Students may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for an exception to standard curriculum requirements and policies with the signature of his/her advisor. All student petitions must be accompanied by a supporting letter from the faculty advisor and submitted by the student at least two full weeks prior to the Graduate Studies Committee meeting. Within one week following the GSC meeting, the student will be informed of the decision by the Online Programs Coordinator or GSC Chair and is encouraged to speak to their advisor regarding curriculum plan changes and/or other considerations that may arise following the GSC decision.
Please note: The Graduate Studies Committee accepts electronic versions of petitions and will use e-mails from a student’s advisors in lieu of a signed petition form.
If there is not satisfaction with the outcome of the Committee’s decision regarding the petition, the student should discuss the matter with his/her faculty advisor or the Graduate Studies Committee Chair. If the student is able to provide additional information that may have bearing on the committee’s decision, the student may appeal the original decision and resubmit the petition with the inclusion of the additional information. Following a second review, the Graduate Studies Committee will render a decision that is final.
The Graduate Studies Committee has developed procedures for the following requests, including but not limited to:
- Request for transfer of credit
- Request for course waiver
- Request for leave of absence
- Request to change DNP program track
- Request for dual DNP and specialty certification status
- Request for enrollment in Individual Study courses
Petition submission guidelines
Petition forms (including specific directions) are available in the Student Affairs area of the StudentWeb.
- Petition submission: All student petitions must be submitted by the student at least 2 full weeks prior to the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) meeting. The list of dates for the GSC meetings are also available at the website listed Any petitions submitted after this submission deadline will be placed on the agenda of the following GSC meeting.
- Student notification: Within one week following the GSC meeting, the student will be informed of the decision by the Graduate Program Manager or GSC Chair and is encouraged to speak to their faculty advisor regarding curriculum plan changes and/or other considerations that may arise following the GSC
- Faculty notification: A hard copy of the petition decision will be sent by the Graduate Records Office to the student’s faculty advisor (or Program Director if a new advisor must be assigned) as a prompt to update curriculum plans and/or perform any other advising related functions.
- Record keeping: A hard copy of the petition and all supporting documentation will be placed in the student’s
- Appeal: Students are permitted one Decisions rendered by the Graduate Studies Committee following a second review are final.
Copies of each of the petition forms follow. If you wish to make such a request, please follow the directions on the appropriate form.
Petition to enroll in additional credits over the Graduate School limit
Students wishing to take more than the allowable number of credits specified by the Graduate School should discuss the possibility first with his or her faculty advisor. The student must be in good academic standing with a strong GPA, and there should be clear and compelling rationale why the student will be able to manage such a course load. If the faculty advisor agrees, the student and advisor each write a letter of request specifying the academic rationale for the credit overload to the Graduate Studies Committee Chair. If the GSC Chair approves the petition he or she will write a letter of support and the three letters will be sent to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will increase the credit limit if approved. Increases of one or two credits over the Graduate School limit for our College will be supported by the Graduate Studies Committee; more than two credits is unlikely.
Petitions to the Graduate School to drop a course after the deadline
Students who do not drop a course by the deadline posted by the Registrar for that term may petition the Graduate School to drop the course using the form on Grad Forms. Please note that proof of extenuating circumstances affecting the student’s ability to drop the course by the deadline will be required by the Graduate School. If there are questions regarding the validity of one’s circumstances please contact the Nursing Graduate Program Manager or the Nursing Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson for clarification.
Petition forms
The various petition forms are hyperlinked in the Nursing Student Handbook, and can also be found on the Student Web.
Petition to Transfer Specialty Tracks
This form is to be used by BSN to DNP students. Students may request a transfer of specialty or add a specialty. The request requires review by the College of Nursing graduate faculty members in the “new” specialty track. Track recommendations must be approved by the Nursing Graduate Studies Committee. Students must be in good standing to initiate such a request. The process and timeline is detailed on the form.
Petition to Add Specialty (WH or WHNP)
This form is used by students in the WHNP or NM specialty tracks to request to add the WHNP or NM specialty track.
Request for Dual DNP and Post-Master’s Specialty Enrollment
This form is used by post-master’s DNP students who would like to pursue a graduate specialty, while also being enrolled in the DNP program. This petition requires support from your faculty advisor, the Specialty Track Director, and ultimately is approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. Approval will result in a longer time to degree, as courses will be added to your plan of study.
Request to Change DNP Program Track
This form is used by Post-Master’s DNP students who are interested in switching their track of study, either between Clinical Expert or Nurse Executive.
Petition to Change To/From Full Time/Part Time Status
This form is used by DNP students that would like to change their status to/from full time/part time.
Request to Waive a Course in the Graduate Program
Because the College of Nursing can require far more than the 30 credit hours required by the Graduate School to graduate, students most often need only to waive a Nursing course without actually transferring the credits. Please note: The Nursing Graduate Studies Committee will not accept undergraduate coursework in place of required graduate courses. The process is detailed on the form.
Request to Transfer a Course into the Graduate Program
The graduate credit must have been earned as a graduate student at an accredited university, with a grade of B or better, but not used toward completion of a previous degree. The Nursing Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School must approve the transfer. The process is detailed on the form.
Request for Leave of Absence (LOA) From the Program of Study for post-master’s DNP students
A student who needs a LOA must notify his or her advisor and the Nursing Graduate Studies Committee (Chair). The process is detailed on the form.
Request for Leave of Absence (LOA) From the Program of Study for BSN to DNP students
A student who needs a LOA must notify his or her advisor and the Nursing Graduate Studies Committee (Chair). Please note: taking an LOA may alter the availability of clinical placement sites and also ensures the time taken off does not count towards the five year completion requirement for the M.S. in Nursing degree.
Petition Process Regarding Out-of-State Clinical Placement for Specialty Clinical Experiences
Students who request an out-of-state clinical placement for the Advanced Practice Practicum must submit a written request to the College of Nursing Graduate Studies Committee for approval. This request should be received prior to beginning any clinical work out of state. Only students who are making reasonable progress as defined in the progression guidelines as described in the College of Nursing Graduate Handbook will be considered for this clinical placement petition.