Admissions Policies and Procedures 

Student Status

The Graduate School of Nursing defines full-time enrollment in the master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs as a minimum of 18 credits in a calendar year, part-time enrollment as less than 18 credits in a calendar year and, for loan deferments, half-time enrollment as a minimum of five credits per term.

The Graduate School of Nursing expects that students in the Graduate Entry Pathway component of the Master of Science program are enrolled full time. Year Two students may enroll in the Master of Science program on an alternative credit load basis with permission of faculty.

Both the PhD program and the BSN to PhD program are full-time programs. No part-time programs of study are offered.

The number of credits taken by the student per semester varies depending upon the program and semester.

Maximum Credit Load

A graduate student in the master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice or PhD programs may register for up to 12 credits each semester. Students who wish to register for more than the maximum credit load must secure written permission from their faculty advisors.

The credit load of the Graduate Entry Pathway in the pre-licensure Year One is as follows: 19 credits for the fall semester; 20 credits for the spring semester; and 10 credits for the summer session. Students may not take any more or any fewer credits during this time. In the fall semester of Year Two, GEP students are expected to take a full-credit load, which is a maximum of 15 per semester. During the spring semester of Year Two and the fall semester of Year Three, students may register for up to 12 credits each semester. Students who wish to register for more than the maximum credit load must secure written permission from their faculty advisors.

Grading System

The following grades are given to graduate nursing students as established by the University of Massachusetts system:

A 4.0 (93-100)
AB 3.5 (88-92)
B 3.0 (83-87)
BC 2.5 (78-82)
C 2.0 (73-77)
CD 1.5 (68-72)
D 1.0 (62-67)
F 0 (0-61)
I, IF
W, WP, WF
P

Licensure

All matriculated graduate nursing students, with the exception of GEP students in their pre-licensure year, must have a current unrestricted Massachusetts RN license and a current unrestricted license in the state where they will perform their practicum. Proof of licensure is required upon application into the Graduate School of Nursing. In addition, students will be required to submit evidence of a Criminal Offense Record Investigation (CORI) for full acceptance and entry into all programs.

Health Clearance

Individual Agencies may have additional requirements, which the master's student must meet. Program directors and specialty coordinators reserve the right to determine that a student who has been absent for health reasons is able to return to the classroom and clinical setting. Therefore, directors and coordinators may require a student to submit a statement to that effect from a health care provider who has treated the student during the absence.

Transfer of Credits

Up to nine graduate credits from other institutions may be transferred with the permission of the faculty advisor for the master’s program and up to six credits for the Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD programs. Transfer courses must have been taken within the last five years and a grade of B or better received. All transfer courses that met regularly for one semester will be converted to three credits. The student receives credit for transfer courses, but the grades are not calculated in the University of Massachusetts GPA.

The Graduate School of Nursing will not accept transfer credits from other nursing programs for applicants to the Graduate Entry Pathway. All three years of the pathway are designed to be taken at the GSN.

Change of Specialty

Matriculated students who wish to change their specialty must confer with their academic advisor and coordinator of their current and proposed specialty. A revised personal statement of goals with a letter of request and rationale must be submitted to the chair of the Academic Standards and Admissions Committee. This committee will review and respond to the request.

Tuition and Fees

Estimated tuition and fees for the 2008-2009 academic year are listed on page 28 for the Master of Science, Pre-master’s Pathway, Post-master’s Certificate, PhD in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice and BSN to PhD Pathway programs and the Graduate Entry Pathway. Tuition and fees may change at any time without prior notice. Selected courses are offered through the continuing education fee structure.

Refund Policy

Refunds are calculated when students do not register for the academic term for which they are charged, take an approved leave of absence or otherwise fail to complete the program on or after the first day of class of the period of enrollment for which charges are assessed.

Students who cease enrollment after 60 percent of the term has elapsed receive no refund and are not required to refund any federal aid received for the term. Students who cease enrollment before 60 percent of the term has elapsed receive a refund for the percentage of the term remaining after the last date of attendance. The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of calendar days elapsed between the beginning of the term and the date the individual ceases enrollment by the number of calendar days in the term. For example, a student who withdraws 57 percent of the way through the term of enrollment receives a refund of 43 percent of tuition and fees (100 percent minus 57 percent). If a student received Title IV funds, this refund must be returned to the Title IV program. Additionally, according to federal rules, the student is also required to refund 43 percent of aid received as cash or from a credit balance. Failure to return unearned Title IV aid may result in ineligibility for future federal aid.

Allocation of Refunds

A share of the refund will be returned to the financial aid programs that funded students. Refunds and recovered overpayments are allocated to the programs from which an individual received aid in the following order:

1. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

2. Federal Stafford Loan

3. Federal Perkins Loan

4. Other federal student aid programs

5. Institutional student aid programs

6. State student aid programs

7. Private student aid programs

8. Student

Students must notify the dean and the registrar in writing of their intent to withdraw. Students who withdraw without notifying the dean and registrar of their status will be considered withdrawn as of the last recorded date of class attendance as documented by the University.

Upon request, the school bursar will provide examples of the application of these policies. Any withdrawn student who believes that individual circumstances warrant exceptions from published policy may make a written appeal to the associate vice chancellor for Financial Services, University of Massachusetts Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655.

Note: This policy is subject to change at any time without prior notice if necessary to comply with federal law.