BS in Nursing - Accelerated Program

Retention/Progression Policies

All policies applicable to students in the baccalaureate program (refer to Retention/Progression Policies above) also apply to students in the Accelerated BS program.

Students in the Accelerated BS program are required to maintain GPA of 2.75, A student who is unable to maintain a grade point average of 2.75 but whose average remains above 2.5 is on probation within the School of Nursing. Such a student may take support courses until his or her grade point average has been restored to the level of 2.75 or above, at which point progress in nursing lecture and clinical courses may resume. A student who is unable to maintain a grade point average of 2.5 will not be allowed to maintain matriculation in the School of Nursing and will be required to either change majors, be suspended, or be dismissed from the University according to its policies.

The lowest acceptable grade in required NUR/CON courses and their prerequisite courses is a grade of C. If placed on probation, a student has a maximum of two semesters to achieve a satisfactory cumulative GPA or the student will be suspended or dismissed. While on probation, the minimum semester GPA accomplished must be the GPA for good standing according to the number of credits earned (see above) or the student will be suspended. A student is suspended for one semester; the student will be dismissed at the end of the next enrolled semester if the GPA requirement is not met.

Nursing lecture and clinical course combinations must be taken concurrently the first time a student is enrolled in each course. A grade of C- or below in a nursing lecture course or an F in a nursing clinical course (see low pass policy) will stop the student from registering for any other NUR clinical, NUR lecture or partnership course. In addition, students who receive a failing grade in a required lecture or clinical course which finishes partway through the semester (or students who withdraw from a required lecture or clinical course partway through the semester) will be withdrawn from all other concurrent lecture or clinical courses (required or elective). The student must achieve a grade of C or better, or a passing clinical grade in the course which is repeated before entering the next nursing lecture,/clinical course combination or partnership. A course may be repeated only once. A student may repeat a maximum of two CON or NUR required courses, clinical or didactic, in which the student receives a grade of C- or less. An unsatisfactory grade in a third CON or NUR required course will result in dismissal from the nursing program. If a student receives an F in an elective NUR clinical course, they may not register to repeat that clinical elective or enroll in any other NUR clinical elective without permission of the Director of the School of Nursing.

The Undergraduate Admissions and Advancement Committee will review the academic record of any student who receives unsatisfactory grades in a given semester as follows:

1. Multiple unsatisfactory grades in prerequisite, nursing, and/or support courses;

2. A C-, D, F or L in one or more prerequisite, nursing and/or support course(s) when repeating the course due to an unsatisfactory grade;

3. An F in a nursing clinical or partnership course.

Academic actions may include probation, suspension or dismissal from nursing and/or the University. Matters of personal concern to the student will be considered. The Committee will recommend to the Director a decision regarding progression or dismissal. Appeals may be made to the Undergraduate Admissions and Advancement Committee. A request for exception to the policy must be initiated by the student.

The School of Nursing reserves the right to accept and retain only those students who satisfy the requirements of scholarship and health necessary for nursing. A student who admits to or is found guilty of a violation of the American Nurses' Association guidelines for ethical practice (see School of Nursing Student Handbook) is subject to suspension or dismissal from the University. The Maine State Board of Nursing may refuse to grant a license on the basis of violation of academic or professional integrity or on the basis of criminal history record information relating to convictions denominated in Title 5, Chapter 341, Subsection 5301 of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated.

Low Pass Grades

Low pass (LP) grades are used in clinical and partnership courses to inform students whose performance is near failing. Students are held accountable to address the weaknesses identified in their performance appraisal with subsequent clinical and partnership faculty. A second low pass grade constitutes an F and stops progression in clinical, didactic and partnership coursework (see above progression policies).

Incomplete Grades

A temporary grade may be assigned by a faculty member when a student, because of extraordinary circumstances, has failed to complete course requirements in a nursing course or CON required course. Incomplete grades in upper division nursing courses must be completed with a letter grade of C or better before progressing to the next course.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation with a bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing, the student must have successfully completed all requirements, and a minimum of 120-128 credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.

This program admits students through a competitive admissions process who have attained a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale in their prior degree. Students must complete statistics and anatomy and physiology prior to beginning the program. (More detailed information is available on the Learn More tab.)

Plan of Study for the Accelerated Nursing Program

 Admission Requirements

 The applicant must

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university or college
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better from the previous degree on 4.0 scale
  
  
• Successfully completed a college/university course in Anatomy & Physiology (all body systems) and a college/university course in statistics by the time the program begins in May.

 Prior course work that could strengthen an application

• Microbiology & Lab
• Chemistry - particularly organic or biochemistry
• Growth & development - life-span preferred

Deadline: October 1 for a May start

How to Apply (USM Undergraduate Admissions)

In addition to completing an Undergraduate USM Application at the above link, you must also complete the:Supplemental Application for the Accelerated Nursing Program and submit it with a resume and essay. No other essay is required.

Currently matriculated USM students do not reapply to USM, and only need to submit the supplemental application, essay, and resume

Please note that prior to starting lab and clinical courses, students must have completed the nursing health requirements, including Hepatitis B immunization.

FAQ for the Accelerated program

Information Sessions are scheduled on a regular basis.