School of Nursing (SON)

http://www.umflint.edu/nursing

2180 William S. White Building
(810) 762-3420
Fax: (810) 766-6851, (810) 766-6851

Dean: Margaret Andrews
Director for Graduate Affairs: Constance Creech
Director for Undergraduate Affairs: Megan Keiser
Associate Director for RN to BSN Program: Jamie Koonmen

Business Administrator: Denise Shourd
Graduate Program Manager: Marcia Campbell
Undergraduate Program Manager: Maris Gilles
Clinical Coordinator: Peggy Sheffer
Senior Administrative Assistant: Carol Hall
Administrative Specialist: Chelsea Duncan
Academic Advisors: Alexander Chouinard, Vickie Jaskiewicz, Joy O’Brien
Administrative Assistant Intermediate: Rebecca Blakeney
Simulation Center Coordinator: Ronald Streetman
Simulation Center Technician: James McTiernan

Nursing Faculty: Margaret Andrews, Christina Aplin-Kalisz, Lyn Behnke, Libby Bell, Denise Cooper, Melva Craft-Blacksheare, Constance Creech, Beverly Dabney, Dusty Filliung, Deborah Filos, Marilyn Filter, Judy Haefner, Barbara Hollie, Megan Keiser, Linda Knecht, Jamie Koonmen, Barbara Kupferschmid, Marsha Lesley, Mary Linton, Rose Luster-Turner, Marilyn McFarland, Sonya Moreau, Margaret Murray-Wright, Richard Richardson, Veronica Robinson, Maureen Tippen, Carman Turkelson, Kimberly VanSlyke-Smith, Helene Vossos, Hiba Wehbe-Alamah, Kristi Wilson

Opportunities in the field of Nursing are evolving in new, challenging directions as healthcare settings expand and diversify. A generation ago, nurses were primarily prepared for work in hospitals. Today, a myriad of challenging opportunities is available.  Career venues for professional nurses are continually expanding and include: hospitals, clinics, physicians’ office practices, home healthcare agencies, schools, religious institutions, businesses, the military, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, wellness centers, fitness centers, community and public health agencies and other settings. Nurses are finding opportunities in the fields of business, law and many sectors of the government.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation).

Mission

The School of Nursing is committed to providing quality education to diverse students in pursuit of excellence in nursing practice, leadership and scholarship. A student-centered approach and a focus on evidence-based and culturally competent care are the foundation for theoretical and clinical learning experiences. Interprofessional, local and global partnerships influence our commitment to health and well-being for all people.

Program Assessment

The School of Nursing participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Students are expected to fully engage in this process. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment/.

Academic Regulations and Procedures

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the School of Nursing: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, poor; E, failure; I, incomplete; Y, work in progress; W, officially withdrawn (without penalty). The following scale is used in computing grade-point averages:

Grade point averages are computed by dividing total honor points by total credits. The computation is limited to points and credits earned at the University of Michigan-Flint and to credits transferred from other schools and colleges of the University of Michigan.

An instructor may report an “I” (incomplete), if the student is unable to meet the course requirements within the specified time. The student may make up an “I” not enrolled and must complete the coursework by the end of the fifth week of the next semester (fall or winter) in which a student is enrolled. If, for sufficient reason, a student cannot remove the incomplete within the five-week period, an extension request form must be approved by the course instructor and forwarded to the Office of the Registrar. Failure to either make up the grade within the allotted time or to have an extension approved will result in the “I”  automatically changing to a grade of E.

The grade Y indicates “Work in Progress” and is therefore used only for courses designated to extend beyond a single semester. After completion of the work, the Y grade will be removed and replaced by an appropriate grade, or it may also be replaced by an (I) Incomplete.

A grade once reported (with the exception of I or Y) may be changed only to correct a demonstrable error up to one calendar year after the end of the semester in which the grade was originally submitted and then only with the approval of the Dean.  Grade changes made and/or received after degrees have been conferred will not be processed as the records are closed.  Final grades are reported at the conclusion of each academic semester and become part of the official record of the student. Final grades are generally available on SIS within one week of the last day of the examination period.

Credit Without Grade (Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)

The pass/fail option is available for undergraduate students only and applies only to specific courses so designated in the course schedule. The satisfactory/unsatisfactory option is available for graduate students only and applies only to specific courses so designated in the course schedule. Courses elected for credit without grade are not included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Changes in Course Elections (Drop/Add)

Changes in course elections include dropping and adding a course. To make a course change before the first official day of the semester the student must drop and add on the SIS website. Beginning on the first day of the semester, students may add courses in SIS as follows:

• 1st - 5th day, if seats are available - NO SIGNATURES or OVERRIDES NEEDED.
• 6th - 10th day, if seats are available - WITH AN OVERRIDE from the academic department.

Students wishing to drop courses may do so in SIS without the instructor’s signature until the final drop deadline.

Students should check the course schedule or Registrar’s website for specific drop and add dates.

Any student who seeks an exception to these deadlines must do so by a petition to the Academic Standards Committee of the School of Nursing. A request to drop a course without a final grade after the deadline is considered only on medical grounds or for other compelling reasons.

Permission to drop a course after the deadline is not granted merely because the student is doing unsatisfactory work. If a student drops a course without official approval, the grade of E is recorded.

Granting withdrawal (with intention to return) is a prerogative of the School of Nursing faculty.

Undergraduate Recognition of Superior Scholarship

For those undergraduate students with 45 graded hours or more completed at UM-Flint, graduating seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher are recommended for the degree “with honors,” and students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher are recommended for the degree “with high honors.”

Undergraduate students who have complete less than 45 graded credit hours, but meet the requirements for graduation with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, will receive the Academic Distinction Award.

See “Undergraduate Honors” in the “Academic Policies of the University” section of this Catalog for information regarding campus- and system-wide honors recognition.

Distinguished scholarship is also recognized by awards offered by the faculty of the University of Michigan-Flint and by other organizations.

Academic Standing

A student in the School of Nursing who maintains a grade point average of at least 2.3 overall for undergraduate students or 3.0 in each course for graduate students elected while enrolled in the University is generally considered in good academic standing. However, individual program standards may be higher. Grade point average requirements for graduation also vary. 

The academic records of all nursing students whose grade point average falls below C (2.0) undergraduate students or B (3.0) for graduate students are reviewed at the end of each semester by the Academic Standards Committee of the School of Nursing. According to individual circumstances, students with deficient academic records may be placed on warning or required to withdraw. Students of individual programs which have established policies and procedures to determine academic discipline do not normally come before the Academic Standards Committee unless the grade point falls below C (2.0) for undergraduate students or B (3.0) for graduate students.

Appeals Procedure

Students in the School of Nursing who believe they have been unfairly treated may appeal to the School of Nursing Student Appeals Committee. For problems involving a faculty member, the appeal procedure should be initiated after consultation with the faculty member whenever possible.

Students in programs with written policies and procedures related to academic performance, clinical competency, and ethical standards should follow procedures established by the program prior to contacting the School of Nursing Student Appeals Committee.