Academic Policies

Progression Policies for Graduate Programs in Nursing

  • Each student is required to maintain a 70% grade in each course.
  • If one grade less than 70% is obtained, continued progression is reviewed by the Graduate Affairs Committee.
  • Repeat of the course or part of the course is at the discretion of the Graduate Affairs Committee.
  • If the student obtains another grade of less than 70%, the student will be asked to withdraw from the program.

Procedures

  1. Faculty advisors or supervisors monitor student progress each term. This will include the following:
    • Graduate students must meet with their advisor or supervisor at least once per term and more often at the discretion of their advisor or supervisor.
    • When meeting with the advisor or supervisor, students will provide a list of the academic work (papers, literature searches, etc.) they have completed and are currently working on, along with any marks received on course requirements and completed courses.
    • If a student is experiencing academic difficulty, a collaborative written plan should be prepared to support success.
    • The Annual Report prepared by PhD students must be submitted to their supervisor for review prior to the June meeting of the Progressions Subcommittee of the Graduate Programs Council.
  2. Academic progress of all students is reviewed regularly by the Progressions Subcommittee of the Graduate Programs Council. Progress is evaluated as satisfactory, satisfactory with conditions, or not satisfactory, and this evaluation is communicated by letter at least annually to students and their advisors/supervisors.

Policy about Re-writing Failed Papers

  • With the permission of the course professor, a failed course assignment may be re-written.  The maximum mark allowed on a re-written paper is 70%.
  • A maximum of 2 papers can be re-written in the graduate program.
  • If a paper is re-written, the supervisor and Graduate Programs Office will be informed.

Policy on Graduate Seminar Participation

Critical reflection, dialogue, mutual discovery and critique are foundational elements of Graduate Education in Nursing. Each student has a responsibility to fully engage in class discussion, both to promote his/her own learning and discovery and to support the development of peers. As such, students are expected to attend all seminars, to prepare for each through in-depth reading and reflection and to actively contribute to class discussion in a way that promotes analysis, invites debate and enhances the depth of the group analysis.

It is the student’s responsibility to arrange other commitments so that they are able to attend and participate in class. If a student is unable to attend a seminar, he/she must discuss this absence with the course professor in advance of that class. The course professor may require the student to complete additional reading and/or assignments in lieu of the learning experiences that were missed.

Absence from a seminar has a significant impact on the entire learning process for all students. Repeat absences or lateness will be discussed with the student and may result in loss of marks and/or withdrawal from the course until a time when the student is ready and able to participate.  Decisions about the consequences of repeated absences will be made by the course professor, in consultation with the Graduate Programs Chair.

Approved by GPC: May 20, 2008

Statement on Full-Time and Part-Time Studies


To foster full participation and immersion in graduate education, full-time study is preferred in the graduate programs in Nursing. Full-time students are expected to devote the majority of their time to their studies and limit other activities, such as employment, to an average of 10 hours per week. At the PhD level, full-time enrolment is required. At the master’s level, part-time enrolment is permitted on a space available basis. Preference may be given to full-time applicants. 

Student who are admitted for part-time master’s study may enrol in a maximum of 3 half courses (1.5 FCE’s) per academic year and will pay part-time fees. Enrolment which exceeds this level is considered full-time study and full-time fees will apply. In general, students who are admitted to full-time study will not be permitted to change their status to part-time except under exceptional circumstances (eg. serious illness).   

Approved by GPC: May 20, 2008

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