NURSING DEGREE PROGRESSION & RETENTION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Maintain a minimum CGPA of 2.7 (calculated at the end of spring for progression into Fall semester and end of fall semester for progression into Spring).
  1. At the completion of the first Semester, students are required to achieve a Nursing GPA of 2.3 calculated for all NURS courses and a cumulative GPA for all Rockford University courses of 7.
  1. At the completion of the second, third and fourth semesters, students are required to achieve a Nursing GPA of 2.5 calculated for all NURS courses and a cumulative GPA for all Rockford University courses of 2.7.
  1. All courses registered for must be completed with a posted grade. A student may not progress in the nursing curriculum plan until incompletes (including medical incompletes) are removed from the transcript.
  1. Earn at least a C in each nursing course:
    • Students who achieve less than a “C: grade in a required nursing course must successfully repeat the respective required nursing course before progressing in the program.
    • Students who receive less than a “C” in a required support course must retake the course.
    • Failure to receive a “C” in any required support course may result in a failure to successfully complete the nursing program and may prohibit graduation.
    • A first semester nursing student who achieves less than a “C” in a first semester nursing course will be required to re-apply to the RU nursing program to be considered for readmission to the program due to limited space availability in first semester courses.
    • Readmission to the major is not guaranteed and is handled on a space available basis and current CGPA will be used for ranking, as well as science grades and most recent TEAS scores. The scores will be ranked along with the other applicants.
    • No more than one required nursing course may be repeated throughout the nursing curriculum with the exception noted in number 4 below.
    • A student may only re-enroll in one nursing course. The exception to this is if a student is granted a medical withdrawal for all nursing coursed in a single semester. The student may re-enroll in all courses on a space available basis.
    • If the student drops or fails any of the courses during the re-enrollment, the student will be dismissed from the program. Note that a student has four (4) years to complete the nursing program from the time of entering the first nursing course.
    • Completion of the Achievement Assessment Tests as outlined in the Mandatory Standard for Progression Each Semester section. clinical which will impact.
    • A student who questions the justice of a final grade must first seek an explanation from the course instructor. If dissatisfied with the explanation offered, the student may appeal the grade. Additional information regarding grade appeals can be found in the current Rockford University Academic Catalog.
    • If the required nursing GPA or cumulative GPA are not met at the end of the semester, the student will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. By the end of the following semester, if the student does not achieve the required GPAs, the student will be dismissed from the nursing
    • To re-enter the program if dismissed, a student must take a minimum of 6 credits outside the major at Rockford University and achieve the required cumulative GPA of 2.7. The student must submit a petition of intent to return the Chair of the Nursing Department at least 1 month prior to returning A student may only be placed on academic probation once during their time in the nursing program.
  • Medical:
    • A student who is granted a medical incomplete of medical withdrawal must notify the Nursing Department Chair of intent to return by March 1st for the entry into the fall semester or October 1st for spring semester.A student may only re-enroll in one nursing course. The exception to this is if a student is granted a medical withdrawal for all nursing courses in a single semester. The student may re-enroll in all courses on a space available basis. If the student drops or fails any of the courses during the re-enrollment, the student will be dismissed from the program. Note that a student has four (4) years to complete the nursing program from the time of entering the first nursing course
    • It is the responsibility of the student to submit the Mandatory Student Immunization & Clinical Compliance Documentation form (APPENDIX B) to Lang Health Center or upload it using
    • (https://rockford.jotform.com/211015350494042) prior to the first nursing course. Students who fail to complete and maintain up-to-date clinical requirements will not be allowed to attend clinical which will impact progression in the program. Students will be counted as “absent” and will not be able to make up the clinical. If the student exceeds the allowed clinical absence as noted in the course syllabus, the student may be withdrawn or fail the course.
    • It is the student’s responsibility to maintain immunization, CPR certification, and health insurance compliance. A student who is found to be out of compliance will be removed from clinical until the student has resolved the situation. If the student exceeds the allowed clinical absence as noted in the course syllabus, the student may be withdrawn or fail the course.
    • All nursing students are required to have immunizations current when due.   Influenza vaccination, T-dap, Varicella, Heb B and Titre, Mantoux, TB, Physical Exam and provide a copy of a valid driver’s license and current proof of insurance.
    • Students who are diagnosed with any type of communicable disease may be required to make-up clinical time or be dropped from a clinical course. Each case will be evaluated on an individual basis.