Graduate Programs Handbook

Independent Study Option

Independent study is available to students with consent of the Program Director and the Associate Dean. Options include:

1. Independent study of a nursing issue, exploration of a topic or trend in practice.
2. Participation in a preceptorship experience (includes clinical experience in a health care agency under the supervision of a faculty member).
3. Nursing Laboratory assistantship.
4. Advanced exploration of a topic in nursing administration or practice.

Petition of Exception to an Academic Policy or Requirement

Graduate academic policies and requirements have been formulated by the Graduate Council and University Senate with the goal of ensuring academic quality. It is the responsibility of each graduate student to be familiar with the information published in the Graduate Catalog and to know and observe all policies, requirements and procedures related to their graduate program. The OU Graduate Catalog contains official information about degree programs, policies, procedures, and resources. The OU Graduate Catalog may be found on the Graduate School website.

Graduate academic policies and requirements are to be equitably and uniformly enforced. Circumstances occasionally occur that warrant individual consideration. A graduate student, who believes that there are compelling reasons for a specific policy or requirement to be waived or modified, should submit an electronic petition.

Decisions regarding petitions are made by the SON Graduate Committee on Instruction and the Graduate School. Check with your Academic Adviser for a specific deadline date for submitting this form.

Course Waiver/Substitution for a Graduate Program Requirement

Students admitted to a graduate program are expected to complete the program requirements according to the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. On occasion, a required course in a graduate program may not be available or may no longer be offered due to program changes. With advance approval from the faculty adviser, graduate program, and Oakland University Graduate School, the student may request a course requirement be waived and another Oakland University course substituted. The determination of courses suitable for substitution rests with the graduate program.

When there is just cause for the substitution, the student must submit a Course Waiver/Substitution Petition form and obtain all approvals for the course substitution prior to enrolling in the proposed course. A course substitution is not a statement of equivalency between two courses; it is a singular substitution for one student. Approval of a course substitution does NOT override any other enrollment criteria such as prerequisites.

Leave of Absence Policy

SON graduate students may go “on-leave” for up to one year (a total of no more than 12 months). Returning to SON coursework is contingent upon space and course availability. If the situation allows, an amended POS will be generated. Upon return, the student should contact the SON Clinical Operations Team to discuss health requirements. Students absent beyond the end of an approved Leave of Absence are not guaranteed re-entry into the program. 

Students contemplating a leave of absence must meet with the Program Director and Advising before withdrawing from any courses or the program. Students who withdraw from courses or the program prior to consulting with the Program Director and Advising forfeit their seat in the program and cannot be readmitted.

Students on student loan or financial aid programs should determine the consequences that such a leave may have on their repayment status and contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at (248) 370-2550. 

Continuous Enrollment Policy

The continuous enrollment policy requires continuous enrollment of graduate students for at least one credit hour each semester in the academic year to maintain an active graduate student status. This includes semesters in which the comprehensive, preliminary, or qualifying examination is taken, defense, and each subsequent term (fall and winter) until the degree requirements are met and the dissertation is submitted to Oakland University Graduate School.

Continuous enrollment is met by registration in a graduate-level course relevant to the student’s academic program. Ph.D. and DNP students who have completed required credits toward their degree must register for doctoral or dissertation research to satisfy the continuous enrollment requirement.

Should circumstances arise that may cause an interruption in graduate study, the student must apply for a Leave of Absence. A student on official Leave of Absence is not entitled to any services from the university during the leave, including demands upon faculty or adviser time, or receipt of fellowship, assistantship, or financial aid.

Some agency and graduate assistantship eligibility may have course-load requirements that exceed the minimum registration requirements of the Continuous Enrollment Policy (e.g., Veterans Affairs, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for international students, and federal financial aid programs). Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility to register for the appropriate number of credits that are required for funding eligibility and/or compliance as outlined by specific agency regulations under which they are governed.

Doctoral students who do not maintain continuous enrollment and have not been granted an official Leave of Absence are subject to termination of admission to the program based on the recommendation of the department and approval by the Academic Dean. 

DNP-NA students should refer to the NA Student Handbook. 

Doctoral Residency Requirement

All PhD programs have residency requirements. Students are advised to consult the appropriate section of this catalog that pertains to their particular degree program. All PhD students are required to register for at least one credit of coursework every fall and winter semester after their admission to a program. In cases where the student has completed all of the formal coursework for the degree, and advanced to candidacy, the student must register for doctoral or dissertation research. The student must be registered for the semester in which they defend their dissertation.

Minimum Requirements for Continuing in the Graduate Programs of the SON

Once admitted to the School of Nursing (SON), graduate nursing students are required to earn a  minimum grade of B or higher in each course. In courses graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory progress, students are required to earn a course grade of “satisfactory progress” (SP) to progress in their program. SON courses may be repeated only one time. Students enrolled in the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia program should refer to the OU-Beaumont Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia Student Handbook for information related to grading, probation, progression, and dismissal. 

SON graduate students who do not meet these standards will be placed on probation with conditions  imposed for retention in the program or they may be dismissed from the program. 

Probation: An OU SON graduate student will be placed on probation if they:

1. Receive one (1) nursing course grade below a B or
2. Receive a grade of Unsatisfactory progress (NP). 

Students, who withdraw from a course after receiving a failing midterm grade, will be counseled. Upon written receipt of notification of placement on probation, the student will also be notified of the conditions necessary for him/her to continue in the graduate nursing program by the Associate Dean. A copy of the notice will be placed in the student’s file. 

An independent study course or a competency exam cannot be used as a substitute for a failed course. The student must also develop a written plan for success in meeting the conditions of probation and a copy will be placed in the student’s file. 

Dismissal: An OU SON graduate student will be dismissed from the SON if they: 

1. Receive a grade below B in more than one (1) nursing course; 
2. Receive a grade of Unsatisfactory progress (NP) in more than one (1) course; 
3. Receive a grade less than a B or NP consecutively as both are considered failing grades 
4. Fail to fulfill the conditions of probation; or 
5. Exhibit unsafe, unethical, or unprofessional behavior in any academic or clinical setting.

Course Withdrawal Policy

Updated December 2022

• A student who is considering withdrawal from any nursing (NRS) course is advised to meet with their faculty for the course.
• After meeting with the faculty, it is recommended that the student meet with the Program/Track Director or Coordinator and Academic Adviser, prior to initiating the withdrawal to discuss the implications of withdrawal on the student’s plan of study; and the student’s progress towards their degree.
  • Withdrawals
    • Withdrawals from the same nursing (NRS) course twice will be dismissed from the SON.
    • Withdrawals from three nursing (NRS) courses in different semesters, will be dismissed from the SON.
    • Withdrawals from multiple courses in a single semester will be considered as one withdrawal.

Program Withdrawal Policy

• A student who is considering a discontinuation of graduate studies and wishes to withdraw from the graduate program should contact their SON Program Director and Academic Adviser.
• Students with intent to withdraw are to submit their formal intent in writing to the Graduate School, SON Program Director, and Academic Adviser.

Policies and Procedures for Progression, Retention, and Dismssal in the SON Graduate Program

Approved by the School of Nursing FA on April 24, 2025 

SON Final Course Grade - Grievance Procedure

The evaluation of academic work is the prerogative of the instructor, and the process for determining final course grades should be established by the instructor and provided to students in a course syllabus at the beginning of the semester. All final course grades assigned by instructors are considered final, except Incomplete (I) and Satisfactory Progressing (SP) grades.

The Grievance Procedure is followed in the case of a student concern related to the criteria specified below. 

Grievance Procedure Criteria:

It is the responsibility of the student who appeals a final course grade to provide evidence of one or more of the following: 

• clerical error
• that the grade was assigned in an arbitrary and/or capricious manner
• the assignment of the grade was based on a substantial departure from the instructor’s stated criteria as described in the course syllabus
• the student was not afforded due process.

Otherwise, the judgment of the instructor is final.

No appeals of a final course grade will be considered on the basis of course improvement or re-evaluation. The Grievance Procedure is not to be used to review the judgment of an instructor in assessing the quality of the student’s work. 

A student who wishes to grieve based on the above criteria must follow the formal Grievance Procedure and complete the appeal within the semester time limits specified in the various steps below.

The SON time limits precede any published time limits in the University's Formal Grade Appeal procedure. Once the process is initiated, the burden of proof is on the student to demonstrate the grade decision was made based on any of the above Grievance Procedure Criteria.

Step 1 - Student Emails the Course Instructor to Request a Resolution Meeting

Student Responsibility

The student must notify the FOR (via OU email) of their concern and request details to understand the circumstances related to their final grade. The email must be dated within two business days of the final course grade being posted in SAIL. The final course grade may be posted to SAIL prior to the final grade submission deadline. If a resolution is reached via email (i.e., a grade entry error was corrected via a grade change form), no further action is required.

If the student does not receive a response from the course FOR after two business days, the student should contact the Associate Dean’s office. The Associate Dean (or designee) will then schedule a resolution meeting (in-person or virtual) between the student, the FOR, and the Associate Dean (or designee).

If a resolution with the instructor is not reached in Step 1, the student can initiate a Formal Grievance Procedure Review (Step 2). 

Instructor Responsibility

The FOR is expected to respond to the student’s email no later than two business days following the date of the student’s email to address the student’s concern. If an error was made in calculating the grade, the instructor will submit a Grade Change Request to the Office of Registrar to modify the final grade. If the student's concern is related to criteria other than a grade calculation or entry error, a resolution meeting (virtual or in-person) may be held at the discretion of the FOR.

If the student does not attend the scheduled resolution meeting, then the grievance is considered resolved, the grade posted in SAIL stands, and no further action regarding the final course grade can be taken.

Step 2 - Grievance Procedure 

Student Responsibility

Step 1 must be concluded before the student can initiate the Grievance Procedure. The student is required to meet with their academic adviser within three business days of the FOR’s response or resolution meeting (if applicable) to discuss the formal Grievance Procedure.

Upon conclusion of the meeting with advising, the student must immediately notify the course FOR; the chair of the SON Admission, Progression, and Retention Committee (APRC); the SON Director of Advising; and the appropriate Associate Dean via OU email of their intent to initiate the Formal Grievance Procedure. A student initiating the Grievance Procedure may withdraw the request at any time via OU email to all parties indicated above. 

The student must complete the Grievance Procedure form. It is the student’s responsibility to present written evidence that their grade was assigned in an arbitrary and/or capricious manner; the assignment of the grade was based on a substantial departure from the instructor’s stated criteria as described in the course syllabus; and/or the student was not afforded due process. Since the Grievance Procedure Form will be the basis for the Grievance Procedure, the student should ensure that it is clear, complete, and includes all documentation the student wishes to have considered in the process.

A SON student who initiates the Grievance Procedure may continue with their academic Plan of Study until the process is final unless otherwise notified by the appropriate Associate Dean.

The student can request that a SON faculty or adviser serve as their advocate during the Grievance Procedure process. The advocate may make a statement on behalf of the student before the panel makes its final decision.

Step 3 - Grievance Procedure Hearing:

The Assistant to the appropriate Associate Dean will request a date, time, and location for the hearing from the Panel, which includes members of APRC, the Director of Advising or advising representative, and the student’s advocate. The Assistant will notify the student and FOR  of the date, time, format, and/or location of the Hearing. The hearing must take place within five (5) business days (when the university is open) of receipt of the Grievance Procedure Form. 

The role of the Panel is to ensure that the appropriate procedures have been followed. The Panel will not review or re-evaluate the student’s coursework.

If the FOR is also an APRC member, the Associate Dean of the appropriate academic program will assign a faculty member to serve on the Panel in their place.

The Panel will meet separately with the student and the involved with the Grievance Procedure. 

If the student does not attend the scheduled Hearing, the grading issue is considered resolved, the grade posted in SAIL stands, and no further action regarding the final course grade can be taken.

Within two (2) business days following the  Hearing, the SON APRC Chair will submit a decision, in writing, to the SON Dean, the appropriate Associate Dean, the Associate Dean’s Assistant, the student’s Academic Adviser, and the Director of Advising. 

The SON Dean will review the Grievance Procedure decision letter and decide on an outcome. The student will be notified of the Dean’s decision via OU email. The decision of the SON Dean is final. 

Following the Grievance Procedure Hearing:

After receiving the SON Dean’s decision, it is the student’s responsibility to disenroll from any NRS courses in which they are no longer eligible to be enrolled.

Procedure to Appeal a Dismissal From a SON Graduate Program

The appeal procedure for academic dismissal is a closed, internal proceeding. As such, there is no  institutional attorney or other representation at a hearing. The decision to reinstate a student will be made  in the sole or absolute discretion of the Graduate School and the Dean of Oakland University Graduate  School. 

In general, reinstatement may be granted in cases where either the intent of the procedure was not  followed or where there are additional, extenuating circumstances that affected the student’s performance  that were unknown at the time of the initial recommendation to the Graduate School.

Step 1 

Following receipt of a letter of dismissal from Oakland University Graduate School, the student has three  months to appeal the dismissal. If the student wishes to appeal, the student must write a letter to the  Dean of Oakland University Graduate School, with a corresponding copy to the chair of the relevant  graduate program or department. The appeal must cite an appropriate cause for consideration of the  appeal, providing information on the reason(s) for reinstatement and substantial evidence or extenuating  circumstances in support of reinstatement. Disagreements over evaluation of academic quality or the  decision of a graduate program unit to remove a student from an internship, practicum, clinical site, or  service-learning placement must be appealed within the academic graduate program.

Step 2 

Within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of a student’s appeal, the Dean of Oakland University Graduate  School will seek written input from the Chair or Program Coordinator of the relevant graduate program or  department. The graduate program or department has fourteen (14) calendar days to send written input  to the Dean of Oakland University Graduate School. The Dean of Oakland University Graduate School  will review the case, based upon the appeal and written input from the graduate program and/or  department. 

The Dean of Oakland University Graduate School may either 1) uphold the dismissal status or 2) reverse  the decision of the graduate program and/or department. 

If the Dean of Oakland University Graduate School is satisfied that there is no valued basis for  reinstatement and that the proceedings regarding the student have met the stated procedure and  requirements, the appeal for reinstatement will be denied. If there is a reason to overturn the dismissal,  the student will be reinstated on academic probation until such time as the student meets all academic  requirements and standards or is returned to good academic standing. 

The decision of the Dean of Oakland University Graduate School is final. 

Reversal of Department Decision to Dismiss

Should the Dean of Oakland University Graduate School find that the graduate program unit or  department did not follow proper procedures, or unprofessional conduct is a concern, which might have  affected the graduate program decision of dismissal, the appeal may be subject to reversal. 

In such a case or in any other case deemed appropriate by the Dean of Oakland University Graduate  School, advice from the Graduate Council Subcommittee on Academic Graduate Conduct may be sought  at the discretion of the Dean of Oakland University Graduate School. 

Following the investigation or advice from the Graduate Council Subcommittee on Academic Graduate  Conduct and the final review by the Dean of Oakland University Graduate School, the result will be  conveyed in writing to the student, the graduate program unit and the dean of the respective College or  School.

Apply to Graduate

A formal application for a degree to be conferred must be filed online by the degree candidate.  Information about and instructions for the formal application are available at Apply for Graduation. If the application is not submitted by the deadlines set by the Graduate School and Oakland University, degree conferral may be delayed even though all other degree requirements may have been completed on time. Degree conferral requires that the student be in good academic standing and that all requirements for the degree have been completed satisfactorily. 

Graduation and Commencement

Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates degree completion, and student participation may occur when the student has met all academic degree requirements. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not imply that a student has officially graduated. Commencement ceremonies are held twice each year. Only degree-seeking students may participate in commencement. Students earning graduate certificates are not eligible to participate in Commencement. Please visit Commencement for more information about commencement fairs and the ceremony.