SNAH Student Manual

Updated Fall 2023

OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL OF NURSING & ALLIED HEALTH

The information in this electronic manual has been compiled as a resource to help you navigate through your undergraduate or graduate degree program at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in the School of Nursing and Allied Health (SNAH). Here you will find information about relevant FDU resources and policies, and SNAH-specific policies, procedures, and expectations that faculty have for our students.

Additional sources of information about academic policies and other aspects of student life at FDU are available on the FDU and SNAH webpages. Some frequently accessed other sources of information are:

Information on academic policies, procedures, and expectations specific to your classes will be available in course syllabi and/or in the WebCampus course shell for each class you take.

Other student profile information and access to the FDU course catalogue can be found in your Colleague Self Service account.

This manual is subject to change without prior notice. Any policy or procedural changes will be communicated to students potentially impacted by the change through email and other sources, as appropriate. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this Manual, precision is not guaranteed. The SNAH compiles this Manual as a convenience to students, who should not rely upon it as legal and binding.

Mission, Vision, and Values

Guided by an unwavering mission, FDU has emerged as a center of academic excellence dedicated to the preparation of world citizens through global education. FDU strives to provide students with the multi-disciplinary, intercultural, and ethical understandings necessary to participate, lead, and prosper in the global marketplace of ideas, commerce, and culture, and is committed to creating and nurturing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus environment that fosters mutual respect and understanding among students, faculty, staff, administration, and alumni.

Consistent with this mission and these core values, the Mission of the SNAH is to prepare nurse generalists, specialists, and allied health professionals to enhance society and deliver health care locally, nationally, and globally. The programs reflect academic excellence through a strong commitment to the development of critical thinking, interprofessional collaboration, ethical decision making, leadership, and cultural competence necessary to function as care providers and leaders of health care systems throughout the world. The learning experience is enriched by interactions among faculty and students of diverse backgrounds and nationalities as they engage in scholarship, research, clinical practice, and professional development. 

A Global Mission

FDU, and especially its Nursing and other health professions programs, prepares its graduates for the likelihood that their patients will come from cultures, customs, and beliefs different from their own. FDU is committed to developing global education and study abroad opportunities for its students. The SNAH also provides many opportunities to reach toward the goals of preparing its graduates to connect with people and patients representing many cultures, customs, and beliefs. Among these, is the opportunity to take coursework at one of our international campuses:

Programs and Tracks

The SNAH offers career-transforming degree programs in Nursing, Allied Health, and Health Studies. SNAH’s exceptionally wide range of offerings includes programs at the certificate, associate, bachelors, masters, post-graduate certificate, and doctoral levels. A compilation of program offerings can be found on our website:

Faculty and Staff

The SNAH is supported by a large team of faculty (including full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, and preceptors), clinical lab specialists, and administrative staff. Members of the faculty have healthcare expertise across a broad array of population foci, as well as proficiencies in education, administration, and research. Members of the clinical lab and administrative staff have expertise in budget management, information systems, and student services.

An up-to-date listing of full-time faculty and staff, including SNAH leadership roles and email contact information, can be found at Faculty and Staff.

Program Outcomes

Competence develops over time and is progressive. Learners in SNAH programs progress through different competency expectations as they progress through different levels of education. For each of our programs, outcome expectations will vary between entry-level coursework and advanced-level coursework, as reflected in individual course curricula.

SNAH program outcomes reflect relevant professional standards; incorporate degree standards for associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral education, and are congruent with the mission of FDU.

Locations and Transportation

SNAH faculty and staff offices are primarily located within two “hubs” at/near the two FDU New Jersey campuses:

Metro Campus SNAH Faculty/Staff Offices

Dickinson Hall – 4th floor
1000 River Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666

Florham Campus SNAH Faculty/Staff Offices

230 Park Avenue
1st Floor
Florham Park, NJ 07932

Experiential learning is an essential component of the education of healthcare students. Entry-level students are assigned to go to various clinical agencies and clinical laboratories to complete their experiential learning activities each semester under the direct supervision of faculty. These experiences will vary based on each specialty course. Advanced-level students collaborate with faculty to choose clinical agencies and preceptors to meet the clinical learning needs for their specialty track and complete their experiential learning activities each semester with faculty oversight.

Clinical sites and clinical laboratory facilities are selected for use based on their ability to provide appropriate educational opportunities. Students are expected to arrange their own transportation to these sites and must comply with the parking regulations of each agency. These sites may require commuting up to 40 miles from campus. In addition, SNAH students participate in experiential learning activities in our clinical labs at Dickinson Hall (FDU Metro Campus, Teaneck) and at Park Avenue Plaza (230 Park Avenue, Florham Park).

Academic Calendar and Religious Holidays

The SNAH follows the FDU Academic Calendar (e.g., for class start/end dates, registration, add/drop deadlines, holidays, recess). Many of our health education programs include summer coursework. In the case of summer coursework, SNAH courses often cross between Summer I/Summer II/ Summer III sessions. Please confirm the course start/end dates in the course catalogue. The FDU Academic Calendar is subject to change with appropriate notice.

SNAH respects the observance of major religious holy days. To the extent possible, faculty will attempt to avoid conflict with such observances and/or provide alternatives to allow for religious observation. Students are expected to identify to their course faculty any anticipated need for religious observance during the first week of the semester so that appropriate adjustments/alternatives can be identified.

Scholarships and Grants

FDU students are encouraged to apply for SNAH scholarships, FDU institution scholarships, and external scholarships to support their educational costs. SNAH maintains and regularly updates a webpage of scholarships and grants that are applicable to SNAH students. Please check the site regularly for new and updated opportunities.

For graduate-level nursing students, FDU offers a generous tuition discount for registered nurses working (e.g., full time, part-time, per diem, agency) in a healthcare facility with which FDU has a clinical affiliation agreement. 

SNAH also is able to provide eligible students with federal loans to support their education. Depending on a student’s program, these loans are fully or partly forgiven following a period of service after graduation. SNAH students may contact SNAH-Grants@fdu.edu to inquire about eligibility for these federal loans.

Diversity and Inclusion

Major goals in healthcare are to provide care that is sensitive to the needs and experiences of diverse populations, and to eliminate disparities in health outcomes. The SNAH uses a broad range of resources to reach toward the goals of ensuring that our healthcare education programs are inclusive of a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, and that we confront individual and systematic bias. 

Notice of Non-Discrimination

FDU does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy status, religion, national origin or ancestry, gender, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran status, and provides equal access to its programs, services and activities, whether they are offered in-person or online. FDU students, including SNAH students, are supported by university non-discrimination policies that assure their access to technologies used in learning, such as internet access, hardware, software, browsers, and student identification verification technologies. For inquiries regarding the accessibility of learning technologies, including the accessibility of our FDU website, please refer to the university accessibility webpage

Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct

Code of Student Rights

FDU is committed to the overall educational, personal and professional development of the student. It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with FDU policies, regulations and standards of behavior and procedures. In general, each student is expected to respect the rights and property of FDU and the members of the University community and to take responsibility for their actions.

Students who accept enrollment at FDU must abide by the rules and regulations promulgated from time to time by the University including, but not limited to, those rules and regulations in the FDU Undergraduate & Graduate Studies Bulletins. Students should familiarize themselves with the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct and comply with the requirements of applicable FDU policies and procedures. The University reserves the right to dismiss or suspend students who fail to comply with the foregoing.

FERPA

Students are also entitled to privacy under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA is federal legislation that protects the privacy of students’ education records. FERPA applies to all educational institutions that receive federal funds and affords students the right to inspect and review their education records, the right to seek to have their records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of information.

Accreditation

FDU is licensed by the State of New Jersey and is authorized to offer degree programs at the associates, bachelors, masters, and doctoral level.

Fairleigh Dickinson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 267-284-5000. In addition to the accreditation held by all programs for academic purposes, specialized curricula have applied for and been granted approval by recognized professional agencies.

Our SNAH baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Our SNAH allied health tracks are individually accredited through appropriate accrediting bodies, including the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), in accordance with our collaboration agreements with Rutgers University, Valley Hospital, and other regional partners.

Other FDU accreditations are listed on the university website accreditation page.

STUDENT LIFE

Broad Opportunities

SNAH students have many interests, identities, and pursuits outside of health and healthcare. There is an abundance of student life opportunities for SNAH students to actively participate in academic, social, cultural, and community service activities. We recommend that students bookmark a link to the calendar of university events to stay updated on FDU club and athletic activities, university-wide events, and other important student dates.

Shared Governance

Shared Governance at Fairleigh Dickinson University constitutes a system that provides opportunities for community members to propose, consider, and recommend changes to existing policies and practices or new policies and practices in accordance with our core values. Shared governance at FDU is representative, inclusive, consultative, transparent, and streamlined. Please review the opportunities to participate in Shared Governance at FDU.

University Honors Program

The University Honors Program offers exceptional students an educational experience that combines advanced, multidisciplinary coursework through all four years with co-curricular activities that give students an opportunity to explore the campus, the local area, and the world.

Academically motivated incoming students are invited to apply to the University Honors Program prior to their freshman year. They may also apply for entry after they have matriculated, having demonstrated superlative academic achievement and a consistent record of leadership and service to the community.

Hispanic Center and Latino Promise

FDU is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and recognized nationally for its evidence-based and award-winning programs that advance Latino student success in higher education and in the workforce. The FDU Hispanic Center supports programs that are designed to help Latino students achieve their college goals. Among these programs is FDU’s Latino Promise Program®, which provides a personalized approach to higher education for Latino high school students in pursuit of an associate or bachelor degree.

SNAH Student Organizations and Honor Societies

Student Nurses Association

Nursing students are encouraged to join the local, state, and national levels of the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA). FDU SNA chapter meetings are held on both the Metro and Florham campuses. All nursing and pre-nursing students are invited to attend. FDU SNA membership provides students with opportunities to expand professional leadership skills, serve as a chapter leader or committee chairperson, or plan campus or community service projects. Students with volunteer experience (e.g., fundraising, community relations) are encouraged to share their expertise. Each year, the goals and projects of FDU SNA grow out of the specific interests of the members. For further information, students can contact the FDU SNA advisor (SNAH-SNA@fdu.edu).

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

The Epsilon Rho Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (“Sigma”) was established in 1982 at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Students are invited to join the Epsilon Rho Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau if they meet the requirements for demonstrating academic achievement and leadership.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

FDU hosts an array of resources to support students in their university experience. FDU is dedicated to supporting the whole student academically, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually through a variety of offices and services. Academic assistance and advisement, health and wellness centers, career guidance, and a variety of programs serving students of special needs and circumstances are all available and their use is actively encouraged. Resources commonly used by SNAH students are listed here:

Academic Support Centers

The provide campus-based academic support services free of charge to all FDU students. There is an Academic Support Center location on each of FDU’s New Jersey campuses:

Individualized tutoring is available in writing, mathematics, arts and sciences, and core curriculum. Students can access tutoring services through links on the WebCampus home page or by email at tutoring@fdu.edu. The tutoring staff includes professional tutors and peer tutors. The Academic Support Centers also offer assistance to develop study and test taking skills and time management skills. Discussion groups review sessions, and workshops are tailored for students in specific courses or areas of study as needed.

Students who have well-developed academic skills are encouraged to contact the Academic Support Centers if they are interested in being employed as an academic tutor/mentor.

Bookstore

The FDU Bookstore, operated by the Follett Higher Education Group, stocks all textbook and school supply needs, as well as emblematic FDU merchandise including clothing and giftware, postage stamps, reference and general-interest titles and software. Services include special orders, mail orders and web orders for textbooks.

Electronic SNAH learning resources may need to be purchased through the FDU Bookstore. For example, entry-level nursing students are directed to purchase the Kaplan Nursing Complete Program through the FDU bookstore.

Library and SNAH Librarian Services

Fairleigh Dickinson University maintains libraries at the Florham Campus and the Metropolitan Campus. Extensive reference collections are available at the libraries for consultation and research, with the library serving its campus as a center for education and learning. Professional librarians offer individual assistance to students on mastering information literacy skills as well as classroom instruction in library use and research methodology.

Students and faculty on both New Jersey campuses have easy access to all FDU library materials through the online catalog. Intercampus loan requests can be delivered to the appropriate campus within two to three days. A user needing library materials not owned by FDU can access library holdings throughout the country with interlibrary loans. These can be requested either online or in person at any campus library.

A dedicated librarian serves SNAH Students. Our SNAH librarians can be accessed by email or phone to provide specialized assistance to our health studies and health care students. Consider bookmarking the Nursing and Allied Health Library Subject Guide that our librarians have compiled for our SNAH students. 

Career Development Center

The Career Development Center at FDU provides a job search resources for students, alumni, and employers. The Career Development Center offers ongoing programs designed to enhance employment-related skills such as interviewing for jobs and writing resumes.

SNAH students are encouraged to attend the career fairs. Hospitals and health care corporations from the metropolitan New Jersey/ New York area attend these events with information about jobs at their companies. Students need to arrive dressed for success with copies of their resume. Be prepared to ask questions about the jobs and to talk about your degree and courses. Each year, both FDU and the SNAH arrange several job fairs for students.

Disabilities Support Services

Any student with documented medical, psychological, or learning disabilities, who feels he/she may need in-class academic adjustments, reasonable modifications, and/or auxiliary aids and services while taking this course, should first contact Disability Support Services to discuss their specific needs. FDU’s Office of Disability Support Services, in accordance with all applicable government regulations, guidance, and policies, works to ensure that students with documented disabilities have equal access to the FDU’s courses, programs, activities, and services.

Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)

The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program has a location on each of FDU’s New Jersey campuses. EOF is a state-sponsored program in which a select number of entering freshman are chosen to participate. EOF offers academic and financial assistance to qualifying New Jersey residents from backgrounds of educational and economic need who demonstrate strong evidence of the commitment, motivation, and potential for scholastic success, as well as interest in completing a FDU education. EOF provides participants with the support of structured academic services and specialized counseling.

  • Metro EOF Office: (201) 692-2409
  • Florham EOF Office: (973) 443-8566

Mental Health Support Services

Student Counseling and Psychological Service Programs complement the academic experience of the student body by facilitating healthy personal, social, and intellectual development of our students. Life circumstances, skills deficits, and/or mental health problems may at times interfere with a student’s ability to successfully achieve important academic and life goals. FDU’s unique Student Counseling and Psychological Services programs help students identify their problems, manage their emotions, learn new problem-solving skills, and successfully meet the academic and social challenges of university life. 

There is a Student Counseling Center location on each of FDU’s New Jersey campuses:

Services are provided free of charge to all FDU students. All communications between student and counselor are completely confidential.

Student Health Services

FDU Student Health Services Centers on the Metro Campus and on the Florham Campus are staffed by Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses who are available for the health care needs of the FDU students. The goal of these centers is to provide health and support services that will enable all FDU students to achieve academic success. These centers provide direct care, individual health counseling, and health teaching. Small group workshops occur throughout the year on common health interests of the students.

Fairleigh Dickinson University requires each full-time undergraduate student to carry basic student health insurance. Students may purchase health insurance from Fairleigh Dickinson University. If they are covered by an outside policy, the student must sign a waiver form. All registered students can receive student health services, including students who have waived the FDU health insurance. There is no charge for student health services visits, however certain tests, supplies, and medications may be subject to a discounted fee.

For major emergencies and surgery, neighboring hospitals are used (per assistance of Public Safety and/or EMS). A student may choose his or her own providers at any time. The cost of health care outside of FDU Student Health Services is the responsibility of the student.

Skills Development and Simulation Laboratories

Healthcare education programs require students to demonstrate selected skills and procedures correctly before being cleared for clinical application. In nursing, skills demonstrations begin at the sophomore In allied health, skills demonstrations begin at the freshman level.

Healthcare students are encouraged to use the on-campus labs to reinforce clinical and academic skills. SNAH maintains clinical labs at Dickinson Hall (FDU Metro Campus, Teaneck) and at Park Avenue Plaza (230 Park Avenue, Florham Park). The labs are staffed on a regular basis throughout the school semesters. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements for skill practice with a Clinical Lab Specialist or faculty mentor.

University Technical Assistance Center (UTAC)

The FDU Technical Assistance Center (UTAC) is the university’s technical help desk. FDU students can access UTAC via the SAMI Support portal, email, or phone call to initiate support requests for application software, desktop environments and peripherals, network connectivity, computer password maintenance (i.e. Microsoft 365), hardware and software configuration support, another computer related product and service issues, and Blackboard support. An array of resources are available to support students in using their learning technologies.

Writing Studio

One of the top academic priorities of FDU is to graduate students who are competent and confident writers. The Metro Writing Studio offers focused assistance with developing and enhancing writing skills. Students can access resources both in-person and online. Students who have well-developed writing skills are also encouraged to contact the Metro Writing Center if they are interested in being employed as a writing tutor/mentor.

 

GENERAL ACADEMIC INFORMATION & POLICIES

SNAH Terms and Definitions

SNAH offers many programs, which use many different instructional modalities, and delivers courses in many different locations and formats. In many cases, the descriptions of our varied and flexible programs may use unfamiliar terms, or terms that have different meanings in other settings. To assure that we are operationalizing our academic terminology clearly, we maintain and update a list of SNAH definitions.

Recruitment and Admission

FDU and SNAH offers many online and in-person opportunities to learn about our programs prior to enrollment at FDU and/or matriculation into a SNAH program:

FDU Virtual Tour

Campus Tour

Chat with an Admissions Counselor

GO DAY

Application requirements and prerequisites for all our programs are posted on the FDU Admissions Webpages. If an applicant’s grade point ratio is below the required level to be accepted into a SNAH program, but is more than 5 years old, and there is strong evidence of academic success since then, the applicant should contact an admissions counselor to discuss holistic application review in collaboration with an SNAH faculty director.

Once admitted to FDU, students have additional opportunities to learn about their program and campus life.  New students can take advantage of the FDU new student checklists to assist in transitioning to student life.

If a student is transferring to FDU from another college or is changing their major to become a nursing or allied health student in the SNAH, the student can also chat with an admissions counselor to learn more about the opportunities and requirements. To check which courses taken at another college will transfer to FDU, please check the NJ Transfer Website.

Applicants cannot be accepted to an SNAH nursing program if they have been dismissed from another nursing program.

Enrollment, Records, Fees, and Billing

The FDU Office of Enrollment Services is responsible for the registration of all students, billing and collection of all student accounts (including posting of all payments, loan receipts, and the issuance of refunds), and the maintenance of academic student records (including processing of transcript requests and the preparations leading up to a student’s certification for graduation).

FDU makes every effort to post tuition and fees associated with its programs:

FDU Tuition and Fees

SNAH makes every effort to post fees associated with its programs:

SNAH Entry Level Nursing Tuition and Fees

SNAH Advanced Level Nursing Tuition and Fees

Transfer Credits & Grade Relief

Students may request transfer of credits from another institution toward degree requirements. Credits for courses taken at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S Secretary of Education and recorded on official transcripts can be evaluated and may be accepted for applicability to specific SNAH degree requirements. Course work with earned grades of A through C will be considered for transfer credit. (For Advanced-level Nursing Programs, grades of B or better are required for most course credit transfers.)  Evaluation and approval of transfer credits are done at the discretion of the program or track director upon review of the course content (course syllabus) and consideration of course alignment with program outcomes. Transfer credits are not guaranteed. Transfer credit is entered on the official University transcript. Grades received for transferred courses are not shown nor are they included in the calculation of the student’s grade point ratio at FDU.  

SNAH students with an associate degree can transfer a maximum of 64 credits. Students from four-year institutions can transfer in up to 96 credits. All incoming students with a completed associate degree from a community college in NJ/NY will arrive with all of their Gen Ed requirements fulfilled (including UNIV core), with the exception of any specific courses and prerequisites required for their SNAH degree program.

Students who are admitted to an SNAH program and have earned college credit elsewhere may bring in a limited number of credits to FDU. Up to nine (9) transfer credits which have not been applied to complete another degree may be granted for equivalent courses taken at the graduate level. An official request for transfer credit evaluation should be concurrent with the student’s admission to the program. 

Undergraduate students who have changed their major and wish to be relieved of grades of D and F in their prior major are potentially eligible for grade relief.  

Academic Technical Standards

All students entering the SNAH must meet all the eligibility requirements for admission. Because of the nature of our healthcare provider educational programs, in addition to the academic requirements, several additional “technical standards” have been set in place to assure that students receive the highest quality educational experience while simultaneously assuring the safety of patients, peers, and the public.

It is expected that students will adhere to these technical standards throughout the program. These standards are consistent with the expectations stated in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with questions can contact a member of Student Affairs or the Director of Admissions for further details and clarifications. These technical standards for SNAH students are reviewed at least annually for compliance and relevance.

Academic Advisement

In Fall 2023, FDU transitioned to a model of centralized “Unified Advisement.” All undergraduate students are assigned to an FDU academic advisor who is familiar with the prerequisites, corequisites, and SNAH programs of study. FDU academic advisors work collaboratively with SNAH program and track directors to assure that there are consistent, transparent processes for student onboarding and progression. Student advisors will support progression processes for students, as well as coordinate placement testing, as applicable.

Students can find the name/contact information for their advisor in the Self-Service portal. Students are able to access their advisors online, or at either the Metropolitan Campus Academic Advisement Center or the Florham Campus Advisement Center.

Students are expected to adhere to prerequisites and corequisites that are published in the course catalogue and adhere to their program/track specific program pathway. In the case of pathway deceleration due to failure of a course or student leave of absence, the FDU academic advisor will work in close collaboration with the SNAH program or track director to identify alternate progression pathways.

For students enrolled in SNAH graduate programs (e.g., DNP, APN-MSN), where there is greater flexibility to program pathways, SNAH program and track directors have a higher degree of involvement with the student and FDU academic advisor in guiding progression to graduation.

Academic Integrity

Students enrolled at FDU are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. These Standards of Academic Integrity are available on the FDU website and in the FDU Student Handbooks.

Breaches of academic integrity (i.e., academic dishonesty) includes, but is not limited to:

  • Cheating—Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance in any academic exercise or examination. Using or attempting to use any unauthorized materials, information or study aids in an examination or academic exercise.
  • Plagiarism—Representing the ideas or language of others as one’s own. A more complete description is listed below in the section titled “Plagiarism Described.”
  • Falsification—Falsifying or inventing any information, data or citation in an academic exercise.
  • Multiple Submission—Submitting substantial portions of any academic exercise more than once for credit without the prior authorization and approval of the current instructor.
  • Complicity—Facilitating any of the above actions or performing work that another student then presents as his or her assignment(s).
  • Interference—Interfering with the ability of a student to perform his or her assignment(s).

The principles of academic integrity also apply to those courses taken during clinical phases of any SNAH program or otherwise required for completion of the program. Owing to the critical nature of such requirements and student responsibility for the welfare of patients and agencies providing health care, a breach of academic integrity is further defined to include falsification of patient or agency records, violating accepted codes of professional ethics, surrender, suspension, or revocation of license, or engaging in activities which might endanger the health or welfare of patients.

Violation of a clinical agency’s policies or harming/violating an agency employee using any means shall constitute a violation of professional conduct that may result in dismissal from the program.

The integrity of the health care professions is dependent on the integrity of each of its members. Academic integrity is, therefore, viewed as one of the cornerstones of all academic and clinical work in the SNAH. SNAH students are expected to know and adhere to these Standards of Academic Integrity. SNAH students should also be familiar with processes and sanctions for breaches of academic integrity.

Writing Policy

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the most commonly used set of writing standards in the health-associated professional literature. SNAH courses commonly require application of APA Standards for writing assignments. In most cases, the instructor will identify which elements of APA Standards will be considered and apply a number of points for adhering to these APA Standards. APA standards commonly applied to written assignments include:

  • Referencing, per APA guidelines.
  • Double-spacing.
  • 1-inch margins.
  • Times New Roman 12 font.
  • APA-style title page with an appropriate title (e.g., with name of the assignment).
  • Pagination, per APA guidelines.
  • APA-style heading system to organize your paper, as applicable.
  • Tables and figures, per APA guidelines, as applicable.

APA provides extensive guidance for referencing written assignments. It is important to learn these standards to avoid the appearance of plagiarism. Where citations are needed, the use of an approved citation formatting/management tool is highly suggested (e.g., EndNote, RefWorks) to insert in-text citations and create reference lists for the writing assignment.

APA Style is a specific format used for manuscripts. References for presentations, including posters, do not necessarily require formatting per APA. Students must, however, show respect for intellectual ownership, and may be asked a question about your source during a presentation. It is helpful to have a visual “cue” (i.e.: author and year) on your presentation/poster to assist you in answering a question. If an abbreviated reference list is requested on the last slide of a presentation or bottom corner of a poster, you need only include key elements of the reference.

Other standards applied to SNAH student assignments are:

  • Use of standard English grammar, spelling, syntax, abbreviation, and format.
  • Use of language consistent with scientific and/or appropriate health-related discipline.

Additional guidelines specific to an individual course or assignment may be introduced by course faculty, in which case, students are expected to meet these standards.

All written assignments must also comply with the FDU Standards of Academic Integrity. Students are not allowed to resubmit personal work from a previous class or if repeating the course, unless expressly permitted by the instructor. SNAH may enact sanctions for any work demonstrating plagiarism or submitted previously by the student or by another person. These sanctions may include:

  • No credit (0) or failure for the assignment.
  • Reduced grade for the course.
  • Failure in the course.

Communicating at FDU

General Guidelines

FDU email is the authorized primary method of digital communication between students and faculty. (Emails that are sent to faculty through private email accounts are generally filtered to spam.) Students are expected to establish and maintain their FDU email account so that they will receive important communications in a timely manner. Students are responsible for checking their FDU email and responding to faculty every 24 hours when matriculated in an FDU program. Faculty are expected to respond to student queries within 2 business days during the semester. 

Students are expected to monitor their own progression and academic standing in their courses and program. If a students need academic guidance, they are encouraged to contact their FDU advisor, or the instructor of the course, or their Program Director/Track Director, depending to the nature of the issue.  If they are unable to resolve the issue after speaking to their Program Director/Track Director, they can contact the SNAH Director of Academic Affairs, and if the issue remains unresolved, they can contact the SNAH Associate Dean or Dean. 

FDU works to ensure that its communications are accessible for those with disabilities. University email messages should be accessible to those who listen to them using screen reader software, view them with magnification, or use other special devices and formats. Please review the FDU guidelines for preparing accessible emails.

Outlook Email Signature

SNAH students should create an Outlook signature for their university email to assure that those who receive your student email messages have a clear understanding of who is sending the email. The SNAH student email signature should read as follows:

  • Student Name (with credentials, as applicable)
  • Program/Degree Track, Class of 20__ (expected year of graduation)
  • Student ID #____
  • Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University

Students may personalize their Outlook signature according to the FDU email signature guidance to include social media links and logos/links for FDU student clubs and sanctioned events. 

Office Hours

Full-time faculty will schedule at least three “office hours” per week during each semester. Faculty will announce procedures for contacting and/or scheduling office hours appointments so that students can access this individualized academic support.

FDU What’s New, FDU Magazine, FDU Newspapers

Students are encouraged to check the FDU What’s New website for featured FDU news. In addition, students are encouraged to read the FDU Magazine, the Pillar Florham Campus Newspaper, and/or the Equinox Metro Campus Newspaper to stay abreast of FDU program happenings. Students can also submit their own inspiring stories and photos to FDU Magazine using their Get in Touch web-based submission site.

WebCampus Announcements

In addition to providing information on academic policies, procedures, and expectations specific to your classes, WebCampus is used by faculty to provide course-specific announcements (e.g., deadline reminders, curricula updates).

FDU Alerts

FDU has the ability to quickly send email, text messages, and voice messages to its students, faculty and staff by rapidly mass broadcasting health, safety and informational messages to keep the FDU community informed and safe in times of emergency and other urgent situations. Examples of unforeseen events and disruptions include snow days, floods, power outages, campus incidents and major schedule changes. Students can review and update alert contact information online at the FDU Alert Status webpage.

Weather information and campus closings can also be found on the FDU Weather Information webpage.

For entry-level students, if an FDU closure is announced prior to the start of a clinical rotation, clinical will be cancelled for that day. Students may be required to make-up clinical days due to weather related emergencies.

Zoom Connectivity

Zoom is the preferred SNAH web-based video conferencing tool that allows students to meet online with peers, classmates, faculty, and other FDU groups. FDU’s technical support center (UTAC) supports students in accessing Zoom and provides instructions on connecting via Zoom.

Attendance Policies

The overarching SNAH attendance policy is consistent with FDU Recommended Practices for Managing Attendance. The development of the FDU Recommended Practices for Managing Attendance is a product of a collaboration between the FDU Divisions of Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. 

Experiential and/or clinical courses/course components require consistent in-person attendance in accordance with accreditation requirements. Policies for absences and tardiness for experiential learning courses/course components are described separately.

At the beginning of each semester, faculty are required to verify that students on their course roster have attended class. For the purpose of this federally mandated reporting, faculty will use WebCampus/Blackboard log-in as verification of attendance.  Other methods of verifying student attendance are used as needed to meet educational goals.

For managing attendance in SNAH undergraduate classes, excluding experiential and/or clinical courses, the following FDU Recommended Practices for Managing Attendance apply:

Attendance and Grading

Overarching View of Attendance: Students are required to fully participate in all courses for which they are enrolled. Class attendance is a significant opportunity for participation, and highly correlated to satisfactory academic progression.

Communication about Expected Attendance: In classes where attendance is required, instructors will specify the following on each syllabus to prevent any misunderstanding of the course requirement:

  • What percentage of a course’s overall grade is based on attendance (e.g., 10%).
  • How attendance will be consistently and fairly measured.
  • The number of permissible unexcused absences.
  • The extent of permissible tardiness.
  • The sanctions for excessive unexcused absences or tardiness.

Grade of Incomplete: In some situations, a grade of Incomplete may be warranted, in accordance with the FDU policy on Incompletes.

NURS didactic courses are routinely scheduled with weekly in-person sessions. Because of the rigorous pace of these courses, online accessibility and/or Zoom recording and posting is provided, where possible.  Use of remote attendance in lieu of in-person attendance is not recommended. Rather, it is for students who have an occasional academic conflict or are ill, to minimize missed content. Optimal success is associated with in-person attendance in the NURS didactic courses.

Types of Absences

Excused Absences: For absences that can be excused, students should be allowed to make up assignments. Excused absences include but are not limited to:

  • Bereavement
  • Religious Holidays – SNAH is committed to ensuring that students can pursue their education while practicing their faith. To the extent possible, faculty will attempt to avoid conflict with such observances and/or provide alternatives to allow for religious observation. Students are expected to identify to their course faculty any anticipated need for religious observance during the first week of the semester so that appropriate adjustments/alternatives can be identified.
  • Medical Appointment – Students are expected to identify to their course faculty any anticipated needs (without need to disclose condition/provider) during the first week of the semester so that appropriate adjustments/alternatives can be identified. Long-term absences due to medical illness (physical or mental) and/or surgery for self/loved one can be referred to the Dean of Students Office for additional guidance.
  • Family Emergencies – If claimed by the student, should be recognized if occurring intermittently (e.g., once or twice a semester). This may include parental leave, family or personal illness. Students are expected to identify emergencies to their course faculty as soon as they are known so that appropriate adjustments/alternatives can be identified.
  • Jury duty or court appearances.
  • Military duty.

Unexcused Absences: Absences for unexcused reasons should be permitted within a specific number of class meetings or percentage of the course. A small number of such absences should be allowed without grade penalties. In cases when the college, school, or department has not made a determination on what constitutes “a small number of unexcused absences,” faculty should choose to allow absences equivalent to two weeks of class meetings, beyond which faculty may determine that absences cannot be excused.

Care Team

Where student welfare is a concern relative to absences and/or tardiness, students can be referred to the FDU Care Team by submitting a Student of Concern report via the following link: www.fdu.edu/fducares.

The FDU Care Team is comprised of staff partners from the Dean of Students Office, Housing, Athletics, Public Safety, Student Life, Student Health Services and Counseling, would work collectively to reach out to the student to provide support by connecting them to various support systems available at FDU.

Missed Examinations

At times, a student may be unable to take an exam due to illness or an emergency situation. If a student is unable to take an exam for one of these reasons, the student must communicate with the course faculty PRIOR to the start of the exam. Students who miss an examination must arrange with course instructor to make up the examination within one week of the date on which the examination was originally administered, at the discretion of the course instructor. Failure to comply with the instructor’s make-up arrangements will result in a grade of “0” for the examination.

Auditing a Course

Auditing refers to the practice of attending classes and accessing course materials without earning academic credit or receiving a formal grade. Auditing a didactic course is permitted in SNAH with permission of the dean (or designee) and the course instructor, after assuring that there are no conflicts to auditing (e.g., course waitlist; insufficient classroom space). There is occasionally a cost associated with auditing (see FDU Student Handbooks) and auditors may need to meet prerequisites specified by the instructor. Students who receive approval to audit a course in SNAH do not receive any record of attendance (e.g., no record on transcript, no certificate of audit), do not receive academic credit, and do not receive any formal assessments. In addition, auditors are not included in testing procedures, and should not submit work for faculty review. The opportunity to audit may be revoked at any time.

Respondus Testing and Exams

Students are expected to have a functioning, fully charged laptop computer for taking computerized exams. Students are expected to take exams during the defined time period as set by course instructor. All major examination dates will be identified on the course syllabus; quizzes may be administered with/without forewarning. 

FDU provides proctoring software (Respondus) for computerized exams within Blackboard to ensure academic integrity. Students utilizing computerized testing, in-class or remotely, may be required to use Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor. When students use Respondus lockdown browser, they are unable to print, copy, go to another URL or access other applications. When an exam is started, students are locked into the exam until it is submitted it for grading. For remote exams, the Respondus monitor allows instructors to monitor the student environment, and deters students from using secondary computers, phones, textbooks, or receiving assistance. After a student has completed an exam, instructors can review the exam session to confirm compliance with exam expectations. Students must agree to Respondus terms in order to use the software. Please notify your instructor prior to testing if you have not agreed with the Respondus terms.

Students are expected to follow all pre-testing Respondus instructions including, but not limited to, closing all applications and conducting an environmental scan. At the end of a Respondus exam, students must demonstrate that they have logged out of the Respondus lockdown browser.

The following rules are enforced during Respondus testing and may apply to other testing:

  • No personal items will be permitted on desk, or region of desk, during testing.
  • No electronic devices (e.g., cell phone, iPad, electronic translator, earphones/speakers, smartwatch) are permitted on desk during testing. Electronic devices must be turned off and stowed away from where the student sits.
  • No food or drink is allowed during testing.
  • Students may not leave the room during testing.
  • No caps/hats are to be worn during testing.
  • Students may be asked to change their seats during testing.
  • Students are not permitted to have other adults in their room during remote testing.
  • Students are not permitted to talk during testing, except for emergencies.

The following other procedures also apply to exams, make-up exams, and exam review:

  • Students who have formally documented accommodations for testing must notify the instructor prior to the testing date.
  • Student review of exams must be scheduled (where it is not included in the curricula). Students are not permitted to copy any materials, take notes, or tape record during exam review unless expressly permitted by the instructor.
  • Exams are available for review by students within two weeks of administration. After two weeks, exams are not available for review. Final exams are not available for review.
  • Students should make every effort to notify the instructor prior to start of an exam if they will be late or absent. Make-up testing is provided at the discretion of the instructor, in accordance with FDU attendance policy. Make-up examinations may be different in format from the original exam administered.

Uniform Requirements and Dress Code

General Policy

SNAH students are ambassadors for FDU’s health care education programs. Appropriate clinical attire aids in proper identification of FDU students by agency staff and patients and distinguishes their role from that of the agency provider. SNAH students are expected to follow the established dress code and clinical agency uniform policy as part of their demonstration of professional behaviors.

Students must purchase and obtain their full uniform prior to the first day of a clinical agency rotation. Instructions on where to purchase the uniform (e.g., Dove Professional Apparel) will be provided to students by course faculty. Students are expected to follow all clinical agency dress code policies including wearing the student uniform for clinical agency experiences. Students should NOT wear the uniform at other times (e.g., clinical lab or classroom experiences.) Students will be informed of exceptions to the uniform and dress code policies. Professional business attire may be required for selected clinical agency experiences.

Name pins must be worn during clinical agency experiences. Clinical agencies may provide an additional identification badge specific to the agency which must be worn for rotations to that agency.

Uniform

  • Designated student uniform with FDU Skirts should be at least knee length. (Students in the FDU-Valley Hospital Radiography program should refer to the Valley Hospital uniform policy in the clinical handbook.)
  • Clean white shoes (Clear white sneakers without logo or markings acceptable)
  • White stockings or white socks.
  • Name pin/identification badge. (In areas where a scrub suit is required, tape may be used in lieu of a pin.)
  • Depending on the clinical facility, a long white sleeve shirt may be worn underneath the uniform top, providing it can be rolled up above the elbow when needed.
  • Designated lab coat with FDU emblem.

Other Required Clinical Supplies

  • Ball point pens with black ink.
  • Watch with a second hand. (In areas where a scrub suit is required, the wall clock is used to measure time.)
  • Bandage scissors (for nursing students).
  • Stethoscope (for nursing students).
  • Sphygmomanometer, pen light flashlight, plastic tape measure, drug reference book (for nursing students in certain community health rotations).

Make-up, Scent, and Hair

  • Heavy make-up should be avoided in the clinical setting.
  • Perfume, aftershave/cologne, heavily scented lotion, and/or the smell of cigarettes may be allergens to some patients/clients and may be in violation of policy, so not permitted in clinical agencies.
  • Perfume, aftershave/cologne, heavily scented lotion, and/or the smell of cigarettes may be allergens to some peers, faculty, or staff, so should be avoided in classrooms or clinical labs.
  • Hair should be neat and pulled off the face and above the collar.
  • Large decorative hairpieces, ornaments, or head coverings are not permitted. (Some religious exemptions apply; see faculty for guidance.)
  • Hair should not be colored to pink, green, purple, orange, or any rainbow-like color. Scalp designs are not permitted.
  • Facial hair must be clean and neatly trimmed.

Jewelry, Piercings, and Tattoos

  • Jewelry is limited to four pierced earrings, each no larger than a dime. Facial and tongue jewelry is not permitted.
  • Tattoos may be visible unless a clinical agency has a policy limiting visible tattoos. If such a policy exists, the student must abide by that policy.
  • Tattoos that may be offensive or cause distress to patients, staff, or colleagues, or that contain profanity, nudity, violence, ethnic references, alcohol, or controlled substances must be covered.

Fingernail Care

The SNAH fingernail policy is based upon the Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Students should not wear artificial fingernails, tips, gels, wraps, or extensions when having direct contact with patients.
  • Finger jewelry (e.g., rings) is not permitted when having direct contact with patients. One single wedding band without stones is permitted at other times.
  • Students should keep natural nail tips less than ¼ inch long.
  • Nail polish (clear or nude only) must be free of chips or cracks and must not contain nail jewelry or decorations.

Other Considerations

  • Chewing gum is not permitted during any experiential learning activities.
  • Bare feet, open-toed shoes, and bare legs are not permitted during any experiential learning activities.
  • Blue jeans/ripped jeans, shorts, miniskirts, see-through clothing, and bare midriffs are not permitted during experiential learning activities. Undergarments must not be visible.
  • Students who arrive to the clinical agency without the necessary uniform and identification badge may be dismissed for the day (and have the event acknowledged as a clinical absence). Failure to comply with dress code policy can additionally result in dismissal from the experiential learning activity and/or other disciplinary action.
  • Clinical agencies may have specific requirements in addition to those identified here in which case students are expected to follow the guidelines of the clinical agency.

Social Media and Use of Electronic Devices

SNAH students must observe and follow all applicable policies and agreements to maintain patient, peer, agency employee, and FDU employee confidentiality, when engaging in social media activities. SNAH students must review and adhere to the social media policies of each clinical agency as well as FDU’s social media policy.

Cell phones are not permitted in the clinical area. Use of a cell phone camera in any clinical area risks violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

The use of any electronic device (e.g., cell phone, iPad, electronic translator, earphones/speakers, smartwatch) that can record, capture, transmit or otherwise communicate information or data is prohibited during exams and review of exams. No electronic devices are permitted on desk during testing. Electronic devices must be turned off, secured in a closed container, and stowed away from where the student sits.

The recording of voices or images during class is prohibited unless prior permission has been obtained from the instructor. Students are prohibited from transferring course materials to electronic or social media websites without specific approval from the course faculty.

Electronic technology including laptops, tablets, and cellular phones, and/or personal communication devices should only be used for academic purposes and must be on “silent” or “vibrate” to prevent disruptions. Engagement with electronic devices in a way that may distract instructors/peers in the classroom (e.g., texting, web browsing) is prohibited and may result in dismissal from the class.

Emergency situations requiring cellular telephone communication should be proactively addressed with the faculty on an as-needed basis. Faculty members have the authority to prohibit the use of a handheld device (including cellphones) in the classroom, clinical agency, and clinical lab.

Communicable Disease Exposure

If a student is exposed to certain communicable diseases (as referenced in N.J. Administrative Code 8:57-1.5) during a clinical agency rotation, the student will be classified by the agency as being an individual with a suspected case of disease and reported as such.

HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), is a short course of HIV medicines taken very soon after a possible exposure to HIV to prevent HIV infection. If potentially exposed to HIV, a student will receive appropriate PEP through an agency’s Employee Health Department or Emergency Department at no cost to the individual student. The FDU Student Health Services Director will be notified if there is a suspected or confirmed communicable disease exposure report involving a student.

Appeal, Grievance, and Complaint Procedures

General Policies

The SNAH reviews and addresses grievances of arbitrary, bias, capricious, discriminatory, malicious, or otherwise improper actions related to any academic matters by students. The student should first discuss the concern with course faculty, preceptor, or clinical instructor of record. If the student’s concern is not resolved, then the following steps should be followed:

  1. Meet with the Program/Track Director. If not resolved then:
  2. Meet with SNAH Director of Academic Affairs. If not resolved then:
  3. Meet with the SNAH Associate Dean or Dean.

If the topic of concern is a broader program or personal issue, students can also meet with their Academic Advisor who will assist in resolving the issue and/or deciding upon appropriate next steps. FDU urges current and prospective students with concerns or complaints to attempt to resolve them with the appropriate University administrative or academic office, following an appropriate chain of command.

If a student has a non-academic formal complaint against the University, a defined published policy is located on the FDU “Student Complaint Procedures” webpage. This policy and procedure should be followed.

Student Grade/Academic Decision Appeal

While it is recognized that faculty hold the right and responsibility to grant a grade, a student who receives a grade or academic decision that he or she believes to be unwarranted may appeal that grade/academic decision by engaging in the grade/academic decision appeal process as outlined in the Grade Appeal Procedure in the FDU Undergraduate Studies Bulletin or in the FDU Graduate Studies Bulletin which includes (1) informal/formal appeal to the course instructor and/or Track Director prior to the start of the following semester (determination due to student within two business weeks); (2) if unresolved, appeal in writing within one week to SNAH Program Director (determination due to student within two business weeks); and (3) if unresolved, appeal in writing within one week to SNAH Dean (final determination due to student within two business weeks). Please note that the determination for whether there is basis for a grade change (i.e., that an erroneous grade exists) for an SNAH course is the SNAH Dean. The Dean may also refer certain cases to a committee for evaluation. For sanctions of suspension or dismissal, a student may also raise their appeal to the University Provost.

Complaints Concerning Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct

The FDU Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct applies to the conduct and protection of FDU faculty, staff, administrators, supervisors, employees, students, volunteers, guests, patrons, independent contractors, or clients and visitors of the University. This policy provides for the prompt and equitable resolution of reports of prohibited conduct.

PROGRAM PROGRESSION IN THE SCHOOL OF NURSING & ALLIED HEALTH

General Expectations

Students are expected to monitor their own progression and academic standing in their courses and program. This will enable the student to ensure their own compliance with program requirements and maintaining of acceptable grades and averages. Students are expected to monitor their own progression and academic standing in their courses and program. If a students need academic guidance, they are encouraged to contact their FDU advisor, or the instructor of the course, or their Program Director/Track Director, depending to the nature of the issue.  If they are unable to resolve the issue after speaking to their Program Director/Track Director, they can contact the SNAH Director of Academic Affairs, and if the issue remains unresolved, they can contact the SNAH Associate Dean or Dean. 

The weights assigned to examinations other assignments are determined by the instructor of each course and communicated in the course syllabus. Students are responsible for reviewing all course requirements at the beginning of each semester and communicating with the course instructor if they have any questions, concerns, or conflicts. It is expected that assignments are submitted on or before the submission deadline unless prior permission is obtained. Failure to do so may affect the grade for the assignment.

In combined courses with both clinical and didactic components, a satisfactory clinical AND didactic grade must be achieved to pass the course. A student who does not pass the clinical portion of the course will receive a clinical grade of “NC” (No Credit) and failure of the course.

Students who enroll in courses for which they are not eligible will be administratively withdrawn from those courses.

Placement and Competency Examinations

Accuplacer Assessment

First time, first year students who have submitted a deposit to attend FDU will receive information regarding scheduling Accuplacer placement assessments. Students generally need to take:

  1. Accuplacer Next Generation Reading Assessment
  2. Accuplacer WritePlacer Essay Assessment
  3. First-day Diagnostic (given the first day of College Writing and College Reading courses, to confirm the Accuplacer)
  4. Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)
  5. Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF)

Assessment scores and the essay response will help determine which courses first time, first year students will take.

Kaplan Admission Testing

For students seeking entry to an entry-level nursing program, the Kaplan Admission Test (KAT) will be administered. If the KAT score falls below the national mean in math and/or reading, the student will be required to attend remediation. Non-responsiveness to remediation will prevent progression in the nursing program.

Basic Health Assessment Refresher Course

For a student seeking entry to an MSN Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse program track and whose undergraduate Basic Health Assessment (BHA) course will be completed more than three (3) years prior to taking Advanced Health Assessment, the student will need to complete a BHA refresher course from an approved Continuing Education Provider (including the BHA refresher course offered by FDU’s SNAH). A copy of the Certificate of Completion will need to be submitted to SNAH@FDU.edu prior to the start of enrollment in Advanced Health Assessment.

Medication Calculation Examination

Competency in medication math/dosage calculation is an integral and critical aspect of safe professional nursing. For students in the entry-level nursing program, administration of medication to a patient is not permitted until successful completion of the Medication Calculation Examination. The Medication Calculation Examination is each semester before the start of clinical assignments or at the beginning in Foundations of Nursing. Students must achieve a minimum passing grade of 90% to demonstrate competency. Students will be permitted to use only university-issued calculators during the test.

Any student who fails to achieve the required 90% benchmark on the first attempt of any
Medication Calculation Examination will be required to retake the Medication Calculation Examination within a week of the failed exam, or as determined by the course instructor.

A student who fails a second Medication Calculation Examination must show written evidence of remediation before taking a third exam. A student who fails the third exam receives a clinical grade of “NC” (No Credit) and failure of the course.

Clinical Clearance

Students are responsible to fully participate in clearance processes prior to experiential learning rotations. This includes but is not limited to providing health and immunization records to Student Health Services via Medicat, and other documentation to SNAH/clinical agencies via CastleBranch. Students are responsible for updating expired clearance documents.

Students must submit all requested medical records to either Metro Student Health Services or Florham Student Health Services upon matriculation into their degree program. Subsequent annual requirements must be completed and submitted prior to the start of Fall semester begins. Healthcare students may not participate in clinical agency rotations unless they are not compliant with this requirement.

The CastleBranch (“my CB”) medical document manager (compliance tracker) is used to collect and store clinical compliance documentation for nursing students. These requirements are separate and in addition to the FDU Student Health Services requirements. Through myCB, nursing students will order and/or upload:

  • Required health documents (i.e., health history and physical exam performed by a licensed provider and lab reports)
  • Background check
  • Urine drug test
  • Current certification in Basic Life Support for Health Care Professionals (through American Heart Association)
  • Professional liability insurance (in the amount of $1 million/claim and $6 million aggregate) before beginning the first clinical course and annually until graduation.
  • Current health insurance card

All healthcare students are required to comply with applicable school, university, agency, regional, state, and/or national regulations to prevent or reduce the risk of transmission of vaccine-preventable and other communicable diseases among students, patients, faculty/staff, providers, and other persons. Students will be required to present the following evidence:

  • Serologic immunity (i.e., titers) to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. (If non-immune or equivocal status, the student must have 2 doses of the vaccine at least 30 days apart, and a repeat titer must be drawn 1-2 months after the second dose.)
  • Serologic immunity (i.e., titers) to Varicella. (If non-immune or equivocal status, the student must have 2 doses of the vaccine given 4-8 weeks apart, and a repeat titer must be drawn 1-2 months after the second dose.)
  • Adult Tdap vaccination within 10 years.
  • Meningococcal vaccination within 5 years (for residential students).
  • Serologic immunity (i.e., titers, including HBsAg, HBcIgMAb, HBsAb) to Hepatitis B Virus. (Enrollment of students who are potentially infectious for Hepatitis B Virus is contingent upon their ability to perform all essential functions required for program completion of the curriculum of the degree program with potentially clinical activities.)
  • Annual Influenza vaccine. (If the vaccine is not received, the student will be required to sign a waiver and will be obligated to wear a mask while in the healthcare environment.)
  • Annual Mantoux skin test for tuberculosis. (In a BCG-vaccinated person, a positive tuberculin reaction is an indication for further evaluation and medical therapy.)
  • Covid-19 vaccination.

Student requesting an exemption to vaccination due to pregnancy or other medical condition must provide documentation from a healthcare provider indicating the reason and time limits of the medically contraindication. This exemption will be reviewed at the beginning of each semester. In some circumstances the student may not be able to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification.

Guidelines for Choosing Clinical Preceptors for MSN-APN Students

Student seeking entry to MSN Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) program tracks will need to identify qualified and licensed preceptors for their practicum courses. This process occurs collaboratively with SNAH’s APN Program Faculty, SNAH’s Experiential Learning Team, and is supported by FDU’s e-Placement software.

Students are urged to start this process as early as possible. APN students must complete clinical practicums in clinical sites and with clinical preceptors that align with the practicum course of their program track and population focus. For example, for a pediatric clinical rotation in the Family Nurse Practitioner program track, the preceptor must be working with a pediatric population and have a primary care focus.

Students will choose one preceptor per clinical course. Preceptors can be a nurse practitioner (NP) or a physician (MD or DO). It is recommended to have at least a NP as one their preceptors. The preceptor mentors the student throughout the clinical practicum experience within that academic term.

Qualifications of the Preceptor:

  1. Must have an earned master’s degree in nursing (MSN) or a medical degree (MD or DO) in an appropriate specialty and population.
  2. Must have an active clinical practice with an appropriate population.
  3. Licensure must have no encumbrances.

Role/Responsibilities of the Preceptor:

  1. Supervise the student in the clinical/educator
  2. Provide feedback to faculty regarding student
  3. Provide experiences relevant to the course
  4. Function as a role model for the advanced practice/professional

MSN degree students will receive detailed guidance on the student’s roles and responsibilities in the preceptor and clinical site request process prior to enrollment in their first clinical course. Post-MSN certificate students, who may be enrolled in a clinical course during their first semester, should contact the appropriate SNAH Track Director in advance of the semester start.

Guidelines for Valley Health System Radiography Students

Students enrolled in the AS in Radiography program in collaboration with Valley Health System have additional program and progression requirements that are available on the Valley School of Radiography website. Students enrolled in this program should additionally refer to the Valley School of Radiography Student Manual.

Experiential Learning Attendance Policy

General Policies

Students are expected to target 100% attendance for experiential learning rotations (i.e., clinical site, clinical lab, community/field experience). Exception for extenuating circumstance is described below.

Some clinical site/clinical lab rotations may include weekends and “off-shift” scheduling.

Students are required to attend all on-campus and clinical site orientation sessions for experiential learning rotations. Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated expenses to and from experiential learning rotations.

Students missing an experiential learning rotation related to an illness may be required to have provider clearance prior to returning to clinical site/clinical lab rotations.

If a student is more than 10 minutes late to a clinical lab session, it is at the discretion of the instructor whether the student will be permitted to join the session in progress. If refused entry, the instructor is not obliged to provide a make-up session.

It is the students’ responsibility to disclose any changes in medical, psychiatric, and other conditions that may impact clinical attendance/performance and/or the safety of self or others.

Process Specific to ENTRY-LEVEL Students

Students will be allowed ONE absence per semester from an experiential learning rotation for an extenuating circumstance. A second absence will result in incomplete status for the course. A third absence will require withdrawal from the course. 

Make-up of a single experiential learning rotation is at the discretion of the clinical instructor/course faculty. If a make-up day is scheduled, it will be before the end of the semester. Failure to complete a make-up day will result in incomplete status or failure in the clinical course, as determined by the course faculty.

Make-up of two absences from an experiential learning rotation must take place before the subsequent full semester if program progression is to be maintained, or by the third week of the subsequent full semester to prevent incomplete status from converting to a grade of “F” (see Status of Incomplete policy).  Scheduling of these make-up days should not be anticipated earlier than the last week of the semester.

In the event of an emergency, entry-level students who will be late or absent from experiential learning rotation must:

  • Notify the clinical instructor by phone at least one hour prior to start time (or if impossible, as far in advance as possible). Notifying a third party of the lateness/absence is not acceptable. Messages of lateness/absence should not be relayed through peers or email communication.
  • Notify the clinical lab/clinical agency at least one hour prior to start time (or if impossible, as far in advance as possible). Messages of lateness/absence should not be relayed through peers.

Additional guidelines related to reporting absences from experiential learning rotations specific to an individual course may be introduced by faculty, in which case students are expected to meet these standards.

In the case of a weather-related FDU closing, clinical instructors will contact students to provide direction on whether or not to proceed with the experiential learning rotation.

Process Specific to ADVANCED-LEVEL Students

Students will be allowed to reschedule experiential learning rotations, in accordance with the clinical agency policy and the FDU clinical contract with the agency. Failure to complete rescheduled/make-up days will result in a status of incomplete (see Status of Incomplete policy) or grade of “F” in the clinical course, as determined by the course faculty. 

In the event of an emergency, advanced-level students who will be late or absent from any experiential learning rotation must:

  • Notify the clinical agency at least one hour prior to start time (or if impossible, as far in advance as possible).
  • Notify the clinical oversight faculty by email at least one hour prior to start time (or if impossible, as far in advance as possible).

Additional guidelines related to reporting absences from experiential learning rotations specific to an individual course may be introduced by faculty, in which case students are expected to meet these standards.

In the case of a weather-related FDU closing, students should exercise personal judgement on whether to proceed with the experiential learning rotation, after confirming that the site is open and preceptor will be present. 

  •  

Grading

Students will be assigned the grade earned in their courses.  “Passing” grades that are below a certain threshold (e.g., C-, D) in certain SNAH program tracks may not meet the requirement for progression in that track. (Please note additional grade standards below). 

The following grade scores are applied for SNAH students:

Grade

Numerical Score Range

Letter Grade will Calculate as…

Quality Points

A

93+

96.5

4.00

A-

90 – < 93

91.5

3.67

B+

87 – < 90

88.5

3.33

B

83 – < 87

85

3.00

B-

80 – < 83

81.5

2.67

C+

77 – < 80

78.5

2.33

C

74 – < 77

75

2.00

C-  (Undergrad ONLY)

70 – < 74

71.5

1.67

D  (Undergrad ONLY)

65 – < 70

68.5

1.00

F

< 65 (Undergrad)

< 74 (Grad)

0

0

 

Additional letter grades have no weight and are not computed into the grade point ratio:

P = Pass

NC = No Credit

W = Withdrawal

I = Incomplete

AU = Audit

(Undergrad ONLY)

Status of Incomplete (“I”)

In the event a student is unable to complete the requirements of a course due to extenuating circumstances, the student may be eligible for a temporary Incomplete or “I” status. An Incomplete status may impact progression and extend the time to graduation. Students must have completed 80% of their coursework at the time of the request and be in good academic standing to be eligible for Incomplete status in a course.

If a student has an Incomplete status but does not fulfill the requirements for course completion by the third week of the next full (i.e., spring or fall) semester, the status will automatically convert to an “F” and is computed into the grade point ratio. 

Waiting until the third week of the subsequent semester to correct Incomplete status prevents the student from progressing in sequenced courses. Students wishing to progress in sequenced course must fulfill the requirements for course completion before the beginning of the semester.

 

Additional Grade Standards for Entry-Level Nursing Students

  • Students must achieve a grade of C (74+) in all general education courses, except for math and science courses, to receive credit toward the degree.
  • Freshman students must achieve a grade of B- (80+) in math and science courses to receive credit toward the degree and progress to sophomore courses.
  • Students must achieve a minimum grade of B- (80+) in each NURS course to enter the next NURS course in the sequence.
  • Students must achieve a minimum grade of B- (80+) in each course in the major requirements.  Students must achieve a grade of C (74+) in all electives (including electives in the major) to receive credit toward the degree.
  • For professionally accredited entry-level degree programs (i.e., BSN, MSN Entry-to-Practice), or for degree completion tracks (e.g., RN to BSN), SNAH permits students to fulfill degree requirements up to 5 years from the start of the program of study. Students in the Accelerated BSN track have up to 3 years from the start of the program of study to fulfill second degree requirements. The SNAH policy of degree completion is inclusive of course failures/withdrawals and approved LOA.
  • A student who is dismissed from their professionally accredited program/track may continue studies at FDU in another degree program. Nursing students who have more than two course failures and foreseeably unable to fulfill their program/track requirements within the required time frame, may be advised to continue their studies in another degree program. 
  • A student who is dismissed from one track of the entry-level nursing program will not be readmitted into another track of the entry-level nursing program within the same academic or calendar year.
  • A cumulative grade point ratio of 2.67 must be maintained throughout the program and to be eligible for graduation. Students with a cumulative grade point ratio lower than 2.67 will be considered to be on a status of academic warning (formerly “academic probation”) and may have restrictions placed on their credit load until they have a grade point ratio of at least 2.67. 

Additional Grade/Progression Standards for Graduate Students

  • Graduate (MS, MSN, DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate) students are not eligible to receive a grade of C- or D.  A score of lower than 74 (“C”) will translate to a grade of “F” in the record. 
  • Students in graduate-level nursing courses must achieve a grade of B (83+) or higher in each course to pass the course and progress in the program.
  • Students who achieve a grade of less than B (<83) in any course, or who have a grade point ratio of less than 3.0, will be issued an academic performance warning (e.g., “probation”) and may have restrictions placed on their credit load until they have a grade point ratio of at least 3.0. A grade point ratio of 3.0 or higher is needed for graduation.
  • A student who is dismissed from one track of the advanced-level APN nursing program will not be readmitted into another track of the advanced-level APN nursing program within the same academic or calendar year (although may be admitted to a non-APN track).
  • For professionally accredited advanced-level degree programs (i.e., MSN, DNP), SNAH permits students to fulfill degree requirements up to 5 years from the start of the program of study. Students in an APN post-graduate certificate track have up to 3 years from the start of the program of study to fulfill track requirements. The SNAH policy of degree completion is inclusive of course failures/withdrawals and approved LOA.
  • A student who is dismissed from their professionally accredited program/track may continue studies at FDU in another degree program. Nursing students who have more than two course failures and foreseeably unable to fulfill their program/track requirements within the required time frame, may be advised to continue their studies in another program track. 

Clinical Evaluation and Progression

Clinical evaluation methods are determined by faculty. Students are appraised of the criteria by which their clinical assignments and performance will be evaluated at the start of each semester. Clinical evaluation is an ongoing collaboration between the clinical instructor and the student, who is an active participant in his/her own evaluation. The evaluation is completed in an end-of-course clinical evaluation meeting between the student and the clinical instructor.

Certain courses are a comprised of a didactic component and a clinical/clinical lab experiential learning component. Students must be registered for both the didactic component and the clinical/clinical lab experiential learning component for combination courses offered in this format. This requirement also applies to students repeating the course. A student who earns a grade of unsatisfactory/NC in the clinical/clinical lab experiential learning component will receive an “F” for the didactic component, regardless of the individual assignment grades earned in the didactic course.  A student who earns an unsatisfactory grade in the didactic component (i.e., <“B” for advanced-level nursing, <“B-” for entry-level nursing) will earn a grade of NC in the clinical component and need to repeat the associated clinical rotation/hours, regardless of clinical performance.   

Clinical Warning/Anecdotal Record

A student may be given a verbal or written warning about unacceptable behavior or performance during a clinical rotation. Students who receive a clinical warning are at risk for failing the course. Students who receive a clinical warning should be counseled by their clinical instructor on measures to be taken to correct the deficiencies and pass the clinical component of the course.

Students who receive a clinical warning will be asked to sign a Clinical Warning/Anecdotal Record form that indicates the measures to be taken to correct the deficiencies and pass the clinical component of the course. A student’s refusal to sign does not invalidate the clinical warning/anecdotal record.

Clinical Warning/Remediation Contract

A student may receive a clinical warning and require clinical remediation at the end of a clinical/clinical lab experiential learning rotation if:

  1. The student fails to demonstrate expected skills/competencies; and/or
  2. The student fails to demonstrate professional growth and development, appropriate initiative, decision-making, or leadership.

After meeting with the appropriate course faculty to discuss the student’s performance, the student will sign a remediation contract with measurable goals to be achieved for lifting the clinical warning.

After signing a remediation contract, responsibility shifts to the student to demonstrate satisfactory attainment of the clinical goals in the next semester’s courses. The remediation contract also requires the student to meet with clinical faculty at the start of the semester to formulate a plan for regularly assessing progress toward goals.

If the student meets the goals identified in the remediation contract, the clinical warning will be lifted. If the student fails to achieve the goals, the student will receive a grade of “NC” (No Credit) for clinical and an “F” in the associated course.

Clinical Dismissal

Grounds for clinical dismissal are:

  1. Violations of accepted academic or agency practices, principles, or
  2. Practicing outside the scope of the student role.
  3. Behavior that could have or did result in physical or emotional harm to a patient/client.

If any of these criteria are met, the student will not be allowed to continue in the course or clinical. The student will receive a grade of “NC” (No Credit) for clinical and an “F” in the associated course. The student is not permitted to repeat the course if dismissal is on the grounds of any of these violations.

Deceleration

Deceleration is an interruption in the normal sequence of courses in any SNAH program. Students may decelerate by request, by recommendation and advisement of faculty, or by academic sanction.

Leave of Absence

An academic leave of absence (LOA) permits a student to temporarily withdraw from FDU and return without penalty. A LOA may be granted to a matriculated student with a cumulative grade point ratio of 2.00 or higher. Instructions for requesting a LOA are posted on the FDU LOA webpage.  Undergraduate students will need to submit a leave of absence form.  Graduate students will need to submit a leave of absence for graduate students form

Students are permitted to request one LOA, for a maximum of 12 months, for personal reasons, medical reasons, or active military duty. Upon return from an LOA, a revised educational pathway will be developed. Academic progression may be affected by programmatic changes and course availability. An LOA that affects clinical course progression may require a credit-bearing clinical immersion prior to resuming the clinical course sequence.

Students who take a LOA must contact their Program/Track Director the semester prior to their planned re-entry to secure a space in the program. Students who take a leave of absence will be expected to comply with any curricular or policy changes occurring within the degree program during their absence. Students who do not return from LOA beyond one year will be administratively withdrawn from their SNAH program.

An extension beyond 12 months for any LOA may be requested for extraordinary circumstances, however, is not guaranteed.

Extraordinary circumstances of medical impairment may preclude the student from self- requesting LOA. Under such extraordinary circumstances, the student’s representative may represent the student in requesting LOA.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal From a Course (“Change of Schedule”)

Once students have been registered for courses, they have entered into a commitment with FDU. Students will be billed for those courses and will be held responsible for the payment of the tuition/fees for the semester. Students will be held responsible for payment of tuition/fees during the period when classes are in session. Only those students who submit a written withdrawal request to the Office of Enrollment Services prior to the first day of the semester will be granted a 100 percent cancellation of commitment or refund of tuition. Students who withdraw during the first five weeks of the semester will be assessed a prorated charge for tuition expenses. For further details, please refer to the current FDU Undergraduate & Graduate Studies Bulletins.

A student who seeks to withdraw from a course after the add/drop period is required to first meet with their course faculty or program/track director to discuss the impact that the withdrawal will have on the student’s progression and graduation date. The student will need to complete a change of schedule form.

Withdrawals will appear on the transcript but are not included in the grade point ratio. A student may withdraw from a course through the ninth week of a semester, after which withdrawal may be permitted for extenuating circumstances. Students who withdraw from a course are liable for payment of tuition and fees in accordance with FDU’s schedule of tuition liability.

Only two course withdrawals are permitted, once matriculated. Even if the withdrawal is approved, there is no guarantee that there will an available seat the next time the course is offered. Withdrawal without authorization from course faculty or program/track director can result in dismissal from the SNAH.

Withdrawal from a Program

Students who need to leave FDU due to transfer, personal, or financial reasons may withdraw from their program. Students wishing to withdraw from their program should follow FDU withdrawal procedures or learn more by emailing the Office of Enrollment Services at registrar@fdu.edu. Undergraduate students will need to submit a withdrawal form.  Graduate students will need to submit a notice of official withdrawal. The effective date of any withdrawal is the date of receipt by the Office of Enrollment Services.

NCLEX-RN Exam for Entry-Level Nursing Students

NCLEX-RN information will be provided to all nursing students in the final semester of their senior year. Directions regarding the New Jersey Board of Nursing (NJBON) application are provided at that time. Students will be advised as to the timing of NJBON application submission in order to facilitate smooth progression through the NCLEX-RN registration and testing process. Once senior students have completed all SNAH program requirements, the Entry-Level Program Director will send a letter of program completion to the NJBON. Program Completion includes successful completion of the nursing course sequence, standardized exit testing, and successful completion of a selected NCLEX-RN review course as identified by the SNAH.

Entry-level nursing students in their final semester of coursework will register for a 3-credit NURS4460 “Prep for Success” course in which students synthesize the concepts from prior courses, completion a selected NCLEX-RN review course, and participate in standardized exit testing in preparation for taking the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. In addition, students are encouraged to enroll in an outside NCLEX-RN review course to assist them in preparing for the NCLEX-RN licensing examination.

After completion of all SNAH program requirements and Prep for Success, nursing students may apply online apply to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

If unable to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam within six months of graduation, SNAH alumni may be required to take an NCLEX-RN review course and present a certificate of completion before a letter of recommendation will be sent to the NJBON.

Certification Exam for Nurse Practitioner Students

Nurse Practitioner certification examination may be required to practice upon graduation, depending on state and employer. The test and process for certification examination varies by concentration. Preparation for this examination will be the focus in the final course in the program (NURS7755/NURS7756 “APN Synthesis”). Directions regarding the application and timing of testing are provided at that time, although students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the test and process specific to their concentration beginning at the time of program enrollment. The following table provides a general overview of these tests and application processes:

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANP) National Certification Corporation (NCC)

Applicable Concentrations:

Adult-Gero Primary Care; Family Health; Psych-Mental Health

Applicable Concentrations:

Adult-Gero Primary Care; Family Health; Psych-Mental Health

Applicable Concentrations:

Women’s Health

Before Graduation:

Students should submit application pre-graduation (but will need to provide evidence of graduation in order to take examination).

Before Graduation:

Students should submit application pre-graduation (but will need to provide evidence of graduation in order to take examination).  

Students cannot apply for examination prior to graduation.

To complete application process after graduation:

Complete demographics section in the “Validation of APRN Education” form in ANCC application and email to snah@fdu.edu for verification.

Order transcript from www.getmytranscript.org and send directly to aprnvalidation@ana.org to validate specialty focus and graduation status.

To complete application process after graduation:

Order transcript from www.getmytranscript.org and send directly to certification@aanpcert.org to validate specialty focus and graduation status.

To apply, graduates should:

Upload a copy of license or license verification from the licensing board that includes the licensing state, your name, type of license, and expiration of the license.