with rationale to the Associate Dean within two weeks of course withdrawal or failure. Note: A failed course may be repeated only one time, except if the student was dismissed and readmitted back into UST–PSON.
  2. Meet with course faculty to determine a remediation plan and preparation for repeating the course successfully.
  3. Meet with UST–PSON Associate Dean (or designee) to review, revise, and sign the new altered progression plan.
  4. The UST–PSON Associate Dean (or designee) will share the revised degree plan with the academic advisor and place a copy in the UST–PSON student file.

Note: A failed course may be repeated only one time, except if the student was dismissed and readmitted back into UST–PSON.

ABSN Program

Students who fail one course in the ABSN track will be provided an opportunity to repeat the course. The student will enroll in only the course to be repeated in the semester following the course failure. If the course is successfully repeated the student will continue on a full-time basis. Two nursing course failures require dismissal from the ABSN program.

Leave of Absence

BSN Program

Students who have begun upper division coursework and have taken an approved leave of absence for up to one year from UST:

  1. May be required to audit, or re-take courses as determined by the Associate Dean prior to being readmitted or registering for the next level required course with a clinical component.
  2. May progress in the nursing program on a space available basis after a letter of intent to reactivate in the program (due March 1 before the fall semester or August 1 for the spring semester) is received and approved by the Associate Dean.

ABSN Program

Students who have begun ABSN coursework and have taken an approved leave of absence for up to one year from UST:

  1. May be required to audit or re-take courses as determined by the Director, ABSN Program prior to being readmitted or registering for the next level required course with a clinical component.
  2. May progress in the nursing program on a space available basis after a letter of intent to reactivate in the program (due March 1 before the fall semester, August 1 for the spring semester, or February 1 for summer semester) is received and approved by the Director, ABSN Program.

Withdrawal from the UST Peavy School of Nursing

Please see the UST Undergraduate Catalog for complete details on the withdrawal process and/or contact the Registrar’s Office. Failure to officially withdraw from the University may result in the awarding of an F in all courses for which the student is still registered. The UST–PSON strongly advises its students to contact their advisors before beginning this process.

Dismissal from the UST Peavy School of Nursing

Students who receive a grade below a C in any required nursing course may repeat the course one time only. Receiving a grade below a C in a course twice or receiving a grade below C in any two nursing courses, will result in dismissal from the nursing program. Students who remain in good academic standing may consider selecting another major at the University.

Appeal Process

Students who have been dismissed from the UST Peavy School of Nursing for academic performance and wish to appeal the dismissal should submit a letter of appeal to the Dean of the UST Peavy School of Nursing within one semester of receipt of the official dismissal notice stating: the rationale why readmission should be considered; the performance issues related to the dismissal; a plan to assure that the performance issues will not be repeated if readmitted.

A faculty committee will be appointed by the Associate Dean to rule on student appeals. All decisions will be reviewed and finalized by the Dean prior to student notification.