ACADEMIC STANDARDS and POLICIES

The following are policies for College of the Redwoods LVN and RN students.  These policies apply to all students in every semester of the two nursing programs.  In addition further directives may be instituted by individual clinical agency policies.

Test Taking in Nursing Programs

As delineated in the Assignment and Evaluation Policies section of this handbook (page 20) and in each nursing course syllabus, nursing course faculty develop quizzes and examinations to measure student mastery of course objectives. Each quiz and exam grade provides the test taker information about what content has been mastered and what remains to be mastered.  In nursing courses all theory content has direct application to clinical practice; mastery of nursing content promotes practice that is safe and grounded in scientific and humanistic principles.

In each nursing course an overall computed grade of quizzes and exams scores of 75% is required to pass the course and progress to the next semester in the nursing program.  Therefore it behooves students who are not achieving a 75% grade or not achieving at the students’ desired levels of performance to seek assistance from their instructor(s), faculty advisor, the Academic Support Center (ASC), and/or Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) as soon as performance difficulties arise.  In the nursing programs student success is very important; students should maximize the use of all campus resources that will contribute to success.

In addition the nursing faculty have adopted several practices to support student success and reduce opportunities for inappropriate sharing of information during test taking.

Quizzes and exam are usually administered during the first portion of a scheduled class meeting.  In consideration of the type of questions on the exam faculty will provide sufficient time for students to complete the tests.  Students who are unable to complete the tests in the allotted time should consult with the instructor(s).

To minimize class disruption during test taking, students should expect to be in class at least five minutes before the schedule start of class; tardiness to exams interrupts concentration of others and reduces the time available to complete the exam.  During quizzes students remain seated until all quizzes have been completed and collected.  During the midterm and final exams the faculty will dismiss students who have completed test taking at intervals to minimize classroom disruption. Extensions in time to complete tests are not available to students arriving late.

Students who are absent or arrive at class after quizzes are completed will not be permitted to take the quiz and will receive a zero grade for that quiz.  In extreme unavoidable circumstance as determined by the instructor(s) in consultation with the Director of Nursing and Health Occupations absence for course mid terms and final exams will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For students with test taking accommodations through DSPS requiring the use of the ASC, faculty will provide tests to the ASC in sufficient time and with specific instructions to satisfy the student accommodation.

Cell phones, graphing/programmable calculators, and PDAs may not be used during the administration of tests.  Department owned calculators are available when computation will be needed.  Individual faculty may provide additional instructions on student seating during exams, faculty proctoring of exams, and alternate formats of testing materials.

In all circumstances of intentional using or attempt to use unauthorized materials or information from other students or their exams during testing will be considered cheating in accordance with the College of the Redwoods Statement on Academic Integrity.

Clinical evaluation in nursing courses with a clinical component is separate from the theory grade and must be satisfaction to pass the course. Skills performance evaluations are computed as part of the grade in nursing skills courses.

Faculty will provide on going grade averages throughout the semester.  All disputes about grade calculation or unfair treatment should be directed to the course instructor(s) as soon as possible.  If the issue cannot be resolved with the faculty, the student should contact the Director of Nursing and Health Occupations.  If the issue persists without resolution, students may contact the Vice President of Academic Affairs.