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Graduate Progression (Policy GRAD-02)

Download a Printable Version of Policy GRAD-02

Effective Date

May 2017

Last Revision Date

7/10/2025

Responsible Party

School of Nursing Graduate Program students, faculty, and staff.

Scope and Audience

Students enrolled in the School of Nursing Graduate Programs.

Additional Authority

BSU: Graduate College Catalog

CHS: Dismissal Policy

SON: Dismissal Policy

1. Policy Purpose

Progression in the Boise State University graduate programs is based upon the successful completion of course and program objectives. This policy describes conditions for successful progression and steps to be taken if students are unable to progress due to withdrawal, academic reasons, professional or clinical integrity reasons, and/or dismissal from the program.

2. Policy Statement

Courses in each semester of the program are designed for the achievement of increasingly complex learning objectives. Students will progress through the curriculum upon successful completion each semester of all course objectives.

Within the curriculum, most courses are sequential and should be taken in order. Case-by-case exceptions may be made.  Students are responsible for monitoring their progression and ensuring progression requirements are met.

To progress in a School of Nursing graduate program, the student must:

  • Maintain a minimum passing grade of “B” (a minimum of 83% or higher)  in all required courses. 
  • Successfully “Pass” the scholarly project courses with a minimum of 83% (3.0) or higher.
  • Adhere to standards of conduct set forth in the School of Nursing student handbook including nationally accepted nursing practice standards and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics (2015).
  • Adhere to all Boise State University Statement of Shared Values, Student Code of Conduct, Graduate College, College of Health Sciences Statement of Shared Values, School of Nursing, and program policies.
  • Complete health requirements prior to beginning the program
  • Maintain serial clinical compliance requirements as outlined in GRAD-06
  • Maintain professional conduct, patient safety, current and unencumbered nursing license, and legal-ethical behavior, including following policies in any workplaces or partner clinical organizations.
  • Accept clinical placement rotations as assigned. If a student declines an available clinical placement, it may prevent the student from progressing as scheduled and could impede their ability to advance in the program. 
  • If the student wishes to “drop a class” or “withdraw” from a course, refer to the Boise State University Graduate College Catalog and Policies.
  • Students who withdraw in the first semester of their program without completing the semester, for any reason, must reapply for admission.

Students who withdraw from or voluntarily stop progression in a SON graduate program after completing the first semester will be eligible for re-entry or readmission as outlined in the Readmission and Re-entry Policies. This may result in additional program costs.

To progress within the School of Nursing graduate program, students must adhere to the academic and GPA requirements outlined in the Graduate Catalog. Additionally, students must adhere to the behavioral and professional standards outlined by Graduate, SoN, and University Policies.

  • Students who receive a grade of B- or lower (less than 83%)  in any course must repeat that course.
  • Students who must repeat a course will be given only one opportunity to retake only one course to achieve a grade of 83% or better. The opportunity to repeat a course is on a space-available basis.
  • Students who receive a grade less than 83% in one co-requisite course are required to retake both courses concurrently in a later semester and achieve a grade of 83% or better in both courses before progression can be achieved. 
  • Receiving a course grade of B- or lower (less than 83%) a second time will result in dismissal from the program and ineligibility for re-admission.
  • Grades are not rounded up. For example, a grade of 82.9% in a course will not be rounded up to 83%.
  • Students are required to retake a course after developing a plan for academic success (Student Success Plan) and meet with the program director to review that plan. The plan will include:
    • Steps taken to resolve factors related to the unsatisfactory grade or behavior.
    • Description of what the student has done to maintain currency in nursing knowledge and skills at the competency level required to pass coursework. 
    • A detailed plan and timeline for successful completion of the program (See Readmission and Re-entry policy).

At all times, student behavior and/or performance must be safe, ethical, and must not present a danger (or reasonable assumption of danger) to a person/client/patient or jeopardize the license of a faculty or nurse working with the student. For more information on expectations see the University Student Code of Conduct Policy 2020, the School of Nursing Student Behaviors and Actions Policy SON-06, and the  Attendance and activity expectations for online/asynchronous learning experiences for graduate program students (GRAD-09) Policy GRAD-09.

All requirements for a graduate degree (including courses completed at another college or university) must be started and completed within an interval as outlined in the Boise State University Graduate College Catalog and policies.

3. Forms

N/A

Boise State University

College of Health Sciences

School of Nursing

Last Review Date

1/29/2025

Revision History

May 2017, October 2018, July 2019, July 2020, July 2021, April 2022,  July 2024, July 2025