In order to complete each nursing course, and progress in the major, students must fulfill both academic and professional requirements (see Requirements of the Major). Information about College policies including details about student rights, such as the right to appeal can be found in the Academic Catalog as well as in the J Book and Bennie Book.

Academic Misconduct

In situations involving academic misconduct, the college/university policy and procedure will be followed. The Nursing Department’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure will also be initiated in the event of academic misconduct.

Unprofessional Behaviors

Students will be informed of behaviors/performance inconsistent with program expectations as well as professional nursing standards. This policy outlines the procedure to be followed in the event that student outcomes and/or behaviors do not meet the expectations of the program or profession. Student expectations and relevant professional standards are communicated at orientation to the major and via the Student Handbook.

The Department of Nursing reserves the right to require a student to undergo professional evaluation regarding personal health issues as a condition of continued enrollment in the major. The student will be responsible for any diagnostic or treatment costs. Optimal management of health is encouraged. In the event of diagnosed or undiagnosed health issues, the student will remain accountable to the expectations of the program and profession.

The Department of Nursing reserves the right to take whatever actions deemed appropriate, including immediate dismissal from the program, if the performance/behavior is deemed particularly egregious.

The role of the nursing faculty advisor in behaviors/performance-related issues includes the following:

1. being informed by the course coordinator that an advisee is not meeting course-related outcomes,
2. contacting the student to ascertain learning needs,
3. advising the student to discuss the issue with the involved faculty member,
4. advising the student to address and take ownership for the behavior or performance issue,
5. assisting the student with identification of college [university] services appropriate to the student's needs,
6. maintaining the confidentiality of information that the student may discuss with the faculty advisor in confidence, unless there is a concern for the student’s or others safety or with permission from the student to disclose the information,
7. referring parental or outside inquiries related to the disciplinary process to the Chair of the Nursing Department.

The nursing faculty advisor may be the person initiating the disciplinary action pertaining to a student. At the discretion of the student and faculty, a new advisor may be assigned.

The nursing faculty advisor has no role in the disciplinary proceedings. If the nursing faculty is the advisor of a student undergoing disciplinary action and is a member of the Admissions, Progression, and Recruitment (APR) Committee, then that faculty member should recuse him- or herself when disciplinary action pertaining to that student is being addressed.

A. MINOR, CORRECTABLE INFRACTION

1. Students exhibiting minor, correctable, isolated unprofessional behavior, are provided with a documented warning notification and constructive advice for modifying behavior(s) to meet professional standards. The faculty will utilize the Notice of Disciplinary Procedure form and submit this to the chair of the APR Committee, Office Manager, and the student. This does not require a student signature.  This form should be placed in the student's file. The faculty initiating a minor correctable infraction warning will inform the course coordinator, faculty advisor for student, and as needed other nursing faculty teaching the student. The student is expected to modify the behavior accordingly. If the behavior is not modified or if new unprofessional behaviors arise, the instructor initiates LEVEL I or LEVEL II action.

2. Names of students receiving a documented warning are entered into the disciplinary procedure tracking document accessible only to faculty within the Department of Nursing. The student’s name will be deleted from the tracking document upon graduation.

B. LEVEL I CONTRACT

1. Students exhibiting repeated or multiple minor, correctable unsatisfactory professional and/or personal behaviors, and/or academic performance issues, require written notification.

2.The behaviors/performance(s) cited will be recorded on a Notice of Disciplinary Procedure form. The instructor, course coordinator, or course team will designate on the form that this is formal written notification, establish the explicit timeframe, and establish conditions for level I contract completion.

3. The student and faculty initiating the contract will review and sign the Notice of Disciplinary Procedure form. The student signature is an acknowledgment of receipt of written notification by the student.

4. Names of students receiving formal written notification are entered into the disciplinary procedure tracking document accessible only to faculty within the Department of Nursing. The student's name will be deleted from the tracking document upon graduation.

5. The faculty initiating written notification will inform the course coordinator, other faculty teaching in the relevant course(s), the student's faculty advisor, and the chair of the Admissions, Progressions, and Recruitment (APR) Committee of the reason for and terms of the level I contract. The coordination and monitoring of the contract remains with the faculty member who initiated the contract. The APR Committee reviews student progression concerns on a monthly basis, including follow-up and recommendation to the involved faculty.

6. When the student has fulfilled the requirements of the level I contract, the initiating faculty and/or course coordinator will notify the student and relevant faculty of level I contract completion. A copy of the contract will be retained in the student's file until graduation.

7. At the end of each semester contracts will be reviewed by the course coordinator, relevant course faculty, and APR chair.  Faculty will then determine if the student has met the contract terms and can be removed from the contract or if the contract should remain in force.  A Disciplinary Action Follow-up Form must be completed and signed by all parties.

C. LEVEL II CONTRACT

1. Students exhibiting the following should be placed on a Level II probationary contract:

a. Unprofessional behaviors not improved through the guidance of a level I written notification and/or

b. A significant persistent pattern or multiple unprofessional behaviors or academic/clinical performance problems not previously documented

2. The behaviors/performance(s) cited will be recorded on a Notice of Disciplinary Procedure form. The faculty initiating the contract, course coordinator, or course team will designate on the form that this is formal written notification, establish the explicit timeframe, and establish conditions for level II contract completion.

Prior to meeting with the student, the faculty initiating the written notification should consult with the department chair, course coordinator, and APR chair with the completed Notification of Disciplinary Procedure form.  The student's faculty advisor shall be notified. The Chair of APR will notify the members of the APR for review of the situation/form to ensure consistency across cases and for adherence to department policy and procedures.

3. Student will be notified by the faculty member initiating the probationary contract through a verbal and written notification of the unsatisfactory behaviors using the above mentioned Notice of Disciplinary Procedure form. Fulfillment of the terms of the probationary contract is essential for progression in the nursing major. The coordination and monitoring of the probationary contract falls under the auspices of the chair of the APR committee and the faculty member who initiated the contract.

4. Names of students receiving formal written notification are entered into the disciplinary procedure tracking document accessible only to faculty within the Department of Nursing. The student's name will be deleted from the tracking document upon graduation.

5. The following individuals must be present at the time of review of the probationary contract: the faculty initiating the contract, the course coordinator, chair of the APR committee, chair of the Department of Nursing, and the student. The student may request a representative of their choice to be present. This representative cannot be a nursing faculty member of CSB/SJU.  The student may discuss the situation with his or her faculty advisor, but the advisor has no role in the disciplinary proceedings (see CSB/SJU Faculty Handbook 2.5.3 for faculty responsibilities related to advising).

6. The probationary contract is signed by the faculty initiating the contract, student, course coordinator (signs again if initiated the contract), and chair of the Department of Nursing. The signature is an acknowledgement of receipt of the probationary contract by the student.

7. The original probationary contract is stored securely in the student file in the Department of Nursing and retained in the student's file until graduation. Copies of the probationary contract are provided to the student (in person or via certified mail, if needed) and the chair of the Department of Nursing will provide a copy to the Academic Dean and the Director of Academic Advising. The chair of APR committee will update the Faculty Organization about students placed on probationary contracts. The probationary contract information will be entered into the disciplinary procedure tracking document accessible only to faculty with the Department of Nursing. The student's name will be deleted from the tracking document upon graduation.

8. At the end of each semester contracts will be reviewed by the course coordinator, relevant course faculty, and APR chair.  Faculty will then determine if the student is meeting the contract terms. Due to the serious nature of probationary contracts, the contract will be in effect through graduation. A Disciplinary Action Follow-up Form must be completed and signed by all parties. A copy of the contract will be retained in student's file until graduation.

D. TERMINATION FROM THE NURSING MAJOR

1. The department reserves the right to dismiss students for egregious infractions of regulations regardless of previous contract(s)/or lack thereof; failure to meet the terms of a level II probationary contract; unsatisfactory academic standing; failure to comply with contractual requirements of clinical facilities; unsatisfactory progress towards the degree; or other reasons that significantly affect the health, safety, property, or welfare of the individual student, patients, healthcare agency, and/or healthcare agency staff.

2. Procedure

a. If the chair of the Department of Nursing and involved course faculty deem that sufficient documented evidence exists to consider termination, the case will be referred to the APR committee for review. Depending on the circumstances of the situation, the student may be suspended from clinical activities while the case is under review. If a member of the APR committee is the advisor to the student, he or she will be recused from deliberations.

b. The chair of the Department of Nursing will notify and consult with the Academic Dean and the Director of Academic Advising or Dean's designee about the case.

c. The chair of the Department of Nursing will meet with the student to formally notify the student of his or her rights, including the right to have an advocate present during the disciplinary process, and that the case has been referred to the APR committee for consideration of termination. This representative cannot be a nursing faculty member of CSB/SJU.  The student may discuss the situation with his or her faculty advisor, but the advisor has no role in the disciplinary proceedings (see CSB/SJU Faculty Handbook 2.5.3 for faculty responsibilities related to advising).

d. The chair of the APR committee will notify the student in writing that the committee has received a request for consideration of termination. To assure that the notification has been received, the letter can be sent via email with return receipt requested, or hand-delivered to the student with the student signing the original termination notice (filed in the Department of Nursing office) with date signifying receipt, or by certified mail. The APR chair will inform the student that he/she may submit written comments (within 48 hours) relevant to the allegations to the APR committee prior to deliberations.

e. The APR committee recommends retention or termination of the student to the chair of the Department of Nursing.

f. An in-person meeting with the involved parties is conducted to relay the disciplinary decision. If the student is retained, he/she may be subject to a probationary contract. If a student is terminated, the decision will also be relayed in a letter of Notification of Disciplinary Decision provided to the student at the meeting. The appropriate academic officer(s) is also notified.

g. If the student is terminated from the program, fails to graduate or withdraws from the major, the student's file shall be retained for five years and then confidentially disposed.

STUDENT RIGHT TO APPEAL

1. Students have the right to appeal disciplinary actions in writing as directed by the CSB/SJU Academic Catalog.

2. The student will be provided with the Right to Appeal Policy and Procedures by the Nursing Department Chair. The student will be asked to sign a copy of the appeal process to document his/her acknowledgement of this policy. A signed copy will be placed in the student's file in the Department of Nursing.

3. APPEAL OF COURSE GRADES:

The Department of Nursing follows the College’s policy on grade appeals. This policy is located in the Academic Catalog. 

4. APPEAL OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

a. Students wishing to appeal a decision of the Admissions, Progressions, and Recruitment Committee of the Nursing Department must notify the Nursing Department Chair in writing within 48 hours of notification of the disciplinary decision. The Nursing Department Chair will then notify the Academic Dean of the student’s intent to appeal and will provide any supporting materials requested by the Academic Dean and/or the student.

b. All documentation for appeal must be submitted to the Academic Dean in the Academic Affairs office in writing within 7 days of notification of termination or other disciplinary action or as agreed upon by the Chair of the Department of Nursing and the student.

c. The final decision to uphold or overturn the Department of Nursing decision rests with the Academic Dean.

This policy was reviewed and approved by the Academic Dean and the Director of Academic Advising on 10/19/17. Changes approved by the Faculty Organization on 12/12/18.