The Heights, Volume XCVII, Number 12, 29 February 2016
- Issue Contents Persistent Link
- Article Text Persistent Link
Persistent Link
Privacy policy, terms of use.
| Dear Connell School community, I am pleased and excited to write from the Connell School of Nursing's new home in Maloney Hall. Our late May move to a 35,000-square-foot location on the second and third floors of Maloney made for a momentous end to an extremely successful academic year. I am proud to share with you this of the many ways in which our faculty, students, and alumni furthered nursing research, practice, and leadership in 2014–15, the last of our 55 fruitful years in Cushing Hall. Five new faculty members joined us last fall, bringing with them expertise and experience in gerontology, dementia, wound management, and women's health. An impressive number of our faculty, students, and alumni received awards and grants that recognize outstanding research and practice. Students and faculty attended conferences across the US, presenting on topics ranging from sleep patterns to diabetes prevention to maternity care. Exemplifying the role of the nurse leader as global citizen, Connell School students and faculty once again joined service trips to Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. And the Connell School itself was named a member of the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence. As we settle in to an expansive new facility that gives us the space and equipment we sorely need to educate Boston College students and prepare nurse leaders for the twenty-first century, I eagerly look forward to what the coming years will bring us. Sincerely,
|
This email was sent by Boston College to %%emailaddr%% . Change your subscription status . Request InfoSchool of nursing. Simmons’ School of Nursing is home to one of the country’s first university-based nursing programs and we are proud to remain among the best programs in the field, recognized for clinical excellence, and preparing future leaders in health care through undergraduate and graduate nursing degree programs, including the online Nursing@Simmons programs. We educate nurses to provide compassionate and evidence-based care, advocate for patients and communities, lead interprofessional teams, and advance research. Prepare to be a Future Leader of Healthcare with our Nursing Degrees Faculty in the Simmons School of Nursing are passionate educators, clinicians, and researchers, and our location in Boston’s renowned medical area provides unparalleled training for our campus-based students in our nursing programs. Our BSN students in both the traditional four-year and accelerated second degree programs receive outstanding undergraduate education, while graduate programs offer paths for direct-entry, advanced nursing, and doctoral education. Our School of Nursing is a pioneer in public health nursing and in training Family Nurse Practitioners, one of health care’s fastest-growing specialties. We are guided by values of social justice, teamwork, compassion and excellence, and we embrace Simmons’ tradition of science and practice for the social good. Onground Nursing ProgramsAs home to the country's first university-based nursing program, Simmons University is among the best nursing programs in the field. Our location in the Longwood Medical area in Boston, MA, along with our faculty and alumnae/i connections at the world's leading hospitals provide ample opportunities for our students to pursue research, clinicals, and job opportunities.
Online Nursing Programs Empowering and educating nurses since 1902, Simmons University offers online nursing programs that extends our esteemed Boston-based programs to students across the country through a dynamic, online learning platform.
Nursing School RequirementsFor our undergraduate and graduate Nursing programs, our admission committee takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications. We consider your personal, professional, and academic experiences as a whole in order to evaluate your preparedness and potential for success in the program. Learn more about applying to our Nursing programs as an undergraduate or graduate student. Highlights of the Simmons Nursing Program
 Our strengths include nationally acclaimed faculty, alumnae/i who are recognized leaders in their fields, and an ideal Boston location in the Longwood Medical Area. About the School of Nursing  Clinical & CareersOur students learn in our labs and classrooms, as well as health care facilities that are literally in our backyard. Graduates of the School of Nursing pursue a range of different occupations in the healthcare field.
 School of Nursing Faculty"At Simmons, we’re sending students into our own ‘beloved nursing profession.’ We give them the finest preparation, so that they can provide excellent patient care and be the next generation of leaders in nursing." - Charlene Berube, Former Chair of Undergraduate Nursing. Nursing Faculty 
The Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program is designed to address the social and academic barriers faced by many first-generation and ALANA nursing students, as well as to prepare them for the workplace through the mentoring relationship.  Alumnae/i from our Nursing ProgramsThe School of Nursing has been educating health care providers for over a century. You'll graduate with a network of alumnae/i who are committed to helping you succeed. Programs OfferedUndergraduate.
School of Nursing in the News Nursing Instructor Helps Parents Support ParentsSimmons School of Nursing Adjunct Laura Behm is the co-founder and co-owner of Milky Moms, which offers lactation services and counseling services to mothers. We spoke to Behm about her approach to this work and what she loves about teaching Simmons students.
 School of Nursing Students Train to Work with Children with Developmental DisordersSimmons School of Nursing students Rachel Takes ’24MSN and Elizabeth Strager ’19 ’21MSN, FNP- C, ’25DNP were recruited into the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program (LEND Boston) at Boston Children's Hospital’s Institute for Community Inclusion.  Honoring National Nurses WeekNational Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2024, offers a time to reflect with respect and gratitude on the work of nurses. In recognition of the week, here is a round-up of recent stories on the School of Nursing at Simmons.
 Simmons School of Nursing Advocates for the Nursing Profession in the Nation’s CapitalSchool of Nursing Dean Heather Shlosser and Nursing Student Amanda Whitbeck attended Capitol Hill Day, where they advocated for crucial funding and support with several congressional offices, including those of Representative Ayanna Pressley, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, and Representative Seth Moulton.
 Simmons School of Nursing Joins National Campaign for Health Workforce Well-BeingThe Simmons University School of Nursing was accepted as part of the inaugural cohort in the National Academy of Medicine's Change Maker Campaign for Health Workforce Well-Being.  Nursing Faculty and Alumnae/i Receive Award for Advancing Palliative Care in BangladeshProfessor Emerita Anne-Marie Barron and Associate Professor of Practice Kelly Marchant, along with collaborators Emily Erhardt, Jocelyn Hulburt ’08BSN, and Nisha Wali ’21FNP, recently received the 2023 Award of Excellence from the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC).  Heather Shlosser Named Dean of School of NursingRecently named Dean of the Simmons University School of Nursing, Dr. Heather Shlosser has a bold vision for a transformative future for nursing education amid the current national shortage.
 Kimberly Noonan ’18DNP Selected as 2023 Fellow of the American Academy of NursingOn October 7, 2023, Kimberly Noonan ’18DNP was inducted as a Fellow within the American Academy of Nursing . A Chief Nurse Practitioner at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute , Dr. Noonan is committed to supporting Nurse Practitioners and advancing oncology...
Upcoming School of Nursing EventsInfo session: graduate health sciences and nursing.
Virtual Information Session: Graduate Health Sciences and Nursing
More in School of Nursing
Visit SimmonsWhat type of student are you? Apply to SimmonsNursing at Boston CollegeNursing degrees available at boston college, boston college nursing rankings.
Popularity of Nursing at Boston CollegeHow much do nursing graduates from boston college make, salary of nursing graduates with a bachelor's degree. Nursing majors who earn their bachelor's degree from Boston College go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $70,146 a year. This is higher than $62,880, which is the national median for all nursing bachelor's degree recipients. Salary of Nursing Graduates with a Master's DegreeNursing majors graduating with a master's degree from Boston College make a median salary of $92,426 a year. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $94,353. How Much Student Debt Do Nursing Graduates from Boston College Have?Student debt of nursing graduates with a bachelor's degree. While getting their bachelor's degree at Boston College, nursing students borrow a median amount of $13,250 in student loans. This is not too bad considering that the median debt load of all nursing bachelor's degree recipients across the country is $27,000. Nursing Student Diversity at Boston CollegeBoston college nursing bachelor’s program. Of the 104 students who graduated with a Bachelor’s in nursing from Boston College in 2021, 6% were men and 94% were women. The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Boston College with a bachelor's in nursing.
Boston College Nursing Master’s ProgramDuring the 2020-2021 academic year, 113 students graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing from Boston College. About 10% were men and 90% were women. The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Boston College with a master's in nursing.
Majors Similar to Nursing
Popular ReportsCompare your school options. 
Assistant Professor of the PracticeRelated searches:.
Create your free job search account
Have an account? Sign in
Redefine compassionate, ethical, innovative patient care.Nurses are on the front lines of direct patient care, while also playing a critical role in advancing the nation's healthcare system from hospitals to community health centers and from the bedside to the boardroom. As a nursing student at Emmanuel, you will develop your personal philosophy of nursing to inform and enhance a compassionate, responsible, ethical practice that appreciates the diversity of human experiences. Through intellectual curiosity and academic excellence, you will develop as a well-rounded, in-demand nursing professional who thinks critically, communicates effectively and better understands the cultural, social, economic and political factors that affect patient beliefs and behaviors. Emmanuel has been a leader in nursing education for over 40 years, offering a Master of Science in Nursing program as well as an RN to BSN online . For information regarding Emmanuel College's nursing application requirements, please click here . The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master's degree program in nursing at Emmanuel College are accredited by: The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791 The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Emmanuel College has Full Approval Status from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing 250 Washington St Boston, MA 02108 Telephone: (617) 973-0900 or (800)-414-0168
A First-Class ExperienceGet to know the people and programs that will define your academic journey.  Undergraduate Nursing Pinning On International Nurses Day 2023, we celebrated College's first cohort to graduate in the traditional BSN program with a pinning ceremony.
 Meet the Faculty Our distinguished faculty publish, exhibit and research. Present, compose and chair. Inspire and collaborate. The CurriculumView the 2023-2024 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions. Requirements for B.S. in Nursing
Other required courses:
The SON offers clinical experiences in a variety of settings. Emmanuel College maintains contractual agreements for these clinical experiences. Nursing students must meet the expectations of both the college and the assigned clinical agency regarding professional conduct, attire, health clearance, and other agency specific requirements. Individual clinical agency policies supersede Emmanuel College policies, and both the College and its students must adhere to all applicable clinical agency requirements. The clinical clearance requirements for students enrolled in the Undergraduate Nursing Program include the following:
Sample BSN Four-Year PlanFIRST SEMESTER
SECOND SEMESTER
THIRD SEMESTER
FOURTH SEMESTER
FIFTH SEMESTER
SIXTH SEMESTER
SEVENTH SEMESTER
EIGHTH SEMESTER
Upon completion of this program, students will:
Where Essential Values and Skills Meet the Real WorldAlong with areas of knowledge and major requirements, you will cultivate essential values in the classroom and complete two courses in each area:.
 One hundred percent of Emmanuel students complete an internship as part of the core curriculum. In a city as dynamic as Boston, your options are bound only by the limits of your curiosity.As a nursing student, you will complete clinical rotations in a number of areas at many local hospitals. Gain nursing experience in mental health, community and public health, maternity and women’s health, pediatrics and more at area hospitals and health care organizations.  In all majors, the Capstone Experience involves completing a significant piece of work that requires the integration and application of learning from multiple courses.In your nursing capstone, you will have the opportunity to engage in a clinical experience with a professional nurse in the field, integrating the role of nurse as an advocate, collaborator and leader into your practice. This will allow you to further develop your skills as a nurse generalist and explore professional issues.  Nursing SpotlightSee more stories and news related to the Maureen Murphy Wilkens School of Nursing & Clinical Sciences   Current Students
BC.EDU LINKS 
 The Connell School fosters a culture of support and excellence that positions our students to be leaders on campus, in our local communities, and abroad. Guidelines, Procedures, and Resources
Student Handbook, Guidelines, and Procedures
Reasonable Accommodations for Qualified Individuals with Disabilities in Clinical Courses
Boston College ResourcesUndergraduate Catalog Current undergraduate catalog information located on the Student Services website Courses Undergraduate course and schedule listings Student Services Information on academic services, financial services, parking, ID cards, student employment, and more Financial Aid Financial resources and application materials Forms Forms for academic issues, financial aid, medical insurance, student employment, student loans, and parking Academic Calendar Boston College academic calendar Library Information on Boston College's O'Neill Library, nursing collection, and research help Study Abroad Preparing students for citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society Undergraduate Government/Student Organizations The voice of the student community on campus Boston College Career Services Resources for nursing careers AHANA Office of AHANA (African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American) Student Programs Plans of StudyUndergraduate Curriculum Plan Worksheet CSON Curriculum Plan Overview
The Bachelor of Science program is designed as a 4-year, 8-semester, full-time program, and while there is some flexibility within the program, a fully accredited rigorous prelicensure baccalaureate nursing curriculum incorporates the University-wide core requirements. The Undergraduate Programs Office reserves the right to limit the number of transfers (externally and internally) during any academic year. Transfer InformationExternal Transfer Information (from outside BC or from Woods College of Advancing Studies) All external transfer (students who have completed studies at another institution of higher learning or the BC Woods College of Advancing Studies) applications are handled by the admissions office . Applicants should normally have completed 2 semesters of Anatomy and Physiology with laboratory as well as 1 semester of Chemistry with laboratories. Ideally they will also have completed a semester of Statistics (in any department) along with a college-level mathematics class or a statistics course taught in a department of mathematics. Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry are prerequisites for progression to Pathophysiology and Health Assessment, the required sophomore courses that are themselves prerequisites for beginning the clinical course sequence. Pathophysiology and Health Assessment are given in the fall semester only. Therefore, students who have not completed Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry (with labs) will likely be extending their program for at least one semester (beyond the 8 full-time semesters of college normally required for a BC undergraduate) unless they can complete anatomy and physiology and chemistry in the summer before their first semester at BC. (Under specific circumstances, subject to availability of clinical placement slots and with approval of the Undergraduate Associate Dean, a specific clinical sequence change can be made that will permit an August graduation rather than a December graduation for students who do not complete prerequisites for the sophomore sequence until the fall of their 3rd year of college, but this route comes with disadvantages and access to it cannot be guaranteed.) Students who transfer into the program with all science courses and who have not had a 2-3 credit introductory nursing course will be required to complete NURS 2070 Introduction of Professional Nursing in their fall semester concurrently with the first-semester sophomore course sequence. The 1-credit NURS 1010, Nursing Professional Development Seminar, will be waived for transfer students, but they will be offered an opportunity to meet with other transfer students and upperclassman group leaders in the fall semester. For more information, please contact Jeffrey Gallant, Associate Director of Transfer Admissions, at jeffrey.gallant@bc.edu . CSON is at MAXIMUM capacity for the class of 2027. As a result, CSON will be unable to admit internal transfer applicants this academic year (23-24 AY) and have suspended the internal transfer application process. The undergraduate program will look to re-open the internal transfer application process in the Fall of 2024 if space allows. This website will be updated accordingly. Undergraduate Research Fellows ProgramThe Undergraduate Research Fellows (UGRF) Program enables students to gain firsthand experience in scholarly work by participating with a faculty member on a research project. Students receive a monetary award based upon the scope and duration of the project. Academic credit is not granted through the program. Fellowships may also be available for summer terms. Contact the Office for Nursing Research at 617-552-3123 for more information or inquire with faculty directly to express your interest in being involved in their research. Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing ProgramThe Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing (KILN) program assists students to maximize their leadership potential, prepares them for the challenges of providing nursing care in our increasingly multicultural society, and nurtures their ability to create positive social change. KILN scholars receive financial support, faculty mentorship, and opportunities to network with nurse leaders as they pursue their undergraduate or graduate studies. View the KILN Page Nurses AssociationsNational Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) With a membership of approximately 60,000 nationwide, the National Student Nurses ’ Association mentors the professional development of future registered nurses and facilitates their entrance into the profession by providing educational resources, leadership opportunities, and career guidance. Massachusetts Student Nurses’ Association (MASNA) MASNA is the Massachusetts branch of the National Student Nurses ’ Association. Membership in MASNA is open to any nursing student in Massachusetts who is also a member of the National Student Nurses’ Association. Boston College chapter Boston College hosts a local chapter of NSNA New England Regional Black Nurses Association (NERBNA) Part of the national effort to unify, educate, and increase the number of African American nurses in this country. The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Promoting Hispanic nurses to improve the health of our community. Sigma Theta TauThe International Honor Society of Nursing's Alpha Chi Chapter at Boston College. Alpha Chi embodies and shares the founding values of Sigma Theta Tau International: Wisdom, Discernment, Love, Courage, Honor, Service, Professional Endeavor, Leadership, and Knowledge. Sigma Theta Tau International is the international honor society of nursing. Constituent chapters are established in collegiate schools of nursing accredited by the national accrediting body recognized by the profession. Alpha Chi Chapter is located at Boston College School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Sigma Theta Tau International is professional rather than social and its purpose and functions may be compared to other honor societies. CSON International OpportunitiesEach year, CSON offers nursing-specific international programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Learn About International Programs Additional Information:
Plans of Study & Forms
Other Forms
Student Handbook & ResourcesStudents are bound by the regulations defined in the current student handbook.
Graduate Catalog Current graduate catalog information located on the Student Services website. Courses Graduate course and schedule listings Scholarships Available scholarships and external resources Research Resources Valuable resources for those engaged in research and grant-related activities Commencement Information for graduates and their families External LinksThe National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners (NAPNAP) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners Association for Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE) The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Graduate Nurses AssociationThe mission of the Graduate Nurses Association is:
All graduate students of the Boston College School of Nursing are members of the Graduate Nurses Association (GNA). There is no enrollment form or entry fee. Please see our calendar of events and make an effort to attend! Email us at bcgradnurses@bc.edu. For more information about the GNA, a calendar of events and contact information, visit our website . The International Honor Society of Nursing's Alpha Chi Chapter at Boston College. Alpha Chi embodies and shares the founding values of Sigma Theta Tau International: Wisdom, Discernment, Love, Courage, Honor, Service, Professional Endeavor, Leadership and Knowledge. Learn about each of the programs
Dissertation Guidelines
Student HandbookOffice for Sponsored Programs (OSP) Service to members of the BC community involved in sponsored projects All graduate students of the Boston College School of Nursing are members of the Graduate Nurses Association (GNA). There is no enrollment form or entry fee. Please see our calendar of events and make an effort to attend! Email us at bcgradnurses@gmail.com
Recommended Electives List of recommended graduate electives for CSON Open Lab Hours: Currently Unavailable
Lounge Hours
Early Morning Shuttle Hours for ClinicalsThe BC Shuttle Bus now offers early morning hours for CSON clinical students on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Pick-up Locations:
Career ServicesNursing awards/opportunities, nursing career descriptions, advice and information, job listings, employer listings, licensing, certification, and grad school, professional associations, nurse practitioners. Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association For students in state-approved nursing programs leading to a baccalaureate degree or direct-entry master’s degrees as well as RN to B.S.N. and RN to M.S.N. programs. National Health Service Corp Scholarship program This scholarship is awarded to students pursuing primary health care professions training in NHSC-eligible disciplines in return for a commitment to provide health care to communities in need upon graduation and the completion of training. National Health Service Corp Loan Repayment program This national program offers primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health providers the opportunity to have their student loans repaid for serving communities in need. Massachusetts Loan Repayment Program for Health Professionals The Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers educational loan repayment as an incentive for health professionals to practice in communities where significant shortages of health care providers and barriers to access have been identified. Nursing - What can I do with this major? Excellent overview of career options related to your nursing major. ADVANCE for Nurses Provides concise, practical information on clinical, management, professional, and career development issues for nurses practicing in all areas of the profession. Best Hospitals Finder US News & World Report hospital rankings. Lippincott's Nursing Center AJN Online; info on nursing forums, journals and articles, licensure and certification information, nursing organizations, continuing education, and career guides. Minority Nurse Magazine Career and education resource for minority nursing professionals, students, and faculty. Includes information on scholarships and employers. MAHospitalCareers.com Sponsored by the Massachusetts Hospital Association, this website helps you locate jobs in nursing, physical therapy, radiology, orthopedics, and much more. Mass.gov Search for nursing jobs with Massachusetts state agencies. [under Jobs by Industry, find Nursing] Nurse.com In addition to scoping out their job listings, you can subscribe to their free magazine. USAJobs Search for jobs in the federal government. Best Hospitals Finder Want to work in a top hospital? Check out US News & World Report rankings. CareerShift BC students may register and use this website to search for potential employers and jobs, and manage their job search process. Case Management Resource Guide Database of 110,000 companies in 40 categories of health care services and resources, including: Homecare, Rehabilitation, Long-Term Care, Assisted Living Facilities, Subacute Care, Addiction & Psychiatric Services, Pharmaceuticals Companies, Air Medical Transport, and much more. Family Planning Agencies in MA The Family Planning Program promotes and provides comprehensive family planning services, which include clinic-based services and may include community education and outreach. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) in MA Licensed in Massachusetts with links to their websites. Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Non-profit community-based organizations offering comprehensive primary and preventive health care, including medical, dental, social, and mental health services to anyone in need regardless of their medical status, ability to pay, culture, or ethnicity. National Council of State Boards of Nursing Contains NCLEX examination information and an interactive NCLEX candidate diagnostic profile. It also includes position papers by the National Council, state nurse practice acts and nursing regulations, and resources for health care consumers. American Nurses Association A listing of state associations of nursing for all states, commonwealths, and territories can be found here. BestNursingDegree.com An excellent way to search for nursing programs by degree and location. Nursing Continuing Education Each state's requirements for Continuing Education (CE) credits. Graduate School Rankings From US News & World Report Peterson's Database of Nursing Programs Provides nursing schools or departments, on a voluntary basis, the opportunity to communicate details about their programs to prospective students. Guide to Hospital Nursing Residency Programs for New B.S.N.s UPenn's Career Services guide provides a list of hospitals providing structured programs for new B.S.N.s. The guide is organized alphabetically by state. Massachusetts Nursing Association The MNA is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses and health professionals in the state. National Student Nursing Association The NSNA is a nonprofit organization for students enrolled in associate, baccalaureate, diploma, and generic graduate nursing programs. It is dedicated to fostering the professional development of nursing students. Nursing Associations and Organizations Links to U.S. and international nursing associations. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Job listings (must be a member); publications and research; conferences; Continuing Education. A national nonprofit membership organization headquartered in Washington, DC, the ACNP is focused on advocacy and keeping NPs current on legislative, regulatory, and clinical practice issues that effect NPs in the rapidly changing health care arena. Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners Supports advanced practice nursing across all specialty areas and organizations in Massachusetts. Includes a For Students section, as well as a Career Center with job listings. Also offers resources on graduate nursing programs, licensing bodies, and nursing organizations. Calendar of EventsQuick links, events & traditions, why bc nursing, diversity, inclusion, & belonging, facts & figures.
Student GrievancesUndergraduate academic regulations. All students entering Connell School of Nursing Undergraduate Programs are to follow the Boston College Academic Regulations, a program of studies in selected majors and complete Core requirements and electives needed to fulfill degree requirements. General Information for all Graduate StudentsHistory of the connell school of nursing. Boston College inaugurated the School of Nursing in response to the need for a Catholic collegiate school of nursing in the Greater Boston area. With the cooperation of His Excellency, Most Reverend Richard J. Cushing, Archbishop of Boston, a program was offered in February 1947 leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing for registered nurses. In September 1947, a basic collegiate program of five years leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science was introduced for high school graduates. Beginning in September 1950, a four calendar-year basic collegiate program was initiated, and in 1957 this was shortened to four academic years. In the spring of 1960 the School of Nursing moved from downtown Boston to the Chestnut Hill campus and occupied its own building, the gift of His Eminence Richard Cardinal Cushing. In 2001-2002, the school received a generous gift from the late William F. Connell and the school is now known as the Connell School of Nursing (CSON). History of Graduate Programs in NursingBoston College began offering graduate courses in 1952. In the spring of 1956, nursing sought to bring its program into conformity with the standards of the profession, and proposed a Master of Science degree in Nursing, with a minor in education. Boston College began awarding the Master of Science degree in Nursing in 1958. The Ph.D. program, approved by the board of trustees in September 1986, began in fall 1988. Ten students were admitted in the program's initial year; the program expanded to 30 students at the end of three years. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program was initiated in 2019. This terminal, practice-focused doctoral program prepares Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) as Nurse Practitioners and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). In the 1993-94 academic year, there was a general reorganization of graduate arts and sciences and the schools of nursing and education assumed administration of the graduate programs in their respective areas. This organizational change strengthened the already vigorous and vital graduate programs in the Connell School of Nursing. Connell School of Nursing Mission StatementThe mission of the Boston College Connell School of Nursing is to prepare compassionate, professionally competent nurses whose practice and scholarship are scientifically based and grounded in humanizing the experience of health and illness. In keeping with the University's Jesuit, Catholic ideals, we focus on formation of the whole person and promotion of social justice. The Connell School of Nursing educates students as reflective lifelong learners who use knowledge in service to others. The faculty develops and disseminates knowledge for the advancement of professional nursing practice and the improvement of health and health care for a diverse global society. The graduate of the baccalaureate program is prepared as a generalist who promotes, maintains, and restores the health of individuals, families, and communities/populations across the lifespan through evidence-based practice. The graduate of the master’s program is prepared as an advanced generalist nurse with disciplinary knowledge and skill to improve the delivery of care through leadership, mentorship, and evidence-based practice. The graduate of the doctorate in nursing practice program is prepared for the advanced practice role and is eligible for national certification in a specialty area. The graduate of the Ph.D. program is prepared to engage in and contribute to theoretically driven research and scholarship that address significant problems in nursing and health care and to influence policy. Connell School of Nursing PhilosophyNursing is the art and science of human caring. The recipients of nursing care are individuals, families, aggregates of people, and communities/populations who are sick and well; culturally and linguistically diverse; within all socioeconomic strata; and at all stages in the life cycle. The study of nursing is based on a common intellectual heritage transmitted by a liberal education and the art and science of nursing. Nursing focuses on the life processes and patterns of the individual in the context of the family and the community and also the health needs of the population. Nursing recognizes the contribution of cultural diversity and social environments to the health/illness beliefs, practices, and behavioral responses of individuals and groups. Nursing education prepares students for the appropriate level of knowledge and skills by building on the liberal arts and sciences. Nursing curricula are logically ordered to provide core knowledge and opportunity for the application of that knowledge. The preparation for holistic nursing care requires a holistic approach in education, and education is most effective when it involves active participation by the learner. Students are supported in developing clinical skills as well as the ability to think and act ethically. Students are active participants in shaping the learning environment within the Connell School of Nursing. The Boston College Connell School of Nursing instills the values of service to others, truth through scholarly inquiry, and justice through promoting equal access to care for all people. Service, scholarship, and justice in caring include all people in the global community, particularly the underserved. The faculty believe that promoting the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of health are essential to understanding the human dimension of holistic nursing care. Nurses engage in partnerships with individuals and groups to promote and optimize wellness. The nurse respects the uniqueness of the person and the individual’s right to choose and actively participate in decisions about health care. Nursing promotes self-determination by empowering clients and advocating for those who cannot do so independently. (rev 4/14) Accreditation and CertificationThe Connell School of Nursing accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are eligible to apply to take the certification examinations offered by the credentialing bodies of their specialty. Board of Registration in Nursing Regulation PoliciesGraduate Admission Policy All graduate nursing students are admitted through the Graduate Programs Office in accordance with the university admission procedures. CSON admits students into a Master of Science degree program, which prepares students as advanced generalist registered nurses. CSON admits students into a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, which prepares students as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) or certified registered nurse anesthetists. The graduate admission process at Boston College is highly selective. A holistic review of applications for admission, ensuring that all aspects of candidates’ applications are carefully considered, is utilized. While academic preparation is the most important factor considered, admission decisions are made holistically. A wide range of criteria are considered including, but not limited to: academic performance, the rigor of applicants’ prior college transcripts, performance on standardized tests, leadership, recommendations, co-curricular involvement, work experience, potential for future success, and when appropriate, the ability to succeed despite facing significant obstacles or hardships. Candidates are required to submit an application through the online application system, standardized test scores, college transcripts, letters of recommendation, and two completed essays. Each DNP applicant selects an advanced practice specialty (NP/CRNA) at the time of application to the DNP program. Advanced Generalist Nursing programs (RN prepared applicants) admit candidates twice each year (fall and spring). Post-Baccalaureate DNP programs admit candidates twice each year (fall and spring). CRNA applicants are required to have a minimum of one year of critical care nursing experience and current PALS, ACLS, and CCRN certifications. These candidates are admitted one time each year (summer). The Direct Entry program admits candidates one time each year (fall). All candidates must comply with the immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Official high/secondary school transcripts are required for admitted master’s entry students prior to matriculation. For international students who do not speak English as their primary language, the recommended minimum English language proficiency scores are 100 on the TOEFL and 7.5 on the IELTS. Candidates must include evaluations and translations, when necessary, of International transcripts. Boston College does not set its level of selectivity; the size and quality of the applicant pool does. Therefore, decisions are made after all applications have been fully evaluated. This ensures that decisions are equitable and consistent within the context of our highly competitive pool. CSON faculty have developed technical standards competency domains that they believe to be necessary for participation and success in clinical education with or without reasonable accommodations. The Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment, Student Services, and Financial Aid and the graduate program directors work collaboratively and are in frequent communication during the admission cycles to ensure that the academic quality and preparation of incoming students meets the faculty’s expectations and standards. Candidates are notified of admission decisions by the Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment, Student Services, and Financial Aid at the Connell School of Nursing. Veteran and ROTC ApplicantsBoston College encourages veterans and individuals considering a career in the armed forces to apply. We value the perspective gained through military experience and the benefits for our campus community when veterans become students. The Connell School of Nursing Graduate Programs adhere to all university policies regarding veterans and ROTC applicants. Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee and PoliciesThe CSON Academic Standards Review Committee (ASRC) is a committee composed of CSON faculty and staff and an external representative from Student Affairs. The ASRC is advisory to the Dean. ASRC voting members are elected by the faculty. Elected members on the committee shall serve for a 2-year term and may be reelected for one additional consecutive 2-year term. The committee membership will consist of the following persons: Voting Members:
Advisory Members (Non-Voting):
The ASRC will meet at the end of each semester and summer term to review the records of CSON students with course failures, course deficiencies, and low GPAs. The Committee may also meet at any time during the academic year in exigent circumstances upon faculty request (i.e., unprofessional conduct or clinical safety concerns, student grievance). Students will be notified before undergoing Committee review. This Committee makes recommendations about progression in the program and or academic standing in accordance with the policies described below and other relevant University policies. Graduate students are expected to maintain good academic standing at all times and progress through their program of study in accordance with program standards and performance expectations. Those who are not in good academic standing or are not progressing are subject to review by the Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee. Grade Point AverageAll graduate students in the Connell School of Nursing are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in order to remain in good academic standing. If a student has a GPA of less than 3.0, the Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee will be convened to hear the case. Pre-licensure CourseworkIf a student receives a grade of B- (80%) or above in a pre-licensure course they will pass the course. If a graduate student receives a C (74-79%) on a NURS pre-licensure course (listed below), the Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee will be convened to hear the case.
The Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee will determine the best course of action. The student will be placed on academic notice and remedial steps may require the graduate student to:
If a graduate student receives a failing grade F (< 74%) on a NURS pre-licensure course or strategically withdraws from the course (i.e., withdraws from the course on a date later than the course withdrawal deadline to avoid failure from the course), the Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee will be convened to hear the case and determine the best course of action. The student will be placed on academic notice and at minimum, be required to retake the course before advancing in the curriculum. Students have only one opportunity to repeat a nursing course after course failure or strategically withdrawing from the course. All above NURS courses must be taken at Boston College. Graduate CourseworkThe minimum acceptable passing grade for graduate courses (other than the NURS pre-licensure courses listed above) is a B- (80%). If a student receives a grade below B- in any graduate course other than the above NURS pre-licensure courses or strategically withdraws from a course, the Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee will be convened to hear the case. The student will be placed on academic notice and at minimum, be required to retake the course before advancing in the curriculum. Graduate students have only one opportunity to repeat a nursing course after strategically withdrawing from the course or not achieving a B- (80%). If a graduate student has more than one grade below B- (80%), more than one strategic withdrawal, or a combination of a grade below a B- and a strategic withdrawal (in any graduate nursing course other than the pre-licensure courses listed above), the Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee will be convened to hear the case and determine the best course of action, including up to dismissal from the nursing program. Any graduate student who, by the faculty’s evaluation, is deemed to have engaged in unsafe clinical practice or who otherwise demonstrates unprofessional conduct in the clinical setting, will be removed from the setting immediately. These behaviors are grounds for failure in any clinical course. In such cases, the Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee will be convened to hear the case and determine the best course of action, including up to dismissal from the program. If a graduate student demonstrates unprofessional conduct in the classroom and/or interactions with BC faculty or staff, or engages in academic dishonesty and/or other ethical violations, including in the conduct of academic research, they will be reviewed by Graduate Academic Standards Review Committee to hear the case and determine the best course of action, including up to dismissal from the program. The ASRC Chair will notify the student of the outcome of academic review within five (5) business days of the committee meeting. A student may communicate a formal appeal of the ASRC decision to the Associate Dean for Student Services if they believe there has been a procedural violation, a mistake of fact, or an arbitrary or unethical evaluation. The Associate Dean for Student Services will notify the relevant Department Chair of the appeal and the Department Chair will initiate the process of independent review. The relevant Department Chair will be determined by the program of study in which the student is enrolled (i.e. baccalaureate, graduate direct-entry, graduate post-baccalaureate, PhD). Graduate students who are on notice are not eligible for teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships and/or any type of merit-based tuition remission award. CSON Class and Clinical Attendance PolicyGraduate students are expected to attend classes regularly, take tests, and submit assignments at the times specified by the professors on the course syllabi. For any absence, students must still meet all course requirements and learning objectives. Attendance in nursing class, clinical, simulation, and lab is expected for all students. Excused absences include student illness, bereavement for an immediate family member, military obligations, or religious observances. Students who anticipate military and religious absences should notify the faculty at the beginning of the semester so accommodations can be made to complete the learning objectives in a timely way. Students are required to communicate an unexpected absence no later than two hours before class or clinical in the method requested by the faculty. Course Exemption PolicyThe Direct Entry program is an accelerated and intensive curriculum that prepares graduates to practice as registered nurses and/or advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the nurse practitioner role. Due to the specific course work and sequencing required to complete the pre-licensure components of the program, course exemptions are not allowed in the pre-licensure master’s program. Students, who hold a graduate degree from another accredited university, may waive a course in the post-licensure component of the Direct Entry program if they have previously completed an equivalent course. (See Transfer of Credits policy, pp 10) Advanced Placement PolicyGraduate students, including students enrolled in the Direct Entry program, may not waive graduate course work based on previously completed Advanced Placement course work and/or examinations. Transfer / Opt-Out PolicyMatriculated graduate students may request permission to transfer in up to 6 credits of graduate course work completed at another regionally accredited graduate university.To request to have an outside course considered for transfer, the student must email a copy of the course description for electives and course syllabus for core courses to the graduate office. To be considered for transfer, the course must meet all of the following criteria: i) the course was completed within the past five years. ii) the course was not applied to a prior degree* iii) the student earned a grade of 80% (B-) or better in the course. iv) the CSON TOR and Associate Dean of Academics deem the course equivalent. *if the course was applied to a prior degree, the student may be approved to Opt-Out of the course, and would have to replace the credits with elective credits.If approved for course transfer, the student must submit an official transcript documenting a grade of 80% (B-) or better to the graduate office for processing. The transfer course and credit will be recorded on the student's transcript after the completion of one full semester at Boston College. Once matriculated, only graduate courses taken at Boston College (or consortium) will count towards degree requirements. Core courses (i.e., Boston College Graduate nursing courses) that were taken prior to matriculation may be considered on a case-by-case basis (i.e. an Ethics course completed at BC). Educational MobilityThe RN-MS, Advanced Generalist program is designed for associate’s prepared registered nurses without a BSN, who wish to earn an MS degree as an advanced nursing generalist. RN-MS students undergo an educational portfolio review at the time of application and a plan of study is developed. There is no set plan of study for the RN-MS program; students may choose to complete the program on a part-time or full-time basis. Prior to matriculation, RN-MS students must hold a valid RN license in Massachusetts, have completed required prerequisite courses and have completed the equivalent of approximately 100 – 120 college credits. Completion of prerequisite nursing, science and liberal arts courses establishes baccalaureate level competencies as the basis for master’s education. Based upon the educational portfolio review and professional experience, students may be required to enroll in bridge courses prior to enrolling in MS courses. After fulfilling pre-requisite and bridge coursework, RN-MS students complete the master's degree in the same sequence and in the same courses as other master's students. Completion of the RN-MS program results in the awarding of the MS degree in Nursing. Additional related information can be located in the Transfer and Course Exemption policies. The RN-DNP program is designed for registered nurses without a BSN degree (with or without a baccalaureate degree in another field), who wish to earn a DNP degree and become nurse practitioners in one of the five clinical specialty programs offered: Adult-Gerontology (primary care), Family (primary care), Pediatric (primary care), Psychiatric-Mental Health, and Women’s Health. RN-DNP students undergo an educational portfolio review at the time of application and a plan of study is developed. There is no set plan of study for the RN-DNP program; students may choose to complete the program on a part-time or full-time basis, depending on clinical availability. Prior to matriculation, RN-DNP students must hold a valid RN license in Massachusetts, have completed required prerequisite courses and have completed the equivalent of approximately 100 – 120 college credits. Completion of prerequisite nursing, science and liberal arts courses establishes baccalaureate level competencies as the basis for the study of advanced practice nursing. Based upon the educational portfolio review and professional experience, students may be required to enroll in bridge courses prior to enrolling in DNP courses. After fulfilling pre-requisite and bridge coursework, RN-DNP students complete the master's degree in the same sequence and in the same courses as other DNP students. Completion of the RN-DNP program results in the awarding of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree; students are eligible to sit for the NP certification examination in their clinical specialty. Withdrawl from a CourseThe last date for withdrawal from a course is specified on the academic calendar each semester. Students are not permitted to drop courses during the last three (3) weeks of classes or during the exam period. A withdrawal during the last three (3) weeks or withdrawing from a course to avoid failure is considered a “strategic withdrawal” (see academic standards review policy). Graduate students may only repeat a course once. Withdrawl from Boston CollegeGraduate and professional students who wish to withdraw from Boston College in good standing are required to submit an online Withdrawal Form, found on the Academic Forms page of the Student Services website, which will be routed to the appropriate Associate Dean’s Office for review and processing. In the case of students who are dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons, the Associate Dean will process the withdrawal. Readmission PoliciesGraduate student readmission will be granted in accordance with university policies. Related PoliciesPolicy on not registered (nr) students. Matriculated students who are not registered must complete a leave of absence or withdrawal form and return it to the Graduate Programs Office. Failure to do so may result in the university deactivating the student’s enrollment and their dismissal from the program. Leave of Absence (LOA)Graduate students enrolled in a degree program who do not register for course work, doctoral advisement, or doctoral continuation in any given semester must request a leave of absence (LOA) for that semester. LOAs are granted for one semester at a time. Students may complete a Leave of Absence request form online at https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/offices/student-services/registrar/academic-forms.html#tab-graduate_forms which will be routed to the Graduate Programs Office for the Associate Dean of Student Services approval. Leave time will be considered a portion of the total time limit for the degree unless due to active military service. Students must meet any conditions specified for return from a leave of absence. Students on LOA must still follow procedures and deadlines for initiating the placement process for clinical courses; clinical placements will be on a space available basis. Students must notify the Graduate Programs Office by March 1st for a Fall return, or September 1st for a Spring return. When a student takes a LOA from Boston College for health reasons, the student is expected to get the appropriate treatment to deal with the condition that led to the leave. Before the Associate Dean of Student Services can make a decision regarding readmission, it is required that the student's health treatment professional provide sufficient information to Boston College for the purpose of assessing the student's readiness to return and take on the rigors of their academic program. For more information, please contact Dr. Craig Burns, Director of University Counseling Services at 617-552-3310, or Dr. Douglas Comeau, Director of University Health Services and Primary Care Sports Medicine at 617-552-3225 as appropriate. The University awards degrees in May, August and December; commencement ceremonies are held only in May. May GraduationGraduate degrees are awarded at the annual May commencement. Students who plan to graduate in May should file a graduation form (online) by the deadline stated in the academic calendar (usually early in February). Students who sign up for graduation but do not graduate on the anticipated date are automatically moved to the next scheduled graduation period by the registrar’s office. Diplomas are distributed to individual students at the Connell School of Nursing ceremony immediately following the completion of the university commencement exercises. Diplomas will be mailed to students unable to attend commencement. Diplomas or transcripts will not be awarded or issued until all degree credits have been recorded on the student's permanent record and all accounts and fees have been paid. August and December GraduationsGraduate students who have completed all degree requirements by August 30th or December 30th are eligible to receive their degree as of those dates. The procedure is the same as for May graduation. Since there are no commencement exercises in December or August, the names of those receiving degrees will be included in the Boston College program for the following May commencement. Those students who would like to participate in the May ceremonies must notify the Graduate Programs Office by January 15th. Requirements for the DegreeSample curriculum plan with "fall flex", for clinical requirements, see clinical experiences and policies tab.  Standard Academic ProgramCurriculum plans. All CSON students take the same nursing and nursing-related science courses in the fall and spring semesters of their first and second years. Students will be assigned to have either the Fall or Spring semester of their Junior year designated as their “flexible" semester. During the course registration period in April of the first year, the Undergraduate Program Office will communicate to students and their advisors which junior year semester will be the student’s flexible junior year semester. The purpose of the "Flex" semester is to determine which semester (fall or spring) CSON students are able to apply for a semester-long study abroad program. Students who go abroad will complete the required junior nursing course set in their non-flex semester. For students who do NOT go abroad; please note the "Flex" semester assignment is NOT determinative of junior year clinical rotation assignments. The Undergraduate Program Office will determine the exact junior and senior year clinical sequences for each student based on their flexible semester, Division 1 athletic, ROTC obligations, and academic needs after taking availability of clinical placement slots into consideration. Clinical sequence assignments will vary based on the aforementioned considerations. Core CoursesNursing students must complete approved core courses to meet the following University requirements: History (2), Philosophy (2), Theology (2), Writing, Literature, Fine arts, and Math (MATH 1180). The Natural Science, Social Science, and Cultural Diversity core is fulfilled through courses required by the nursing major. To identify courses in each department that satisfy the core, refer to each semester’s schedule of courses on Agora Portal, consult relevant webpages (http://www.bc.edu/sites/core), or contact the particular department. Students are encouraged to address their Writing, Literature, Art, Theology and Philosophy core requirements early in their plan of study. Beyond required nursing major courses and the Core Curriculum, the current School of Nursing curriculum requires students to complete at least 7 credits of elective courses in any field(s) of interest to them. Students who have received Advanced Placement standing to address specific Core Curriculum requirements will complete additional electives to reach the 117 credits required for graduation from the Connell School of Nursing. Semester-Long Study Abroad and Other International ExperiencesBoston College nursing students are encouraged to take advantage of a range of opportunities for international study. One popular program is study abroad for an entire semester, which enriches awareness of other cultures and can assist in developing foreign language fluency. Nursing students can participate in full semester Fall or Spring programs depending on which semester in junior year has been designated as their “flexible” semester (see pages 12 and 13). According to the Office of Global Education (OGE), to be eligible for a semester-abroad program, students require a minimum 3.0 grade point average at the time of application and apply in their sophomore year. They should note that a 3.0 GPA is not a guarantee of acceptance to any particular program/site and recognize that programs of interest to them may have higher cut-offs. Students should meet with their academic advisors and if necessary, the Undergraduate Program Office to discuss curriculum planning to accommodate a semester abroad. Students who sign up for a semester-long program but decide not to go on it should notify the Undergraduate Program Office as early as possible. Depending on availability of space, they may be allowed to enroll in one clinical course. At the present time, with the exception of the Quito, Ecuador and Australian Catholic University Melbourne programs, where it is possible to complete a course abroad that can substitute for a BC-based clinical course, currently, CSON students take only courses meeting elective and core requirements in semester-long international programs. Plans are in the works to create further abroad clinical opportunities in the coming years. Students should be aware that there are fairly stringent practical limits on which and how many core requirements can be addressed in a semester abroad. These limits may affect whether a semester-long international program is the best choice for them. Students who do not qualify for semester-long study abroad or do not wish to go abroad for a whole semester should note that there are also a variety of summer opportunities through programs administered by Boston College (including programs delivered/facilitated by CSON faculty in Ecuador and Switzerland) and other American colleges and universities, as well as service trips abroad during breaks in the regular academic year. Internal Transfer into CSONExternal transfer into cson. (From outside BC or from Woods College of Advancing Studies) All external transfer (students who have completed studies at another institution of higher learning or the BC Woods College of Advancing Studies) applications are handled by the admissions office. Applicants should normally have completed 2 semesters of Anatomy and Physiology with laboratory as well as 1 semester of Chemistry with laboratories. Ideally they will also have completed a semester of Statistics (in any department) along with a college-level mathematics class or a statistics course taught in a department of mathematics.Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry are prerequisites for progression to Pathophysiology and Health Assessment, the required sophomore courses that are themselves prerequisites for beginning the clinical course sequence. Pathophysiology and Health Assessment are given in the fall semester only. Therefore, students who have not completed Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry (with labs) will likely be extending their program for at least one semester (beyond the 8 full-time semesters of college normally required for a BC undergraduate) unless they can complete anatomy and physiology and chemistry in the summer before their first semester at BC. (Under specific circumstances, subject to availability of clinical placement slots and with approval of the Undergraduate Associate Dean, a specific clinical sequence change can be made that will permit an August graduation rather than a December graduation for students who do not complete prerequisites for the sophomore sequence until the fall of their 3rd year of college, but this route comes with disadvantages and access to it cannot be guaranteed.) Students who transfer into the program with all science courses and who have not had a 2-3 credit introductory nursing course will be required to complete NURS 2070 Introduction of Professional Nursing in their fall semester concurrently with the first-semester sophomore course sequence. The 1-credit NURS 1010, Nursing Professional Development Seminar, will be waived for transfer students, but they will be offered an opportunity to meet with other transfer students and upperclassman group leaders in the fall semester.For more information, please contact Jeffrey Gallant, Associate Director of Transfer Admissions, at jeffrey.gallant@bc.edu. Course ExemptionStudents who apply for and are accepted for transfer to the Connell School of Nursing after completion of their freshman year will be exempt from NURS1010 Freshman Nursing Professional Seminar as this course is specifically geared to first semester freshman in their transition to college. A waiver form will be sent to student services and “waived” will appear on the student’s degree audit. The only other exemption possible in CSON is for the same transfer students specified above for MATH1180. The Math department has designated this course as “Freshmen only” thus students entering CSON after freshman year will need to enroll in a University approved math core (or meet the criteria for exemption based on Advanced Placement - see that criteria) and a Statistics course to satisfy both the university and CSON requirements. Upon completion of the above courses, the UG associate dean will complete a course substitution form to reflect completion of the Math core. Transfer Out of CSON to MCAS/LSOE/CSOMStudents may decide or be required to transfer out of CSON to the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences (MCAS), Lynch School of Education (LSOE), or the Carroll School of Management (CSOM). Each school has different criteria for transfer and different program requirements. Furthermore, internal transfer places may be severely restricted and no guarantees can be provided about acceptance, particularly to the other professional schools. Students should also note that there are often credit, GPA, and subject requirements for transfer as well. Students are only normally permitted one change of school or college through their undergraduate careers at Boston College. First-year students who decide not to enroll in the nursing-related science courses at Orientation will not be given a spot in the nursing clinical course sequence that begins in the sophomore year. They will be required to sign a form “waiving” (or giving up) their right to a place in the second year of the BS (nursing) program at orientation. They should note that until a transfer is official, their home school is CSON and their advisor of record will be the Undergraduate Program Office for the rest of the first year. That being said, these students are urged to seek academic advising in their intended school as soon as possible to make informed course choices. They will have the entire academic year to find a school (MCAS, LSOE or CSOM), make an internal transfer application and be accepted to another program. Any such students who have not completed the internal transfer process by July 1st immediately following their first year will be asked to leave Boston College. Policy on Transfer of Credits for Courses from Other Academic InstitutionsCredits for coursework taken outside of Boston College by students transferring to the University from other colleges/universities are approved by: 1) the Admissions Office for non-nursing courses completed before matriculating at Boston College; 2) the appropriate BC department as well as the Associate Dean for core courses; or 3) the Associate Dean for electives, and all nursing courses and nursing-specific science courses (e.g., Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Statistics, and Life Science Chemistry). For nursing courses, the Associate Dean reviews course syllabi and confers with course faculty as needed to determine equivalence to Boston College courses prior to acceptance of the credits. All nursing-related science courses taken outside of Boston College after enrollment at CSON to meet program requirements (such as microbiology courses in the summer before the sophomore year) must be taken from an accredited four-year university, will count towards the student’s overall GPA and are never taken for enrichment purposes. Approval from the UG Associate Dean must be granted before the student enrolls. Nursing courses taken abroad in Boston College-approved programs can potentially be used in place of specific required nursing courses. The Associate Dean works with the Office of International Programs when such a course substitution is proposed. The Associate Dean and Boston College faculty teaching the equivalent CSON course review the syllabus and supporting materials to determine equivalence in content, contact hours, type and degree of supervision, assignments and grading criteria. Boston College policy determines the maximum number of credits allowed for transfer and the university’s policies on credit and grade translation apply. Graduate Courses as an UndergraduateUndergraduate students who have a 3.0 cumulative GPA may take graduate courses. Students must seek approval from the Undergraduate Program Office in order to register. Students may apply up to two courses taken as undergraduates towards graduate program requirements in the future if the course credits earned are beyond the 117 required for the B.S. degree. [Many graduate programs, including CSON’s, allow students to transfer a maximum of two graduate-level courses taken before formally enrolling]. Pass/Fail ElectivesAfter the first year of study, students may register on a pass/fail basis for electives only. This option is designed to allow students to explore fields of study without being unduly concerned about grades. In a pass/fail course, the student must do all of the work required to achieve a passing grade. If the student passes, the grade will not be averaged into the GPA. If the student fails, the F will be included in the GPA. Course registration may be changed from graded to pass/fail during the drop/add period. Additional details about the pass/fail deadline may be found in the Boston College Undergraduate Catalog. Please Note: The right to register for any specific course on a pass/fail basis is at the discretion of the course professor—check the course syllabus and ask the professor if in doubt. Board of Registration in Nursing Regulation PoliciesThe undergraduate admission to the freshman Nursing class at Boston College is contingent upon successful completion of required high school courses at a level consistent with the University’s and the Connell School of Nursing’s (CSON) admissions standards. The primary criteria for admission are the high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores. Boston College uses a holistic admissions review. Factors like personal experiences, strengths, and compatibility with the University are also considered. Candidates must provide satisfactory evidence of secondary school graduation (official High School or GED/HiSET transcript), or its equivalent (e.g. Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral degree).Candidates must include translations and evaluations of non-English transcripts. Candidates must also comply with the immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health . Applicants are notified about admissions decisions by the University's Undergraduate Admissions Office. The faculty of CSON have developed technical standards competency domains that they believe to be necessary for participation and success in clinical education with or without reasonable accommodations. The Director of Undergraduate Admission, the Office of Admission Nursing liaison, and the Dean of the Connell School of Nursing are in frequent communication to ensure that the academic quality and preparation of incoming students meets the Faculty’s expectations and standards. More information about the admissions process is available on the Admissions website . ProgressionStudents are advised to follow the recommended sequence of courses. The student carries the responsibility for ensuring that the prerequisites for coursework are met. Good Academic Standing/Academic NoticeIn order to remain in good academic standing, all CSON undergraduates must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in core nursing courses and a 1.67 overall cumulative GPA. If either GPA falls below the relevant minimum standard, the student will be placed on warning status for one semester, during which the GPA must be brought up to the minimum. A student on warning status or leave of absence must meet with their academic advisor. Students who do not progress satisfactorily through the nursing curriculum in its regular sequence, or who take a leave of absence, are not guaranteed that the curriculum and courses from which they departed will be in place upon their return. They will be expected to complete the curriculum of their new graduation cohort. Continuation in the program is based on space availability. A student who does not follow the School of Nursing curriculum for two semesters will be dismissed from the School of Nursing. Furthermore, a student who fails to demonstrate performance consistent with the safe and ethical practice of professional nursing during clinical will be subject to review and dismissal from the School of Nursing. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C) in the 15 science and mathematics credits taken in the first year. This average, weighted by credits, is based on grades in BIOL 1300, 1310, 1320, 1330 (Anatomy & Physiology lectures and labs), CHEM 1161, 1163 (Life Science Chemistry with lab), and MATH1180 (Statistics). This requirement, based on lengthy experience with data regarding student progressions, is intended to minimize failures in sophomore and higher-level nursing courses where the minimum passing grade is C-. The records of students who have not met the 2.0 science GPA requirement (or who have withdrawn from any of the science or mathematics courses) will be reviewed at the December & May meetings of the Undergraduate Academic Standards Committee. Students will then be notified of progression decisions by the Associate Dean. Students must achieve a grade of C- or higher in all required nursing courses in the program (beginning with NURS 2070). If a student does not meet the minimum of a C- in any NURS course, they will be required to retake it at BC before advancing in the curriculum, will be placed on Academic Notice and will be unable to progress until the deficit is remediated. A student may repeat a nursing course only once after withdrawing from it or not achieving a C- in it. Students will be dismissed from the School of Nursing after two course failures and/or withdrawals to prevent failures in core nursing courses. A total of 117 credits, including all university core, nursing core, and elective courses, is required for graduation. Academic Standards Review CommitteeThe CSON Academic Standards Review Committee (ASRC) is a committee composed of CSON faculty and staff and an external representative from Student Affairs. The ASRC is advisory to the Dean. ASRC voting members are elected by the faculty. Elected members on the committee shall serve for a 2-year term and may be reelected for one additional consecutive 2-year term.The committee membership will consist of the following persons:
The ASRC will meet at the end of each semester and summer term to review the records of CSON students with course failures, course deficiencies, and low GPAs. The Committee may also meet at any time during the academic year in exigent circumstances upon faculty request (i.e., unprofessional conduct or clinical safety concerns, student grievance). Students will be notified before undergoing Committee review. This Committee makes recommendations about progression in the program and or academic standing in accordance with the policies described below and other relevant University policies. The ASRC Chair will notify the student of the outcome of academic review within five (5) business days of the committee meeting. A student may communicate a formal appeal of the ASRC decision to the Associate Dean for Student Services if they believe there has been a procedural violation, a mistake of fact, or an arbitrary or unethical evaluation. The Associate Dean for Student Services will notify the relevant Department Chair of the appeal and the Department Chair will initiate the process of independent review. The relevant Department Chair will be determined by the program of study in which the student is enrolled (i.e. baccalaureate, graduate direct-entry, graduate post-baccalaureate, PhD). See Students Rights & Grievances. Class AttendanceStudents are expected to attend classes regularly, take tests, and submit papers and other work at the times specified by the professors on the course syllabi. For any absence, students must still meet all course requirements and learning objectives. Attendance in nursing class, clinical, simulation, and lab is expected for all students. Excused absences include: •student illness, •bereavement for an immediate family member, •military obligations, or •religious observances. Students who anticipate military and religious absences should notify the faculty at the beginning of the semester so accommodations can be made to complete the learning objectives in a timely way. Students are required to communicate an unexpected absence in the method requested by the course or clinical faculty. Clinical AttendanceStudents are expected to attend their clinical placements each week. Students who have an unexcused absence in clinical courses will receive deductions on their clinical evaluation tool and/or documentation of a violation and will receive a reduction in the final course grade. All missed clinical hours must be made up. Each clinical course has different procedures in regards to makeup of missed clinical hours, which are outlined in the respective course syllabi. CSON’s contracts with clinical agencies prohibit students from being in settings outside of contracted days and times. Students may NOT negotiate with their clinical instructors to come in early, stay late, or shadow for a day in any setting outside of the assigned clinical dates/times. If a student expects to miss more than one clinical due to a health or personal/family emergency, it is imperative that they notify the Undergraduate Program Office immediately. Students should note that missing more than 2 clinical days in any particular course, even if the absences are excused, will lead to the student being considered to have not met learning objectives for that course and be required to repeat it. Students who apply for and are accepted for transfer to the Connell School of Nursing after completion of their freshman year will be exempt from NURS1010 Freshman Nursing Professional Seminar as this course is specifically geared to first semester freshman in their transition to college. A waiver form will be sent to student services and “waived” will appear on the student’s degree audit. The only other exemption possible in CSON is for the same transfer students specified above for MATH1180. The Math department has designated this course as “Freshmen only” thus students entering CSON after freshman year will need to enroll in a University approved math core (or meet the criteria for exemption based on Advanced Placement - see that criteria) and a Statistics course to satisfy both the university and CSON requirements. Upon completion of the above courses, the UG associate dean will complete a course substitution form to reflect completion of the Math core. Advanced PlacementFollowing University policy, students who have achieved acceptable scores on specific College Board Advanced Placement and some other types of examinations are eligible to receive recognition that waives specific core requirements and allows students to use free electives to meet credit requirements normally filled by core courses. Details are available at: http://www.bc.edu/admission/undergrad/process/freshman/advanced-placement.html Please note that although AP Biology, Chemistry, Statistics and Calculus are useful preparation for the nursing-related science course sequence, because of differences in content covered in these courses/examinations relative to nursing requirements, high scores on these examinations do not waive any of the science and mathematics courses required of first-year CSON undergraduate students. Beyond required nursing major courses and the University core curriculum, the current School of Nursing curriculum requires students to complete at least three elective courses in any field(s) of interest to them. Students who have received Advanced Placement standing to address specific Core Curriculum requirements will complete additional electives to reach the 117 credits required for graduation from the Connell School of Nursing. Transfer Out of CSON to MCAS/LSOE/CSOMUndergraduate students who have a 3.0 cumulative GPA may take graduate courses. Students must seek approval from the Undergraduate Program Office in order to register. Students may apply up to two courses taken as undergraduates towards graduate program requirements in the future if the course credits earned are beyond the 117 required for the B.S. degree. [Many graduate programs, including CSON’s, allow students to transfer a maximum of two graduate-level courses taken before formally enrolling]. Boston College undergraduate program does not currently offer students with previous health experience alternate requirements toward a Bachelor of Science (nursing). Please see regular admissions policy. Alternative Graduation PlansNearly all CSON undergraduate students graduate in the May ceremonies following eight (8) semesters of full-time enrollment. However, due to course failures/withdrawals and/or leaves of absence for personal or health reasons, graduation dates may move to August or December of the originally forecasted graduation year or to a subsequent year. There are also special circumstances under which CSON undergraduates can finish the BS (nursing) degree within 7 semesters of attendance. If a student wishes to withdraw from a course after the drop/add period is over, s/he must request approval from the Associate Dean. When a student withdraws from a course, a “W” will appear on the official transcript, but no grade is averaged into the GPA and no credit is given. The decision to withdraw should be considered carefully with the student’s academic advisor and the Undergraduate Program Office. A withdrawal may create a credit or course deficiency and affect a student’s academic progression, so a low passing grade may be preferable to a withdrawal under some circumstances. Leaves of AbsenceUndergraduate nursing students in satisfactory academic standing (minimum 1.67 cumulative GPA and 2.0 GPA in nursing courses) may take a leave of absence. If a student takes a leave of absence after the end of the drop/add period but before the deadline for course withdrawals, a grade of “W” will be listed on the transcript for all courses they were enrolled in that semester. A number of University policies apply to the process. Students considering a leave of absence are urged to discuss options with their advisor and/or the Undergraduate Program Office as early as possible. The student must complete a leave of absence form available at http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/offices/stserv/pdf/leaveofabsence.pdf , discuss plans with his/her advisor or the UG Associate Dean, and obtain approval from the UG Associate Dean. Although readmission is normally guaranteed, returns from leaves of absence for health as opposed to personal reasons have special conditions involving submission of documentation before and after the leave to University Health Services or Counseling and the UG Associate Dean. The student must apply for readmission from a leave at least four months before any semester when (s)he will be enrolled in any clinical courses (i.e. from the second semester of sophomore year onward) through the Undergraduate Program Office. Please note that the Bachelor of Science (nursing) program is designed for eight (8) semesters of continuous enrollment and Boston College does not allow part-time studies for undergraduates in day school programs. After two semesters of not following the nursing curriculum (see the general template on page 11), students will be dismissed from the BS (nursing) program. Readmission Connell School of Nursing students seeking readmission must initiate the process in the office of the UG Academic Dean. Completed applications for readmission must be made at least four weeks before the start of the semester in which the student seeks to resume study (four months before any semester that will include clinical course(s). Readmission will be granted in accordance with University policy. Note: If a student was required to leave for academic reasons, a transcript of the student’s work must be provided to the UG Associate Dean before a readmission decision will be made. If the student was on leave due to health reasons, a physician's statement certifying student’s readiness to return is required. Students are not guaranteed that the curriculum and courses from which they departed will be in place upon their return. They will be expected to complete the curriculum of their new graduation cohort. Beyond required nursing major courses and the Core Curriculum, the current School of Nursing curriculum requires students to complete at least three elective courses in any field(s) of interest to them. Students who have received Advanced Placement standing to address specific Core Curriculum requirements will complete additional electives to reach the 117 credits required for graduation from the Connell School of Nursing. Alternative (Accelerated/Deferred) GraduationPlease Note: The information in the next section will be relevant to a very small number of students and is provided for reference only. Students and their advisors are encouraged to contact the Undergraduate Program Office for clarifications as needed. Nearly all CSON undergraduate students graduate in the May ceremonies following eight (8) semesters of full-time enrollment. However, due to course failures/withdrawals and/or leaves of absence for personal or health reasons, graduation dates may move to August or December of the originally forecasted graduation year or to a subsequent year. There are also special circumstances under which CSON undergraduates can finish the BS (nursing) degree within 7 semesters of attendance. These circumstances are explained in the next two sections. a) Accelerated Graduation December GraduationBecause no AP examinations in sciences or mathematics meet CSON requirements and there are no AP equivalencies for the Theology and Philosophy core, a maximum of 18 credits of core equivalence can be granted in the BS (nursing) degree through advanced placement. Therefore, CSON undergraduate nursing students admitted as freshmen do not qualify for Advanced Standing Graduation as described on the BC website. (http://www.bc.edu/admission/undergrad/process/freshman/advanced-placement.html). However, with sufficient planning of core courses, taking core and elective classes in summer sessions or as overloads, and with advance permission from the Undergraduate Office to move through the required clinical courses at an accelerated pace, students who can complete all program requirements by the end of their 7th semester will be allowed to graduate in December of their original graduation year. It is critical that students inform the Undergraduate Program Office of their interest in this plan no later than the pre-registration period for fall semester of their junior year (i.e. by second semester of sophomore year). This arrangement is subject to the availability of space in clinical courses and the Undergraduate Program Office reserves the right to limit the number of students allowed to take this path. IMPORTANT: Please note effective Spring 2018, there are financial penalties imposed on students who use overloads (greater than 15 credits in a semester) or summer classes at universities other than BC to meet credit requirements within 7 semesters. There will be financial aid considerations to be kept in mind as well. Students exploring this option are urged to consult the Undergraduate Office as early as possible. Students who complete graduation requirements in December can attend a Graduation Mass in December and may attend commencement ceremonies the following May. They may only participate in senior week activities in the May following graduation. Please contact the Offices of Student Involvement and Residential Life for more information. December graduates can apply for licensure immediately after their degrees are granted. Deferred Graduation August GraduationStudents who have up to six (6) credits of incomplete coursework or unfulfilled program requirements at the end of their final spring semester may walk and participate in the May commencement ceremonies. They complete degree requirements over the Summer session immediately after May graduation. However, such students receive their degrees and normally become licensure-eligible in August. DECEMBER GRADUATION Students who, after the Spring semester of their senior year, have more than six (6) credits of program requirements outstanding or require courses that are not offered in the Summer semester will normally enroll in an additional semester of at least twelve (12) credits the following fall and graduate in December. Students who complete graduation requirements in December can attend a December Graduation Mass and may participate in commencement ceremonies the following May. They may only participate in Senior Week activities the following May. Please contact the Offices of Student Involvement and Residential Life for more information. December graduates can apply for licensure immediately after their degrees are granted. Clinical Experiences and PoliciesClinical experiences. Off-campus clinical nursing experiences begin in the sophomore year in Adult Health I Clinical and are an essential component of the curriculum. In clinical placements, students apply knowledge gained in the classroom and lab and through assignments in real-life situations under the direct guidance of a faculty member. Connell School of Nursing students benefit from CSON’s location in a city with an exceptional number of world-class health care institutions and organizations. Undergraduate Professional Standards and Patient Safety PoliciesUnsafe clinical practice and/or unprofessional conduct are grounds for failure in any clinical course and may result in immediate removal from the clinical site. Students who demonstrate unsafe or unprofessional conduct in a clinical laboratory or clinical practice site will undergo review by the Undergraduate Academic Standards Advisory Committee and may be dismissed from the program. Students may also be immediately removed from the clinical site, undergo review by the Undergraduate Academic Standards Advisory Committee and/or be dismissed from the program under any of the following circumstances:
Health and Conduct Issues in Clinical PlacementsParticipation in clinical experiences is a privilege, not a right. Faculty have an ethical duty as nurses as well as a contractual responsibility to agencies to ensure that students are physically and psychologically healthy when providing care. In any situation where significant concerns regarding the physical or mental health of students in relation to safety or appropriateness of being in clinical settings are brought to the attention of faculty and/or the Undergraduate Program Office, the Associate Dean reserves the right to require that students seek clinical evaluation and permit clinicians/university officials to provide the Undergraduate Program Office with confirmation of students’ health status prior to beginning or continuing clinical placements. Agency-specific safety-related limitations will apply to a student under treatment for certain conditions, for instance, infectious diseases, fractures, or sprains/dislocations, among others. Students’ health information is private and students can and should be selective in their disclosures to others. However, in order to protect patients, respect the conditions of our contracts with clinical agencies and prevent further injuries to themselves, students must come forward to their instructors with information about illness or injury that has implications for participation in clinical. Students who are injured or ill and/or whose treating clinicians prescribe restrictions in their mobility or lifting, or who are prescribed rest should inform the Undergraduate Program Office as soon as possible. Failure to do so may result in immediate removal from clinical setting(s) with the student bearing any inconveniences and/or expenses that result from being absent until the issues can be resolved. While on a clinical placement, students and faculty are guests of healthcare and other institutions and are ambassadors of the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing. Students are accountable for all behavior while on site even if outside of patient care areas and/or preceding or following the main part of clinical day. For obvious safety reasons and to maintain the confidence of staff, patients, and families, students may not be asleep in clinical placements under any circumstances. This applies to any area or any part of the facility during an instructional day, and includes meetings. Students must remain alert and awake in pre-conference, throughout the clinical shift/day, and during post-conference. Students are urged to practice good sleep hygiene and seek appropriate physical and/or mental health care as needed. If a student is found sleeping, they will automatically be sent back to campus. Repeated incidents of sleeping in a clinical setting will result in a failure of a clinical nursing course and/or dismissal from CSON. Students follow all institutional/organizational policies and procedures while on site. Furthermore, while students are encouraged to be appropriately assertive, they must be willing to accept feedback from CSON faculty and setting preceptors and need to maintain composure and behave civilly towards faculty, agency staff and preceptors at all times. This is critical to ensure patient safety, allow students to demonstrate mastery of course goals, and ensure a satisfactory experience for all in a clinical setting, including fellow students. Cell Phone or Computer Use for Personal MattersCell phone or computer use for personal matters during a clinical day/shift is not acceptable. If a student is found using these devices for non-clinical purposes, the clinical instructor will alert the TOR and Associate Dean. Students will receive a clinical warning. Repeated offenses will result in failure of a clinical course. Social Media Policy StatementThe Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides for protection of personal health information. Therefore, Boston College forbids the disclosure of agency (hospital, clinic, nursing home), patient and/or family private health information on any type of social media. The Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing does not allow posting of ANY information or pictures related to any clinical experience (including but not limited to Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter (X) in both private or public posting options). Students are also accountable for adhering to all other specific course or agency guidelines related to personal electronics. If a student violates any of these policies, Boston College has the right to take appropriate academic and/or legal action up to and including dismissal from the school. CredentialingCSON reserves the right to cancel student enrollments in a clinical course if there are any problems with timely completion of credentialing requirements according to preannounced dates, with students bearing responsibility for any costs and inconvenience in completing the program. Health RequirementsCSON students must meet health requirements above and beyond those for all Boston College undergraduates. These requirements are mandated by the agencies used as clinical practice sites, and include creating a CastleBranch account, having active health insurance, an annual physical exam, an annual screening for tuberculosis (PPD), immunity to varicella (chicken pox), MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella), hepatitis B, a flu shot, COVID vaccine series, and an updated tetanus shot as needed. Students who are out of compliance with these requirements will not be allowed to attend clinical practice sites and will have their online course registration blocked. Additional physical examinations and/or other health data may be required by the School of Nursing, and all requirements are subject to change. Students are required to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to enrolling in NURS2230 (Adult Health I) and maintain that certification. CPR certification must be at the health care provider level and provide hands-on training related to resuscitation of adults, infants, and children. Appropriate courses include the American Heart Association “Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers.” Courses offered at Boston College may be found at www.bc.edu/clubs/eagleEMS/cprfaclass.html It is recommended that students take a CPR course during the summer between their first and second years. Liability InsuranceAll students are covered by the University liability insurance policy when they are enrolled in a course with a clinical component. This insurance is valid only for activities directly related to School of Nursing courses and does not cover students working as aides, nursing assistants, or independent contractors or those who volunteer in emergencies/disasters. Students who work in healthcare related jobs during the school year or summer are not practicing as nursing students. They are either independent contractors (if working directly for a patient/client) or are employees of an agency. In either situation, students must be careful not to practice nursing without a license or perform procedures restricted to licensed nurses. ** Adapted from the model technical standards in Marks and Ailey, White Paper on Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Nursing Educational Programs for the California Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (CCEPD), and the web-published technical standards of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and the New York Rory Meyers University College of Nursing.The Connell School of Nursing is committed to providing educational opportunities to otherwise qualified students with disabilities and/or learning differences. Such students will be provided with opportunities equal to those provided to non-disabled students to achieve desired educational outcomes. A “qualified individual” with a disability is one who, with or without reasonable accommodations, meets the Connell School of Nursing’s academic requirements and Technical Standards. Students with disabilities are not required to disclose their disability to the Connell School of Nursing. However, students wishing to request reasonable accommodations must register with Boston College’s Connors Family Learning Center (CFLC) and/or Disability Services Office (DSO) to initiate the process. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act define a person with a disability as someone who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; OR (2) has a record of such an impairment; OR (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. Students are encouraged to meet with a CFLC and DSO representative when unsure if a condition qualifies as a disability. Please note that limitations created by short-term illnesses are not normally covered by these guidelines. The CFLC or DSO determine qualified disability status and assist students in obtaining appropriate accommodations and services. Decisions regarding reasonable accommodations are made by taking into consideration each student’s disability-related needs, disability documentation and program requirements. While the process for requesting reasonable accommodations may be started at any time, reasonable accommodations may not be implemented retroactively. It is therefore important that students allow ample time for their accommodation requests to be processed. While the Connell School of Nursing will make every effort to work with students with disabilities to accommodate their learning differences or disability-related needs, CSON is not required to provide accommodations that fundamentally alter or waive essential program requirements. This information is intended to facilitate discussions between the Undergraduate Program Office and other school officials, faculty, and students. The list below presents the capabilities believed to be necessary to participate and succeed in clinical education at CSON with or without reasonable accommodations. If you believe you may have a qualifying disability or that you require reasonable accommodations to meet any of these technical standards, you may contact the DSO, CFLC, or the Associate Dean for further information. Clinical or lab faculty may also come forward to the Undergraduate Program Office to voice concerns regarding a student’s ability to meet one or more of the standards to the Associate Dean who will then evaluate the situation and follow-up with the student and others as appropriate. Technical Standards Competency DomainsCommunication
Psychomotor
Data Gathering & Interpretation
Critical Thinking
Behavior & Social Interaction
Students Accompanying EMS or Other Patient TransportPlease be advised that involvement in EMS or other patient transports is not a standard component of BC CSON clinical placements. Students who choose to accompany patients on EMS or other transports do so at their own risk. They are not covered by any Boston College liability or other insurance policies and therefore assume full personal responsibility for this participation. Nursing education has a practice component that involves additional costs that students must anticipate in the sophomore year onward. These include uniforms, laboratory fees, criminal background checks, CPR classes, immunizations, transportation costs, and any other supplies as necessary. Students are encouraged to discuss concerns they have around covering such expenses with the Office of Student Services, Diversity, & Inclusion. Transportation to ClinicalAs is the case in all nursing education programs at Boston College and other schools, students in the BS (nursing) program are responsible for their own transportation to clinical sites and related costs as an unavoidable part of their education. Students generally travel in groups and use public transportation. Travel options and safety concerns will be discussed beginning in the first clinical nursing course. The Office of Student Services, Diversity, & Inclusion and the Undergraduate Program Office continue to monitor the financial burden related to transportation expenses but students should budget for transportation expenses/MBTA fares from 2nd semester of sophomore year onward. Parking at local health care agencies is very expensive and cannot be paid for by the School. Some nursing students are allowed to bring cars to campus, although space on the Boston College campus is limited and permits are costly. Juniors and seniors interested in securing a parking spot can contact the Assistant Dean of Student Services, Diversity, and Inclusion in the semester before they would like a permit. Uniform PolicyAs representatives of CSON in its partner agencies, students in clinical placements are responsible for adhering to the following uniform policy: The uniform is worn only when a student is at a clinical placement functioning as a Boston College nursing student under the guidance of CSON faculty. CSON students obtain their uniforms and name pins from the Boston College Bookstore prior to entering Adult Health I clinical. The uniform consists of:
In courses where the uniform is not required (e.g. in some Population Health and Psych-Mental Health sites), students are expected to dress appropriately and professionally. For clinical preparation days where lab coats are required instead of uniforms, professional dress and closed-toed shoes are expected. Jeans or other casual attire are inappropriate. Note that some affiliating agencies have policies prohibiting visible tattoos and/or any facial jewelry. Procedure for Protection from Communicable DiseasesEvery clinical student in CSON is required to complete yearly training in Standard Precautions, Prevention of Blood Pathogens and Prevention of Tuberculosis. The training modules are located on the Centralized Clinical Placement website of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. This website is updated yearly. Completing training modules is a professional responsibility and required for participation in clinical nursing courses. Current policies consistent with existing OSHA and CDC guidelines will be posted in the simulation laboratory. Bloodborne PathogensStudents who are exposed to blood or bodily fluids will immediately notify their on-site clinical instructor or preceptor and they will follow the protocols for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens in place at their clinical site. If the agency does not have a protocol for occupational exposures, then the student should be directed to the nearest emergency room for treatment. At the earliest reasonable time, but no later than 24 hours following an exposure, the student and faculty will notify the appropriate academic Associate Dean in CSON. CSON will document student exposures according to OSHA Requirements as applicable. If a student engaged in clinical practice activities has an exposure to potentially infected body fluid from a client, the student should do the following:
Following insurance submission, Boston College will assume the financial responsibility for uncovered expenses associated with emergency assessment and interventions in the first 72 hours after an exposure incident to ensure that the student or faculty member is given appropriate immediate evaluation and counseling. Students are encouraged to follow directions to have injuries/exposures reported to appropriate officials in the facilities where they have occurred. TuberculosisCSON undergraduate students are not routinely assigned to care for patients with active tuberculosis or suspected tuberculosis because they have not been fit-tested for respirator masks. Students who have been inadvertently exposed to tuberculosis should be directed to University Health Services OR to their primary health care provider. The student and faculty will notify the Associate Dean. Academic Standards and ResourcesDeficiencies. CSON undergraduate students are expected to successfully complete 30 credits by the beginning of the second year, 60 credits by the beginning of the third year, and 90 credits by the beginning of the fourth year. A total of 117 credits, including all core and nursing courses, is required for graduation. If a student withdraws from a course, fails a course, or underloads (i.e., takes fewer than 15 credits per semester), the student incurs a deficiency. Deficiencies should be made up as soon as possible. Typically, a deficiency involving science or nursing courses will prevent a student from moving on in the curriculum. A deficiency may be remediated by taking courses in the summer at Boston College or another accredited 4-year college approved by the Associate Dean. (See guidelines for Summer Courses) Student AthletesCSON professors make every effort to accommodate the needs of student athletes. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss practice, game, and travel schedules with their professors before the beginning of each semester. In the case of conflicts, academic obligations must come first. ADHD, Learning, Physical, or Other DisabilitiesIf you are a student with a documented disability seeking accommodations, please contact Kathy Duggan at 617-552-8093, at the Connors Family Learning Center regarding ADHD and learning disabilities, or Rory Stein, Assistant Dean for Students with Disabilities at 617-552-3470, in the Disability Services Office regarding all other types of disabilities. According to course syllabi, students seeking test or exam related accommodations must provide their professors with appropriate documentation from CFLC or DSO within the first TWO weeks of the semester. Later notification may not allow sufficient time for arrangements. CSON faculty and other BC professors will provide reasonable accommodations as soon as possible after the student establishes their need for an accommodation and the relevant office communicates with the course professor. Retroactive accommodations, such as revisions to grades or opportunities to retake tests or exams or resubmit assignments after declaration and documentation of a qualifying disability, will not be provided. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines retroactive accommodations as “… accommodation[s] … when the student has already incurred absences, performed poorly on tests, or otherwise failed to meet the academic expectations of the course.” It is the student’s prerogative whether or not to request accommodations. In any given semester, a student may choose to request accommodations for no courses, some of their courses or all of their courses. However, students are encouraged to provide documentation to CFLC and/or DSO for evaluation as early as possible in their time at BC and should inform professors of their intentions to request any accommodations specified in their letter from CFLC and/or DSO at the beginning of the semester whenever possible. Students should also bear in mind specific considerations related to clinical courses on page 24 under the “Clinical Laboratory/Reasonable Accommodations for Qualified Individuals with Disabilities in Clinical Courses” section of this handbook. Late Papers / ProjectsStudents are responsible for submitting all written work for a course to the instructor by the published deadline in the syllabus. These deadlines tend to be taken very seriously in universities. Professors are not obliged to grant extensions or accept any work submitted beyond announced deadlines. Normally, barring health or personal emergencies, extension requests should be received no less than 24 hours prior to the given assignment or exam date. Without 24 hours’ notice, the extensions will not be granted. Short-Term Academic ConsiderationAcademic consideration refers to an action or actions taken by the Undergraduate Program Office, in response to a student with an extenuating circumstance. Academic consideration includes but is not limited to: an excused absence, a deferral, an extension, a modified schedule for assignments, projects, labs, an alternative assignment, or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Undergraduate Program Office in consultation with the relevant faculty. Extenuating circumstances refer to a personal circumstance beyond the student’s control having a direct and substantial impact on the student’s ability to meet essential academic requirements or standards in a course(s). Examples include but are not limited to: short-term physical or mental illness, serious injury, required treatment (e.g., surgery) bereavement, traumatic event. To make a request for Academic Consideration students must contact the Associate Dean directly. The Associate Dean will contact their professors with a letter or e-mail of explanation to facilitate the Academic Consideration process. The instructor will work with the student to determine and implement reasonable academic consideration. (Adapted from Protocol for Short-Term Academic Consideration (p.3-5), November 2017, Queens University.)Course extensions. If any assignments will be submitted after the final examination in a course is taken, a formal extension is required from the professor. Instructors are under no obligation to grant such extensions. The professor submits an “I” (Incomplete) for the course grade, which is automatically changed to an “F” on March 1 for the fall, August 1 for the spring, and October 1 for the summer unless the professor has removed the “Incomplete” notation by entering a specific grade. Students are responsible for ensuring that their instructors receive assignments (on paper or electronically) on time. Students must learn to use the learning management system (Canvas) assignment upload features, verify e-mail addresses, and always make a copy of a paper or project before it is submitted, especially if it is mailed or left at an office rather than handed to an individual. Electronic NewsletterInformation about job opportunities for students and other information that may be of interest are posted in the weekly newsletter sent by the Assistant Director for Graduate Student Services. Students are required to check their Boston College email account on a regular basis, because important announcements and opportunities are communicated from the Undergraduate Program & Office of Student Services, Diversity, & Inclusion by email. Electronic TestingNursing and nursing-related science courses may utilize an electronic system called “ExamSoft” for exams and quizzes. Students will need to follow the specific ExamSoft instructions provided by their professors including downloading necessary files prior to the exam date and time and bringing their fully-charged device (laptop or tablet) to the test/exam. Students using devices other than MacBooks and Windows-based laptops must seek out assistance as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements. Failure to adhere to any guidelines or instructions could result in a grade of “0” on any particular exam or quiz. Grade EquivalenciesThe following conversion chart is used to compute grades in undergraduate nursing courses:
Student Rights and GrievancesStudents rights and grievances, adacemic evaluation disputes / grievances. In some cases, a student’s grievance may be more appropriately addressed by another University grievance procedure. Students should pursue the matter through that procedure. For example, if the student believes that they have experienced discriminatory harassment, the student should follow the discriminatory harassment policies described in the University Policy against Discriminatory Harassment in the Boston College Policies and Procedure Manual. Instructors are expected to provide a syllabus specifying due dates for assignments and examinations and the weight given to each course component in determining the final grade. The instructor has the right to determine which course components will be graded and the weight that will be given to each. Students who believe that they have been graded unfairly should first meet with the instructor, bring a copy of the paper, exam, or other evaluation in question, and request an explanation for the grade. Students should communicate with the faculty member involved as soon as possible, but no later than the close of the semester immediately following the semester in which the action giving rise to the complaint occurred. The faculty member should communicate within two weeks of the student’s request to discuss the dispute. If such a discussion results in a mutually acceptable resolution, the matter will be considered closed. It is recommended that the resolution be documented in a signed written statement that is retained by both parties. This written statement should be completed no later than two weeks after the mutually acceptable resolution has been reached. If the instructor and student are unable to resolve their differences the student may pursue a grievance via the ASRC process. The student may notify the Associate Dean for Student Services to initiate the process. If a mutually acceptable remedy cannot be achieved, the faculty member involved will notify the ASRC Chair in writing of the dispute and pertinent information within one (1) week. Within one (1) week of receiving this communication, the ASRC Chair will outreach to the student to request a written statement regarding their grievance. The student will have one (1) week following outreach from the ASRC Chair to submit a written statement explaining their grievance. The ASRC will review materials submitted by all parties and render a written decision within two (2) weeks. Appeal of Academic Standards Review Committee DecisionThe student has the right to request an appeal in cases where they can identify that there has been a procedural violation or a demonstrable mistake of fact. A written petition of appeal must be submitted by the student to the Associate Dean for Student Services within thirty (30) days of written notification of the ASRC decision. The petition should succinctly state all facts relevant to procedural violations or factual errors and clearly specify the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested. The Associate Dean for Student Services will notify the appropriate CSON Department Chair. The CSON Department Chair will appoint an Ad Hoc Appeals Committee to review the decision. The Ad Hoc Committee shall be composed of three faculty members (not members of the ASRC). The Department Chair will provide oversight but will not be a voting member. In the event that the student’s Department Chair, advisor, preceptor, Dean or Associate Dean is a party to the grievance that person should recuse themselves from considering the matter, and the appropriate administrator will identify a replacement to serve in that role. The final decision regarding the Ad Hoc Committee membership rests with the Department Chair. The Department Chair and Ad Hoc Committee will receive from the ASRC Chair all materials that the ASRC reviewed to make its decision. The Ad Hoc Committee members may request additional materials that they deem necessary to conduct an independent review of the process and circumstances. The Ad Hoc Committee will conduct an independent review of the appeal, which will include meeting with the student to discuss the grievance, the faculty, and other individuals involved. In presenting to the Ad Hoc Committee, the student shall introduce material of a substantiating nature and may request additional information from specific sources or individuals having knowledge relevant to the issue under appeal. Within thirty (30) days of receiving the formal appeal, the Ad Hoc Committee will provide a written statement of the committee’s resolution of the matter to the Associate Dean for Student Services and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Faculty Development. The Associate Dean for Student Services will share the Ad Hoc Committee’s written decision with the student. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Faculty Development will share the written decision with the faculty against whom the grievance was brought. Confidentiality of the student(s) and faculty members(s) involved should be maintained at all times. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision of the Ad Hoc Committee, the student may submit a written appeal to the Dean. The appeal must be submitted as soon as possible but no later than thirty (30) days after the student has received the written decision of the Ad Hoc Committee. A formal appeal to the Dean consists of a written explanation of the appeal, which should include the reasons the student believes that there was a procedural violation or a demonstrable mistake of fact (e.g. the faculty member's or preceptor’s evaluation was arbitrary, unethical, or based on extrinsic error) and the reasons why previous decisions were not satisfactory. Copies of the decisions made by the ASRC and the Ad Hoc Committee will be forwarded to the Dean for their consideration in this review of the student’s appeal. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the student’s appeal, the Dean will render a decision. The decision of the Dean is final, and will be communicated to the student in writing, with copies to the person(s) against whom the grievance was brought, and the CSON Department Chair and Associate Deans. Professional and Academic IntegrityProfessional and academic integrity . Nursing students are expected to show high standards of integrity and professional behavior in both academic and clinical settings. Integrity is demonstrated in part through adherence to the University’s standards involving honesty in academic matters as well as through a student’s behavior in class, the clinical laboratory and the clinical field. It is expected that students arrive for class on time and refrain from talking at inappropriate times, using cell phones, viewing websites or email on electronic devices, or otherwise making a disturbance during class. Professors may prohibit the use of computers or other electronic devices in the classroom at their discretion. If a student’s behavior is disruptive at any time, they will be asked to leave the classroom or the clinical site. Students are referred to the Boston College catalog or student services website for the complete text of the University academic integrity policy. Students are urged to take careful note of the language regarding academic integrity in all CSON and BC course syllabi. All first-year and external transfer students must complete the University online tutorial on academic integrity during their first semester. The following are definitions of terms related to academic integrity: Cheating is any fraudulent or dishonest presentation of work. This includes unauthorized aids in exams or other academic exercise submitted for evaluation; the falsification or fabrication of data; copying from another student’s work; unauthorized cooperation in doing assignments or examinations; the use of purchased term papers; and dishonesty in requests for extensions of assignments or make-up examinations. Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas, data, illustrations, or statements of another person or source, and presenting them as one’s own. Each student is responsible for learning and using proper methods of paraphrasing and footnoting, quotation, and other forms of citation, to ensure that the original author, speaker, illustrator, or source of the material used is clearly acknowledged. Collusion is assisting another student in an act of dishonesty. However, students must learn to work cooperatively rather than competitively, and learn to use the works and ideas of others without violating intellectual honesty. Ethical BehaviorStudents are expected to maintain high professional standards, including being physically, intellectually, emotionally, and academically prepared to provide care to patients/clients. Expectations for CSON undergraduate students regarding ethical behavior in clinical situations are based on the American Nurses’ Association Code for Nurses and federal regulations related to privacy of patient information (HIPAA). Students are expected to protect patients’ confidentiality and to be honest in their documentation of patients’ conditions and assessments and the actions/interventions they provide. Sanctions and ProceduresFaculty and students have a responsibility to take appropriate action when they detect any form of academic or professional dishonesty by referring matters to the University Academic Integrity Committee. Students should bring concerns to the attention of the course professor involved or the Chairperson. Behavior that is deemed unethical or unprofessional may result in a student’s dismissal from the School or the University. Please note that penalties ranging from a failing grade on an assignment or a failing grade in a course to suspension from the University may be imposed in circumstances where students are found responsible for academic misconduct. Eligibility for LicensureIn order to become licensed as a Registered Nurse in the United States, nursing school graduates must meet all requirements of the Board of Nursing in the jurisdiction where they wish to practice. In addition to successfully completing an approved educational program and passing a national examination, students should be aware that licensure as a Registered Nurse generally requires demonstrating good moral character. At the time of application for licensure, prospective licensees are typically required to disclose all criminal charges and convictions in a manner specified by the relevant Board. CSON’s undergraduate program is a Registered Nurse education program approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. Students planning on seeking licensure outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts upon graduation or at a later date should be aware that licensure is state-specific and additional requirements beyond graduation from CSON may apply. They should contact the relevant Board and/or the Undergraduate Program Office for details, keeping in mind that requirements may change without notice. Criminal Background Checks & Drug TestingAs part of its contracts with agencies for clinical placements, the School of Nursing requires students to undergo criminal offense record investigations (CORIs) (criminal background checks). Information about this procedure will be discussed with students prior to registering for Adult Health I clinical. The Connell School is not under any obligation to find alternative placements for students with criminal matters that interfere with access to agencies. Students will also be subject to drug testing if it is required by clinical agencies. Academic and Special OpportunitiesB.s.-d.n.p. program (submatriculation). Starting in September of 2019, highly qualified undergraduate nursing students may be admitted to a DNP program at CSON immediately following senior year with provisions for “double counting” specific courses for both B.S. and D.N.P requirements. In anticipation of applying to graduate school at CSON under this option, junior and senior students can take graduate nursing courses as electives in their bachelor’s degree. Special note: As of this writing, a number of details have yet to be confirmed because of changes in our programs at Boston College and shifts in national requirements for entry to advanced practice nursing. A curricular path was just approved in May of 2019 to allow continuous enrollment for the BS program into the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) program. Please contact the Graduate Program Office for details. Please note that students who do not plan on continuing to graduate study immediately upon completion of the B.S. (nursing) program may still enroll in graduate nursing courses while undergraduates (see next section). Undergraduate Research Fellow Program (UGRF)Boston College established the Undergraduate Research Fellows program to enhance the academic experience of undergraduates in all four schools by cultivating their research skills and fostering mentoring relationships between undergraduates and faculty. The program provides a stipend for a student’s assistance on a faculty member’s research project. Students interested in this opportunity should contact the Associate Dean of Research or visit the UGRF page on the CSON research website. Directed Independent StudyIn exceptional circumstances, students may be given permission to enroll in a Directed Independent Study course. This option allows an eligible student to develop a proposal to study an area of nursing that is not part of the required nursing curriculum or that the student wishes to pursue in greater depth if a willing faculty member can be found and the Department Chair gives his or her permission. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is a prerequisite. Guidelines for Directed Independent Study (NURS4911, 1-3 credits) are available on the Students\Undergraduate page of the nursing website. A student should initiate the approval of the proposed independent study prior to registration. Once the proposal has been approved, the Undergraduate Program Office will make sure the student is enrolled in the correct section of NURS4911. Pass/Fail only, no letter grades are awarded. Medical SpanishSubject to availability, 10 students per semester may enroll in online modules designed to build Spanish language skills for use in health care settings, based on Canopy Learn software. Details are provided each spring semester to rising upperclassmen via email. Nursing students may complete a minor course concentration in another BC undergraduate school by completing the requirements outlined in the university catalog. In addition, nursing students may complete special CSON-specific Hispanic Studies, Psychology, Humanities, Health, and Culture, Global Public Health minors (see the factsheet on Connell School minors on the Current Students section\Student Handbook and CSON resources). Fellowship and Scholarship OpportunitiesThere are a number of special grant, fellowship, and other award opportunities for undergraduate students. Some examples include Advanced Study Grants for independent summer travel/projects and the Houston and Truman Fellowships. Complete details are available on the website at www.bc.edu/offices/ufel. Global Health OpportunitiesThe Connell School of Nursing has several global health initiatives. In addition to semester-long and summer programs (page 13) through the Office of International Programs, CSON students have enhanced their nursing skills and knowledge through organized service trips to Chile, Haiti, Jamaica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Australia, Belize, and the Dominican Republic. Information about these and other opportunities is circulated as it becomes available and may be found on the Current Student section\CSON International Opportunities. Co-Curricular Activities & Student Participation in the Governance of the SchoolCo-curricular activities & student participation in the governance of the school . Students in the School of Nursing are part of the University community and are encouraged to participate in the wide variety of available co-curricular activities. Some of these activities are specific to the School of Nursing and others are for students throughout the University. Some School of Nursing activities are listed here; students are advised to look at the Boston College Student Guide for a fuller listing of University-wide activities. Honor SocietyAlpha Chi is the Boston College School of Nursing’s chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing. It is a vibrant, active chapter composed of faculty, students, alumni, and nurses from the community. Students may apply for membership in their junior year. See the website: http://bc.orgsync.com/org/sigmathetatau/ Article II - Purpose of Organization Mission Statement of the organization: Bring together and mentor students preparing for initial licensure as registered nurses through opportunities to network and connect with fellow students and faculty for advice and support. The purpose of this organization shall be to The Student Nurses Organization of Boston College is a student-initiated academic group dedicated to promoting the interests and needs of all students interested in the nursing profession. Student Input into Faculty Promotion and Contract Renewal DecisionsStudents are sent the list of faculty who are being evaluated for promotion, contract renewal and/or tenure each year and they are asked to submit evaluations directly to the Dean’s office. The Dean shares this information as appropriate, generally at the tenured faculty meeting in October. Student Participation on CSON CommitteesStudents are invited to serve on CSON committees composed largely of faculty, either by appointment through the Senate or by personal invitation from a faculty member. Students are not voting members of these committees, for instance, the Baccalaureate Program Committee and the Educational Policy Committee, but their input is highly valued. Doctor of Nursing Practice Policies and ProceduresAll students entering Connell School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs are to follow the Boston College Academic Regulations, a program of studies in selected majors and complete Core requirements and electives needed to fulfill degree requirements. Overview and Objectives of the Master's ProgramOverview and objectives of the master's, curricular overview of the master’s program . Students begin the master’s program through various routes of entry to enroll as a generalist RN. Examples of program-specific plans of study are below. Students are responsible for reviewing and updating their plans of study as needed. The MS curriculum is designed around three components: (a) core content considered basic to advanced practice nursing regardless of specialty area; (b) support courses (electives and required prerequisites); and (c) specialty courses (theory and practicum courses). Core courses provide a foundation for the study of patient responses and therapeutics within each clinical specialty area used by nurses to effectively intervene and resolve patient problems. The clinical specialty courses consist of a two-semester sequence (fall-spring). The support courses are cognates, electives, or other required prerequisite courses that support the student's development as an advanced practice nurse in his/her area of specialization. Program ObjectivesAdvanced generalist master’s. The graduate of the advanced generalist master’s program is prepared as an advanced generalist nurse with disciplinary knowledge and skill to provide culturally sensitive, safe, and high-quality care. The graduate will improve the delivery of care through leadership, mentorship, and evidence-based practice. The graduate will have met the AACN Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing. The graduate without a baccalaureate degree in nursing will have met the AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice and will be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The graduate:
Direct Entry, Master of Science in Nursing, Advanced Generalist ProgramThe DE-MS program is an accelerated program designed for individuals who have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in another field and who are not already nurses. In this program, students complete extensive pre-requisite courses prior to acceptance and enrollment. Students study and complete generalist nursing requirements on an intensive full-time basis over five (5) semesters. After successfully completing the program, students are conferred a Master of Science in Nursing as a Generalist Nurse and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX. *Plan of study is contingent upon course offerings, faculty and clinical availabilityFall semester 1: (17 credits).
Spring Semester 1: (13 credits)
Summer Semester: (9 credits)
Fall Semester 2: (10 credits)
Spring Semester 2: (9 credits)
Total Credits: 58Master’s conferred in May & sit for the NCLEX *Curricula Subject to ChangeMaster of science in nursing, advanced generalist program. The Master of Science in Nursing, Advanced Generalist program does not have a set plan of study. Although some courses are prerequisites for later courses, there is some flexibility in when students take courses and in whether they study on a part-time or full-time basis. Students should contact the graduate office to develop a plan of study tailored to their specific needs. This program is designed for ASN- or BSN-prepared RNs, who are seeking to earn an advanced degree, other than APRN. For ASN-prepared RNs additional Boston College bridge course credits will be required prior to beginning the MS curriculum. These credits are determined on an individual basis by the graduate office based on a portfolio review. Course NumberCourse name. Examining Diversity in Nursing and Healthcare Nursing Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Advanced Practice Healthcare Quality Management Health Information Technology for Nursing Professionals Nursing Leadership in Complex Healthcare Settings Healthcare Policy for Nursing Practice Leaders Foundations of Evidence-based Advanced Nursing Practice Epidemiology Population Health Principles, Program Planning and Evaluation Graduate Level Elective Clinical Practicum Total MS Credits Clinical PracticeThe Clinical Placement Office is responsible for collecting and documenting all graduate students’ required immunizations and other requirements and sending appropriate records to each clinical site. The Clinical Placement Office is also responsible for notifying students about (and ensuring compliance with) requirements that are unique to their agencies. The standard requirements include:
In addition, certain sites may require a two-step PPD or a blood test within 90 days of the start date. Individual sites may have additional requirements. Students are not allowed to attend any clinical activities and are not allowed in clinical agencies / sites until all clinical requirements have been met and documented with the Clinical Placement Office. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that all requirements are met prior to the announced deadline. The Clinical Placement Office will notify students who are not in compliance with these requirements. In the event that a student is still not compliant with these requirements after notification, the TOR for the clinical practicum and the Associate Dean of Student Services will be notified. At this point, clinical faculty will need to follow up and the student(s) will not be allowed in clinical areas until all requirements are met. Clinical Placement and PreceptorsAll advanced practice specialty programs require that students complete a minimum number of hours of precepted and supervised clinical practice in their area of specialization in order to demonstrate competence. The minimum number of clinical hours varies by clinical specialty. The specialty program directors and faculty are knowledgeable about credentialing organizations’ requirements regarding the numbers of precepted and supervised clinical hours that must be completed and the variety of clinical sites in which clinical practica should occur, in order for a student to demonstrate competence and qualify to sit for the certification examination in their specialty. As such, the program director or designated faculty member assigns clinical placements based upon the program requirements, the requirements of credentialing organizations, and the students’ learning needs. The Assistant Dean of Clinical Placement and their staff assist specialty program directors with arranging placements and ensuring that clinical site contracts and preceptor documentation are in place and verified prior to clinical placements. Students should not attempt to arrange their own clinical experiences, nor should they make changes to their clinical placements. Students are encouraged to bring ideas for new clinical sites to the program director. Sites and preceptors must be reviewed and approved by the program director and the Clinical Placement Office. Clinical placements that are not approved and arranged in accordance with school policies cannot be counted towards the minimum clinical hours required for credentialing. In order to avoid potential conflicts of interest, clinical preceptors should not be family members or family friends of students they are asked to precept. Similarly, students should not engage in personal relationships with preceptors and clinical supervisors in order to avoid the perception of conflict of interest and bias. Clinical placements may be located outside of the Boston area. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation and all costs pertaining to that transportation. Students are assigned a clinical year at the time of admission. Students who wish to change their clinical year will be accommodated when possible on a space-available basis. Scheduling of clinical practica may vary from year to year. Students must have up-to-date immunizations, malpractice insurance, background checks and complete all other pre-clinical requirements prior to participating in any clinical placements. In the clinical setting, students should clearly identify themselves with a name badge as a graduate student in the Connell School of Nursing. Students must complete their assigned clinical hours within the academic semesters. In the event a student needs to complete clinical hours during school breaks, they need to contact the Graduate Programs Office as soon as possible. Clinical Hours During International Service Learning Trips and ExperiencesGraduate nursing students who wish to participate in international service learning trips and experiences and have those hours count towards the required supervised and precepted clinical hours for their specialty program should contact their specialty program director. Clinical hours from international service trips and experiences must be pre-approved by the specialty program director, Assistant Dean of Clinical Placement and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Faculty Development. The ability to count these experiences towards the minimum number of clinical hours required to sit for certification exams varies by specialty and depends upon many factors, including the credentials of the supervising faculty and preceptors. In addition, international clinical experiences must:
LIability InsuranceStudents who are registered nurses (RNs) must arrange for their own individual malpractice liability insurance as advanced practice nursing students. Nurse anesthesia students will obtain student nurse anesthetist liability insurance through the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists when instructed to do so by the program director. Master's students must provide evidence of individual liability insurance and RN licensure prior to enrollment in a course with an advanced practice (APRN) clinical component. Immunization/Health RequirementsCommonwealth of Massachusetts law requires all graduate nursing students to show evidence of satisfactory immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, varicella, hepatitis B, and COVID-19. Students are also required to have the meningitis vaccine or sign a waiver if they decide not to be immunized against meningitis. Students who fail to provide adequate documentation of immunizations will not be permitted to register and attend classes. The only exceptions permitted are when immunization requirements conflict with personal religious belief or when a physician documents that immunizations should not be given due to pre-existing medical problems. The Connell School of Nursing also requires certified evidence of good health and an annual TB test completed just prior to enrollment in a clinical practicum course. More frequent testing for TB may be required by specific clinical agencies. Some clinical sites may require drug testing. Expanded National Bacground Checks (ENBC)Hospitals and health care agencies that are used by Connell School of Nursing for clinical experiences require that all students and faculty undergo expanded national criminal background checks before they can be at that agency. The mechanism for this is called a ENBC or iCORI check. All students must have permission on file in the Graduate Programs Office for Boston College to obtain ENBC checks and permission for the actual ENBC requests. Failure to have these on file could prevent a student from participating in a clinical practicum. A background check that comes back positive (i.e., shows a misdemeanor or felony) may prevent the student from participating in a clinical practicum. Clinical agencies may refuse to take students with positive criminal histories. This could potentially delay or prevent completion of the program. Students are encouraged to contact the Clinical Placement Office (csoncp@bc.edu). Some school systems and other health care agencies may also require fingerprinting. Some organizations require that fingerprinting be completed through their designated fingerprinting agency. Students will need to complete the requirements of the specific agency where they will be placed for clinical practica. Flexibility may be required as requirements change over time. Safe, Competent, and Professional Clinical PracticeGraduate students from the Connell School of Nursing who are engaged in clinical courses and other types of supervised clinical training experiences are expected to perform and practice in a manner that is at all times safe, competent, and consistent with the Nurse Practice Act and the ANA Nurses’ Code of Ethics. Unsafe or incompetent clinical practice and/or unprofessional conduct are grounds for failure in any clinical course and may result in immediate removal from the clinical site. Students who demonstrate unsafe or unprofessional conduct in a clinical practice site will undergo academic review and may be placed on probation or dismissed from the program (please see ACADEMIC STANDARDS REVIEW). Documentation of Supervised Clinical ExperiencesIt is the student’s responsibility to maintain written documentation regarding supervised clinical experiences and practica. Specific requirements for clinical documentation are determined by the program director. In general, at a minimum, this documentation should include dates, hours, preceptor, agency, population focus, age group seen and activities. It is the student’s responsibility to document all clinical hours and obtain the appropriate supervisor’s sign-off. Students should maintain their own educational, immunization, and training records in a portfolio after graduation. Blood-Borne Pathogens Exposure PolicyEvery clinical student in the Connell School of Nursing is required to complete yearly training in Standard Precautions, Prevention of Blood Borne Pathogens and Prevention of Tuberculosis. The training modules are located on the Centralized Clinical Placement website of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. This website is updated yearly. Completing training modules is a professional responsibility and required for participation in clinical nursing courses. Students who are exposed to blood or bodily fluids will immediately notify their on-site clinical instructor or preceptor and they will follow the protocols for Occupational Exposure to Blood-Borne Pathogens in place at their clinical site. If the agency does not have a protocol for occupational exposures, then the student should be directed to the nearest emergency room for treatment. At the earliest reasonable time, but no later than 24 hours, the student and faculty will notify the Associate Dean of Student Services. The Connell School of Nursing will document student exposures according to OSHA Requirements as they apply. Tuberculosis Exposure PolicyConnell School of Nursing graduate students are not routinely assigned to care for patients with active tuberculosis or suspected tuberculosis because they have not been fit-tested for a respirator mask. Students who have been inadvertently exposed to tuberculosis should be directed to the University Health Services OR to their primary health care provider. The student and faculty will notify the Associate Dean of Student Services. If a student, while engaged in clinical practice activities, has an exposure to potentially infected body fluid from a client, the student should do the following: a. Immediately remove soiled clothing and wash the exposed area with soap and water b. Notify faculty member c. Report to nearest emergency room on site at the agency or as directed by the University Health Service within 1-2 hours d. Identify self as student with a possible HIV/HBV exposure e. Give close attention to filling out the Incident Report for the agency, the Connell School of Nursing and University Health Services. A copy of the agency report form must be forwarded to the Associate Dean of Student Services within 72 hours of the exposure Boston College will assume the financial responsibility, if necessary, for emergency assessment and interventions through the first 72 hours after an exposure incident. No member of the Boston College community, either student or faculty member, shall be denied medical evaluation and counseling. The Connell School of Nursing will keep a confidential record of medical treatment and evaluation according to OSHA standards. ** Adapted from the model technical standards in Marks and Ailey, White Paper on Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Nursing Educational Programs for the California Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (CCEPD), and the web-published technical standards of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and the New York University College of Nursing. The Connell School of Nursing is committed to providing educational opportunities to otherwise qualified students with disabilities and/or learning differences. Such students will be provided with opportunities equal to those provided to non-disabled students to achieve desired educational outcomes. A “qualified individual” with a disability is one who, with or without reasonable accommodations, meets the Connell School of Nursing’s academic requirements and Technical Standards. Students with disabilities are not required to disclose their disability to the Connell School of Nursing. However, students wishing to request reasonable accommodations must register with Connors Family Learning Center (CFLC) and/or Disability Services Office (DSO) to initiate the process. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act define a person with a disability as someone who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; OR (2) has a record of such an impairment; OR (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. Students are encouraged to meet with a CFLC and DSO representative when unsure if a condition qualifies as a disability. Please note that limitations created by short-term illnesses are not normally covered by these guidelines. The CFLC or DSO determine qualified disability status and assist students in obtaining appropriate accommodations and services. Decisions regarding reasonable accommodations are made on a case by case basis taking into consideration each student’s disability-related needs, disability documentation and program requirements. While the process for requesting reasonable accommodations may be started at any time, reasonable accommodations may not be implemented retroactively. It is therefore important that students allow ample time for their accommodation requests to be processed. While the Connell School of Nursing will make every effort to work with students with disabilities to accommodate their learning difference or disability-related needs, the Connell School of Nursing is not required to provide accommodations that fundamentally alter or waive essential program requirements. This information is intended to facilitate discussions between the Office of Student Services and other school officials, faculty, and students as a list of capabilities believed to be necessary to participate and succeed in a clinical education with or without reasonable accommodations. If you believe you may have a qualifying disability or are concerned that you require reasonable accommodations to meet any of these technical standards, you may contact DSO, CFLC, or the Associate Dean of Student Services for further information. Clinical or lab faculty may also come forward to the Office of Student Services to indicate concerns regarding these technical standards for participation in clinical placements that will then be discussed with the student with appropriate steps taken. ● Accurately and clearly conveys information to and interprets information from patients and the health care team in spoken and written English. ● Accurately elicits and interprets information from medical history and other data sources to adequately and effectively evaluate a client’s or patient’s condition. ● Uses and comprehends standard professional nursing and medical terminology when using and/or documenting in a patient’s print or electronic record. ● Conveys appropriate information to patients and the health care team and teaches, directs and counsels a wide variety of individuals
● Possesses sufficient proprioception (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibration), physical strength and mobility to carry out physical assessments and other nursing procedures ● Demonstrates sufficient manual dexterity and fine and gross muscular coordination to provide safe general care and specific treatments ● Demonstrates an appropriate and timely response to emergency situations, including any circumstance requiring immediate and rapid resolution. ● Navigates patients’ rooms, work spaces, and treatment areas with appropriate precision and speed to carry out the nursing process during the delivery of general nursing care or in emergency situations. ● Has the endurance to complete all required tasks during a clinical practice day of a customary or contracted length Data gathering and interpretation
● Accurately obtains and interprets information from comprehensive assessment of patient status and responses such as assessing respiratory and cardiac function, blood pressure, blood sugar, neurological status, etc. ● Accurately obtains and interprets information regarding a patient’s environment ● Synthesizes objective and subjective findings and diagnostic studies in order to formulate nursing diagnoses Critical thinking
● Synthesizes and critically interprets data on ongoing basis to carry out the nursing process (i.e. assessment, diagnosis, goals, plan of care, and evaluation) ● Retrieves and critically appraises reference material to use in a patient’s nursing plan of care ● Uses information from written documents, demonstrations, and patient records to carry out the phases of the nursing process ● Accurately follows course syllabi, assignment directions, patient care protocols and corrective learning plans developed by faculty or health care agency staff Behavioral and social interactions
● Conforms to all requirements set forth by the Connell School of Nursing’s health care agency’s affiliation agreements as well as any additional regulations and practices specific to a particular clinical settings. ● Conforms to Connell School of Nursing attendance and clinical dress code/professional appearance requirements for on-campus clinical simulation and off-campus clinical learning session. ● Maintains effective, appropriate, and empathic communication and relationships with clients/patients, students, faculty, staff and other professionals under all circumstances. ● Makes appropriate judgments regarding safe, confidential, and respectful care and interactions with patients. ● Functions calmly and effectively under stress and adapts to changing environments inherent in clinical practice. ● Integrates constructive criticism from instructors and clinical agency personnel into performance ● Correctly judges when a nursing intervention requires additional assistance from clinical faculty or clinical agency staff Doctoral of Nursing Practice Policies and ProceduresThe following policies and procedures are specific to the Lynch School. Please refer to University Academic Policies and Procedures for additional information. (Updated July 2019) Beginning a Doctoral ProgramAdmission to the doctoral programs in the lynch school. Formal admission to the doctoral program occurs only when the student receives a signed letter of acceptance to a doctoral program in the Lynch School from the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Student Services. Non-degree (Professional and Continuing Ed) StudentsStudents admitted as non-degree students who hope to become doctoral students must complete the normal application process expected of all doctoral applicants. Admission as a non-degree student implies nothing relative to the status of an application for a degree program. No more than 12 credit hours earned as a non-degree student may be applied to a degree program, and only if considered appropriate by the advisor, Program Coordinator, and/or Department Chair. International StudentsAll International students who apply to the Lynch School of Education and Human Development must meet the same testing requirements as domestic students in addition to any TOEFL requirements. When making an admission decision, faculty will use TOEFL scores and other relevant information to evaluate the student, recognizing that an international candidate’s performance on the GRE may not adequately represent the candidate’s potential for graduate work. Admission to a Program vs. Candidacy for a DegreeDoctoral students are not formally admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree until they have been notified by the Lynch School that they have successfully completed their coursework and passed their comprehensive examination. Students must be doctoral candidates to present a doctoral dissertation proposal. This proposal must be approved by the Dissertation Committee and the Institutional Research Board (Human Subjects Review Committee) before a student can collect data for their dissertation research. Financial Support: Loans and ScholarshipsFinancial Aid Financial aid for doctoral students at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development is available through a variety of both internal and external sources. BC Financial Aid main page Lynch School Financial Aid page Assistantships and Fellowships (General Information) Each year the Lynch School makes available a limited number of graduate assistantships and teaching fellowships. Awards are given for one year and students seeking continued funding must reapply on an annual basis. Incoming Ph.D. Students Letters of acceptance to the Ph.D. programs at the Lynch School include information about an incoming student’s assistantship or scholarship. Accepted students are asked to respond in a timely fashion in order to facilitate the maximum support possible for all students. Department Chairs, Program Coordinators, and the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Student Services are available to answer any questions students might have about their offer of admission or assistantship. Types of Assistantships Graduate research assistants are typically involved in research activities such as library searches, literature reviews, data collection, data entry and analysis, and report writing. In addition, assistants may be asked to help faculty in grading exams, keeping records, photocopying, helping with research for classes, and other tasks. Teaching assistants may teach or assist in large lecture courses. Opportunities are also available for advanced doctoral students to serve as teaching fellows, i.e., to teach courses in selected undergraduate or master’s programs. (Students should check with their specific department on graduate teaching assistant policies). One course each semester is the requirement for receiving half an assistantship (10 hrs/week) and teaching two courses per semester is the requirement for receiving a full assistantship (20 hrs/wk). In addition to planning class meetings, conducting classes, meeting with site supervisors and evaluating students, teaching fellows will keep regular posted office hours and have students evaluate the courses using the standardized university evaluation form. Graduate office assistants provide administrative assistance to faculty who coordinate doctoral and master’s programs, or to the master’s practicum coordinator. Graduate office assistants also work in the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Student Services, the Lynch Office of Undergraduate Programs, the Office of the Dean, and the Office of the Associate Dean of Faculty and Academics. Responsibilities may include a variety of tasks such as helping to maintain program records, preparing newsletters, organizing admissions materials, meeting with students and engaging in a wide range of administrative tasks. An award of a full-time graduate assistantship carries the expectation that the student will be available for 20 hours per week for nine months, that is, September through May. Half-time graduate assistants should be available 10 hours per week for the same period of time. The specific times that students work are negotiated with the supervising faculty member so as to not conflict with any courses that the student may be taking. Persons who have graduate assistantships should be aware that vacation days during the year follow the University employee calendar, not the student class calendar. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for the summer. Responsibilities, length of service, and stipends vary and should be clarified prior to accepting the appointment. Assistantships usually carry a stipend (service and non-service) and tuition remission. Amounts vary depending upon the program in which the student is enrolled and the type of award. Students who are awarded a graduate assistantship or a teaching fellowship must be enrolled as full-time doctoral students and may not carry any incomplete coursework. Students accepting assistantships or fellowships may not accept any additional commitment of employment without prior consultation with and permission of their advisor, the Department Chair, the Lynch School Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, and, for Counseling Psychology students, the Director of Training. Selection and Assignment Process The two co-existing purposes that serve as a rationale for awarding graduate assistantships are the training needs of our doctoral students and the need to meet departmental administrative and teaching responsibilities and faculty research goals. Related to the first, assistantships are assigned to help doctoral students obtain sequential exposure to experiences involving research, teaching and administration. As such, students who have not had a particular type of assistantship experience (e.g., teaching) are usually provided with that opportunity in the course of the graduate experience. Assignments are made in an effort to best meet both sets of needs, within the constraints of available resources and opportunities. The Lynch School seeks to offer support to all full-time Ph.D. students for the first two years of their doctoral study. It is expected that students will support their studies through participation with faculty in externally funded research in years 3 and 4 or through teaching fellowships. Keeping in mind both sets of needs, graduate assistantships are typically assigned in the following way. Faculty review graduate student assistantship applications to identify graduate research assistants who match the needs of their research and outreach scholarship projects. For returning students, this process generally begins in February after faculty members are notified of Lynch School research assistantship allocations. Prior student experience and competencies, as well as student interests, schedule availability, and opportunities for professional development of the student, are some of the factors often considered by faculty in selecting graduate assistants. The Program Coordinators for the doctoral and master’s programs, the Department Chairs, and the administrative officers of the Lynch School also review applications at this time to identify possible candidates for administrative assistantships based upon student interests, skills, and schedule. The Department Chair reviews faculty requests to assess matches between faculty choices and student preferences, and discusses these with faculty in the process of facilitating student assignments. They seek to facilitate this process in a way that ensures that all students participate in a variety of research and teaching experiences over the course of their doctoral training. Although efforts are made to meet student preferences and offer a range of experiences, there are realistic constraints to the process. For example, student opportunities to work with specific faculty are based upon allocations to faculty made by the dean’s office and upon external funding secured by individuals through faculty grants. Student opportunities to obtain desired experiences are limited by the nature of faculty projects at any point in time. To meet the funding requests/needs of students, they may be offered assistantships with faculty in their department, and, on occasion, with faculty outside their department or in administrative offices in the Lynch School. Efforts are made to announce awards for returning students by early May. Summer funds are exceptionally limited and decisions about their distribution are made by Department Chairs and the appropriate administrative officers. Letters of award are sent out from the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid and Student Services and students may accept or decline the award. Students have three weeks to inform the office if they are going to decline the award. Some faculty members choose to contact identified graduate research assistants students personally before the letters are sent out to clarify responsibilities and determine the student’s willingness to accept the terms of the award. Similarly, the Department Chair typically discusses teaching opportunities with graduate students before these assignments are finalized. All students are required to complete a confidentiality form and return it to the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid and Student Services prior to beginning their assistantships. This confidentiality agreement must be renewed each year a student works at the Lynch School. It is important to note that the program cannot guarantee that graduate assistantships will always be available. Dissertation Support Internal Funding The Lynch School provides support through Dissertation Fellowships and Dissertation Development Grants funding opportunities. Diversity Fellowships Boston College has resources that support a number of fellowships offered to especially promising students from diverse backgrounds who are beginning their doctoral studies. Research Funding (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences) Graduate Student Association website External Funding The BC Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) website provides links to external dissertation financial support, including fellowships, fellow programs, and other foundation-based support. It also links students to national and regional opportunities that emerge for graduate student support. This website is updated periodically to bring students the most current listing of grant and scholarship opportunities including external dissertation specific funding. Information on Conference Reimbursement (GEA) The Graduate Education Association is preparing on funding possibilities for graduate students presenting at professional conferences. Check their website for information. Academic Programs and RequirementsDesigning a doctoral program. Role of the Academic Advisor Following acceptance into the Lynch School, students should meet with their academic advisor (identified in the acceptance letter or shortly thereafter by the Program Coordinator or Department Chair) at their earliest convenience. The advisor will assist in the initial design and, if necessary, later modification of your Program of Study. The academic advisor must approve any transfers of credits from other universities and must approve, if necessary, a Petition for an Extension of Time to complete studies. Agreement to act as an academic advisor on the part of a faculty member does not imply responsibility for directing a dissertation. Students may request a change of advisor after consulting with their current advisor and clarifying the availability of a new advisor. Requests should be forwarded to the Program Coordinator and/or Department Chair, who should then notify the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid and Student Services of the decision. Program of Study By the fall semester of the 2nd year in the program, all Ph.D. and Ed.D. students, except for those in the Ph.D. program in Curriculum and Instruction, should complete a Program of Study form following extensive consultation with their advisor. Ph.D. students in Curriculum and Instruction should complete their Programs of Study no later than the beginning of spring semester in the first academic year of their program. Once the Program of Study receives appropriate approval signatures, the office of the department in which the student is completing his/her degree (the “Department Office”) acknowledges this in a letter sent to the student. Please consult individual program descriptions for specific requirements. The programs of study are available in PDF format on the web pages for the specific Lynch School program. Students should be sure to keep copies of all official documents in their records. Students who fail to submit an approved Program of Study to the office of the department in which they are completing their degree prior to these deadlines will not be allowed to register for courses for their following semester of study. The registrar will place a block on the student’s account until he or she files a complete Program of Study. (Effective 4/06). Changes to Programs of Study Any time it is necessary to change a student's approved Program of Study, a Course Substitution Form must be completed. The student is responsible for getting appropriate approval signatures. Since the approved Program of Study form is the document used to clear the student for graduation, any changes to it should be properly approved in a timely manner. Approval for any course substitution must be obtained prior to registering for the course in question. Transfer of Credit Students who wish to have credits transferred from another university to their doctoral program at the Lynch School must comply with the following regulations: completion of at least six credits at Boston College in a doctoral program maximum of six graduate credits transferred from other accredited colleges or universities courses used to satisfy the requirements for another degree cannot be transferred into a doctoral program a grade of "B" or better at the graduate level course(s) being transferred must have been completed within the past 10 years official transcript must be sent directly to the office of the department in which they are completing their degree program A Transfer of Credit form should be completed and signed by the student's academic advisor and then sent to the Department Office. Cross-RegistrationBoston-Area Consortium Graduate students in the Lynch School may cross register for one elective course each semester at Boston University, Brandeis University, and Tufts University if a similar course is not available at Boston College. Students should contact their Program Directors to review the department’s special rules and regulations. Cross registration materials are available in Lyons Hall. Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies The Graduate Consortium in Women’s Studies (GCWS) at MIT (formerly housed at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University) is an inter-institutional enterprise established to advance the field of women's studies and enlarge the scope of graduate education through new models of team teaching and interdisciplinary study. Faculty and students are drawn from six member schools: Boston College, Brandeis University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, MIT, and Tufts University. The Consortium offers graduate courses for credit that are open to all students at participating institutions. Graduate students enrolled in degree programs at Boston College may with the permission of their department apply to MIT to participate in this program. Course registration forms will be mailed to accepted students. Please consult the Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies website for courses and procedures for registering and credit. Students should also complete the cross registration form available in Lyons Hall in order to receive course credit from Boston College. Independent Study/Readings and ResearchStudents may take an Independent Study/ Readings and Research course as part of their Doctoral coursework. Permission must be secured from the supervising faculty member and the proposed course must be an approved part of the student’s program of study. Students must complete the Doctoral Readings and Research form , have it approved by the faculty supervisor, and then return it to the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid and Student Services who will sign them up for the appropriate Readings and Research course through Agora. The maximum number of Readings and Research courses that are permitted within any given degree is limited by University policy to the number of electives within a student’s degree program. The Department Chairs and/or Program Coordinator may choose to further limit the number of Readings and Research courses permitted in a particular program. Year of ResidenceMost doctoral students in the Lynch School must spend one academic year "in residence." Doctoral students in Counseling Psychology are required to complete three years of full-time residency. Students in the Ed.D. PSAP program fulfill their requirements by participating in all available academic and professional activities associated with the program during their three years of coursework. Residency is designed to provide each student with a combination of coursework (full-time for two consecutive semesters) and apprenticeship experience within their area of graduate studies. It is assumed that students in residence will have more time to interact with peers and faculty in formal and informal educational experiences. This combination of experiences allows students to be immersed in the intellectual community of the University with the least possible distraction. Students should consult their individual program handbooks for more specific program guidelines for fulfilling the residency requirement. While the purpose of residency is uniform across the school, the nature of the experience is shaped by the requirements of each program and the specific interests and needs of the student. Some students, for example, may have an apprenticeship experience through supervised teaching and/or research with faculty. Others may participate in a one-year colloquium. Still others may complete an off-campus research project supervised by a faculty member. Some of these options may lead to a pre-candidacy paper or other products. Students and their advisors make all arrangements relative to the year(s) of residence. This is typically noted on the student’s Program of Study. Once the residency requirement has been completed, the Program Coordinator and/or Department Chair should so certify, via email, to the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid and Student Services, with a copy to the student. Students cannot be cleared for graduation unless this requirement has been met. Students who are unable to meet this requirement may want to consider a Certificate of Advanced Education Specialization (CAES). Continuation and ExtensionContinuation Doctoral candidates who have completed all coursework and comprehensive exams must register and pay the fee for Doctoral Continuation (EDUC/ELHE/ERME/APSY9911) each academic term of their candidacy. This registration entitles the candidate to use of University facilities (e.g., library and computers) and the privilege of informally (without record) auditing courses that may be helpful with research. Students will not usually be allowed to take leaves of absence once they have become candidates. Extensions beyond the eight-year time limit for the doctoral degree may be obtained only with advisor and departmental recommendation and the approval of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Extensions are not granted routinely. They must be formally requested and the Doctoral Petition for Extension of Time form completed, after discussion with the student’s advisor and/or the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. If granted, the extension would be for a maximum of one year. Timely completion is essential to the academic integrity of a degree program Comprehensive Examination and Admission to CandidacyRegistration for the Comprehensive Examination Students not taking another Boston College course for credit in the semester in which they will be taking the comprehensive exam must also register for EDUC9902 or /APSY/ERME/ELHE 9901 Doctoral Comprehensives for that semester. Students who are registered for a Boston College course for credit in the semester in which they are taking the exam still must complete this form but need not register for the 1 credit Doctoral Comprehensive course. Specific requirements for the exam are set by the program faculty, and students should make inquiries regarding format, length, and scheduling of the exam to the appropriate program faculty. Grades assigned to Comprehensive examinations are: Pass with Distinction (PWD) A student who fails the PhD Comprehensive examination may take it once again, no sooner than the following semester, and at a time designated by the Department. Ed.D. students should confirm with their Department Chair about the timing of a second administration of the Comprehensive Examination. In the case of a second failure, no further attempt is allowed. Following oral and written components of the exam, the Chair of the comprehensive committee submits an official ballot, graded and signed by each member, to the Department Chair. Students are then officially notified of the results by the Department Office. Once the student has passed the comprehensive exams, the Department Office will send a letter officially recognizing his or her admission to candidacy. Leave of Absence/WithdrawalLeave of Absence Doctoral students who wish to interrupt their programs for one or more semesters must file a Graduate Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form for that semester. The request will be reviewed by the Director/Coordinator (if applicable) and the Department Chair. Once the form has been signed, it should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid and Student Services for approval by the Lynch School Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. An approved leave frees the student from registering for courses and paying fees. A leave of absence is granted for no more than two consecutive semesters. Maximum Duration All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within eight consecutive years from the commencement of doctoral studies. Doctoral studies commence with the first term in which the student is officially registered for a course at Boston College following admission to the doctoral program. Leave time is considered a portion of the total time limit for the degree unless an exception has been approved by the Program Director/Coordinator, the Department Chair, and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the time the form is submitted. Graduate students (master's and doctoral) requesting readmission from a Leave of Absence must contact their Department Chair and the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Student Services at least six weeks prior to the semester in which they expect to enroll to ensure appropriate class and field placement. The Readmission Request Form for Doctoral Students should be submitted to the student’s Program Director/Coordinator and Department Chair for approval. Once department approval has been obtained, the form should be sent to the Lynch School Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for final approval. Doctoral students who were discontinued due to time-to-degree limits, or otherwise fail to maintain continuous matriculation and allow their matriculation to lapse, may apply for reinstatement if they wish to re-enroll. Readmission to the Lynch School, and to candidacy, requires the submission of the Lynch School Doctoral Readmission Request Form. The Request Form is approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the appropriate Department Chair. If absence from the program is beyond the eight-year time limit allowed by the University for completing the doctoral degree, the student will be required to demonstrate currency in the field by taking a qualifying examination and/or additional course work, at the discretion of the doctoral program. Approval of Requests for Readmission is extremely rare, and by exception. Deferral of Admission Graduate students (master's and doctoral) who have not begun coursework are not required to file a Leave of Absence form. However, they are required to obtain a deferral of admission by contacting the Lynch School Director of Admission and Financial Aid at least six weeks prior to the planned start date for their program. [Please note: Not all doctoral programs allow deferral of admission.] Doctoral students should contact the Program Director/Coordinator and Department Chair of their intended program prior to requesting a deferral. Deferrals are granted for no more than one year. If a student does not take courses after one year following admission to the program, he/she is required to apply for readmission and pay a readmission fee. Withdrawal From the University Graduate students may choose to withdraw from the program if they are unable to complete their program of studies in a consistent and timely manner. Students who wish to withdraw must complete the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form and submit it to the Department Chair where the student is completing the degree. Once the form has been signed by the academic department, it should be sent to the Lynch School Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for final approval. Academic PoliciesAcademic integrity. Policy and Procedures The pursuit of knowledge can proceed only when scholars take responsibility and receive credit for their work. Recognition of individual contributions to knowledge and of the intellectual property of others builds trust within the University and encourages the sharing of ideas that is essential to scholarship. Similarly, the educational process requires that individuals present their own ideas and insights for evaluation, critique, and eventual reformulation. Presentation of others' work as one's own is not only intellectual dishonesty, but it also undermines the educational process. Cases of falsification, fabrication, and plagiarism that occur in the course of research are also subject to Boston College's research misconduct policy, which can be found at https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/research/sites/vice-provost-for-research/integrity-and-%20compliance/research-misconduct.html. Standards Academic integrity is violated by any dishonest act which is committed in an academic context including, but not restricted to the following: Cheating is the fraudulent or dishonest presentation of work. Cheating includes but is not limited to:
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas, data, illustrations, or statements of another person or source, and presenting them as one's own. Each student is responsible for learning and using proper methods of paraphrasing and footnoting, quotation, and other forms of citation, to ensure that the original author, speaker, illustrator, or source of the material used is clearly acknowledged. Other breaches of academic integrity include:
Collusion is defined as assistance or an attempt to assist another student in an act of academic dishonesty. Collusion is distinct from collaborative learning, which may be a valuable component of students' scholarly development. Acceptable levels of collaboration vary in different courses, and students are expected to consult with their instructor if they are uncertain whether their cooperative activities are acceptable. Promoting Academic Integrity: Roles of Community Members Student Roles in Maintaining Academic Integrity Students have a responsibility to maintain high standards of academic integrity in their own work, and thereby to maintain the integrity of their degree. It is their responsibility to be familiar with, and understand, the University policy on academic integrity. Students who become aware of a violation of academic integrity by a fellow student should respond in one of the following ways:
Faculty Roles in Fostering Academic Integrity Faculty members should provide students with a positive environment for learning and intellectual growth and, by their words and actions, promote conditions that foster academic integrity. Faculty should be concerned about the impact of their behavior on students. Students are sensitive to messages communicated in informal discussions and in casual faculty remarks about personal decisions and value judgments. Students are perhaps most sensitive to how responsibly faculty members fulfill their obligations to them in the careful preparation of classes, in the serious evaluation of student achievement, and in their genuine interest in and availability to students. Faculty should promote academic integrity in the following specific ways:
Academic Deans Academic deans have overall responsibility for academic integrity within their schools. In particular, deans' responsibilities include the following:
*[ NOTE : If a faculty member is undecided about whether an integrity violation has actually been committed and discusses this with the Associate Dean, it is possible that the case will not be officially reported. However, if the faculty member has definite evidence that a violation has occurred, but may be undecided about whether to impose a grading penalty, then the case needs to be officially reported to allow the AIC to review the information and make a determination that an integrity violation has occurred and determine a sanction for the student.] Students are expected to be familiar with the ethical standards of their profession. See the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and the Ethical Standards of the American Educational Research Association . Students are held to the professional standards outlined in these documents. Academic StandingA student must earn an average of "B" in all graduate courses and credit hours applicable to the degree except those that are listed as pass/fail (e.g. Dissertation Direction, Dissertation Seminar). Only courses completed with grades of "C" or above may be applied to credit hour requirements for the degree. In the Lynch School of Education and Human Development Graduate Programs, a student who receives a grade of "C" or "I" in two courses (six semester hours) or a grade of "F" in an elective course (three semester hours) may be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee and put on academic probation. A subsequent grade of "C" or "F" in an elective course may be grounds for dismissal from the Lynch School. A grade of "F" in a required course is grounds for review by the Academic Standards Committee and possible dismissal from the Lynch School. A student who has been dismissed may not register for further study unless reinstated by a majority vote of the faculty in her or his department. Under certain conditions, and with the recommendation of the student's Department Chair, a student may apply to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for reinstatement. Ordinarily, at least one semester or summer session must pass before reinstatement. The program faculty will review a student's progress each academic year and will notify a student of any deficiencies that require correction. All required work in any course must be completed by the date set for the course examination. All required work in any course must be completed by the date set for the course examination. A student who has not completed the research or written work for a course taken in the fall or spring semester or is absent from the course examination in either semester, may, with adequate reason and at the discretion of the instructor, receive a temporary grade of Incomplete (I). All such I grades will automatically be changed to F on March 1 for the fall, August 1 for the spring, and October 1 for the summer. In extraordinary cases, the student may petition the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for an exception. A “J” grade is used for a course that continues across two semesters, in which participation in both semesters is required for full credit to be granted. A “J” grade may not be used in place of an “I” grade for uncompleted work. Financial aid is not available to students with an "Incomplete." Students with graduate or teaching assistantships or fellowships may not carry an "Incomplete." Failure to comply with this requirement may jeopardize financial aid or result in a failing grade or dismissal from the program. All doctoral dissertation seminars and dissertation direction courses in the Lynch School are offered only on a pass/fail basis. Grading Policy on Incomplete Grades All required work in any course must be completed by the date set for the course examination. A student who has not completed the research or written work for a course taken in the fall or spring semester or is absent from the course examination in either semester, may, with adequate reason and at the discretion of the instructor, receive a temporary grade of Incomplete (I). All such I grades will automatically be changed to F on March 1 for the fall, August 1 for the spring, and October 1 for the summer. Academic Standards Committee The Academic Standards Committee is comprised of faculty members and academic administrators in the Lynch School. This committee reviews all cases in which a student's academic record is poor and it recommends to the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services what action should be taken. As a result of this review, the committee may recommend the student be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the program, depending on the severity of the academic problem. Students who have been placed on Academic Probation must complete the terms specified by the Committee before they can be considered for readmission to their program. Grievance ProcedureStudents who believe they have a grievance should meet as soon as possible with the faculty member(s) or administrator(s) immediately involved. If such a meeting results in a mutually agreeable solution, the matter shall be considered closed. If a mutually acceptable disposition cannot be achieved, the student may pursue the complaint under the guidelines set forth in the Lynch School’s Grievance Procedure. Dissertation ProcessPre-proposal. Overview of Pre-proposal and Request for Approval of the Dissertation Committee: Review the detailed explanation of the Pre-proposal and Request for Approval of the Dissertation Committee. Complete the Pre-proposal in accordance with above guidelines. Complete Request for Approval of the Dissertation Committee form. Submit Pre-proposal and Request for Approval of the Dissertation Committee form to Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Meet with Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Make any necessary adjustments to Pre-proposal and Request for Approval of the Dissertation Committee; resubmit materials to Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, to be forwarded to the Department Chair for review. Department Chair approves materials and sends a formal invitation to the proposed members of the Dissertation Committee. Once the proposed members accept the invitation to serve on the Dissertation Committee and the student has received a letter from the Department Chair approving the Dissertation Committee, the student can proceed to the development of the Dissertation Proposal. Dissertation ProposalStudents who have passed their doctoral comprehensive examination, submitted their Pre-proposal and Request for Approval of the Dissertation Committee Form for Ph.D.or Ed.D. and have had a Dissertation Committee established and confirmed by the Department Chair must develop a dissertation proposal with the assistance of their dissertation committee. The format of the proposal should be discussed with the committee; once the proposal is completed, and accepted by the committee, the committee agrees to a hearing date. At that point, the student gives the Dissertation Chair the Agreement to Schedule a Proposal Hearing form, which the Chair signs. The student submits this signed form to the Department Office and delivers a copy of the final draft of the proposal to all members of the committee. Copies of the final dissertation proposal and the completed Agreement to Schedule a Proposal Hearing form should be submitted at least two weeks before the planned proposal hearing. Students are encouraged to submit the dissertation proposals a full month before their hearings so that faculty members have sufficient time to study and reflect upon them. A final decision regarding approval of the dissertation proposal will be made at this hearing. The Department Office will send an email announcing the date and inviting the members to the hearing. (Please note that proposal hearings are not held during July and August). Failure to comply with these procedures usually results in the delay of the proposal hearing. For the proposal hearing, doctoral candidates will meet with members of their dissertation committee at the scheduled time to answer questions related to the dissertation proposal. The committee will make one of four decisions: the proposal is accepted the proposal is accepted with stated qualifications the proposal is rejected in its present form, but may be revised and resubmitted at a later date; another proposal hearing will be held the proposal is rejected When the members of the committee are satisfied with a proposal, they will sign a ballot that approves the proposal, and this ballot will be filed in the Department Office. All members of the committee must sign the ballot before the proposal can be considered accepted. If the student and all committee members agree, members of the University community may be invited to the proposal hearing. Timeline for Dissertation Submission March 31 (or April 1) is the last date a student can have an oral defense in order to be considered for May graduation. Students must submit their dissertation revisions and edits to their Dissertation Chair by the given deadline. The final dissertation, successfully incorporating the revisions of the committee members and Chair, and the signed ballots must be submitted to the Graduate Student Services Office by the given deadline. Only the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Service can approve a later deadline than the university deadline (updated: 1/1/2016). University-wide Policy on Dissertation Submission Requirements Management of dissertations at Boston College is online-only. The public dissemination of research fits with university social justice values supporting global access to scholarship. The University policy with regard to dissertations is as follows: All final dissertations must be submitted and published online through ProQuest/UMI, as well as BC’s open access institutional repository, by the University required deadline. The ProQuest ETD Administrator system is used for student submission, school administration approval, and library management of the process, as it is at the vast majority of Carnegie Tier 1 schools. BC also supports an institutional repository (IR) as its system of record, in which we are legally obligated to preserve all dissertations, and where materials are made available Open Access online according to Creative Commons licensing of the student’s choosing. For both repositories, embargoes may be placed for up to two years. Embargoes can be extended up to five years with school approval. Each system carries its own set of licenses, terms and options (e.g. ProQuest license, BC IR license.) Exceptions to the requirement to submit digitally will be based on decisions made by individual schools or by the Provost. BC Libraries provide support, instruction, and infrastructure to enable the collection, approval, description, security, access and preservation of all Boston College dissertations and theses. Completing a Human Subjects Review ApplicationAfter the Dissertation Proposal has been approved by the committee, students are required to complete an Application for Approval of Research Projects Involving Human Subjects and submit it to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Before submitting this form, students should become familiar with APA (American Psychological Association) and AERA (American Educational Research Association) ethical standards and principles. Doctoral students must have a certificate indicating that they have completed the required training course before submitting a proposal to the IRB (Please see the IRB website for a list of courses online and at BC). This certificate should be secured prior to the Dissertation Proposal hearing, ensuring that the student is familiar with the Human Subjects Review process prior to the hearing. The Human Subjects Review application must be approved by the Dissertation Chair and the student’s Department Chair before it is submitted. Students should also visit the IRB website for further details on this process. It is the policy of the Boston College IRB that no data may be collected for the dissertation research prior to the approval of the Human Subjects Review application. Students should be advised that if their proposed studied is “high risk” it must be reviewed by the full Human Subjects Review committee and that this committee is not required to meet regularly during July and August. Scheduling the Final DefenseAfter informal approval of the dissertation by each of the committee members, students will schedule a tentative date for their defense hearing using the Agreement to Schedule a Final Defense form. The Dissertation Chair should sign this agreement and the student should submit the completed form to the Department Office at least 14 days prior to the defense. One copy of the dissertation abstract must also be submitted electronically to the Department Office at that time. The defense is posted as a public hearing, and copies of the abstract will be given to interested parties upon request. A final draft of the dissertation must be submitted to each of the committee members at least 14 days before the defense. This final draft must be complete in all respects and editorially acceptable for final approval at the time of the defense. Failure to comply with this procedure will result in the defense being delayed. Final defenses may not be held in July and August. For doctoral students to participate in May graduation ceremonies they must have defended their dissertations and have all of their materials prepared for the submission of their dissertations by April 1. If this date falls on a weekend or holiday, it will fall on the next university class day. Students should refer to the below guidelines for submitting completed dissertations to the Lynch School before preparing final dissertation, since regulations contained in that set of guidelines do have an impact on format. The guidelines also indicate the online submission process for the final dissertation. Candidates must complete the Doctoral Checklist and Information Sheet online form , which will be submitted to the Graduate Office in Campion 135. The Department Office will send the Committee Chair the title pages to be signed by members of the Dissertation Committee indicating their official approval of the dissertation after the final defense. One of these pages will be inserted into the final dissertation and the other will be kept in the doctoral student's permanent file. Your dissertation marks the end and apex of your degree work in the Lynch School. It is both a public testimony of your scholarship and the vehicle by which you make known the contribution to knowledge which your research has made. For this reason, dissertations are preserved by the University Archives and are sent to ProQuest for sale and listing in their own and other international indices. Thus, the appearance of your dissertation is a matter of some importance to you and to Boston College, whose name it also bears. A dissertation that does not conform to the following minimum standards may be returned to the candidate and the awarding of the degree delayed. If you have any questions about the format of your dissertation, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Student Services at 617-552-4214 or visit us in Campion Hall 135. Doctoral students must submit the online Doctoral Checklist and Information form to the Graduate Office once their dissertations have been successfully defended. The Lynch School requires that you submit your dissertation online through eTD@BC. Instructions can be found under the Dissertation Submission tab. Your dissertation must include: Title Page: This title page must conform to the sample ; if it does not, the Lynch School reserves the right to redo this page for you without notice. Make sure the title of your dissertation is concise and meaningful. Copyright: Whether or not you opt to have ProQuest register your copyright, this page must conform to the sample; if it does not, the Lynch School reserves the right to redo this page for you without notice. Abstract: This must be no more than 350 words. The abstract must include the title of your dissertation, your name, and that of your dissertation director as its heading. Word limit must be strictly adhered to and every word (including the title and the names) counted. If your department requires an abstract that has a larger word count than that required here, please include a shortened version. The abstract must be double-spaced in the same type font as the text of your dissertation. You must use embedded fonts as you convert your dissertation to PDF for electronic submission. For more information on embedding fonts, see the ETD website at www.bc.edu/etd . The processing of all textual material must be letter-quality, clear, dark black, and double-spaced; notes, bibliographic references, and long quotations may be single-spaced. The font size must be at least 12 point. While only one font style and size should be used throughout your text, the notes, bibliographic references, and long quotations may be in a type size smaller than your text, but must still be at least 10 point. Margins must be symmetrical and 1 1/4 inches at the left and right and 1 inch on the top and bottom. These margins must be strictly maintained throughout your work. Page numbers should be 1 inch from the edge of the paper. The traditional title page, copyright page, and abstract require no page numbers and should be submitted in this order. Acknowledgments, table of contents, list of tables, etc. are considered the introductory material of the manuscript and page numbers are expressed in lower case Roman numerals (i, ii, etc.). Every page of your dissertation, after the abstract, including all material in Appendices, must be sequentially numbered. The Lynch School does not insist on the use of one particular style manual, but leaves this decision to the student and advisor. Make sure that you follow one method of reference and bibliographic notation throughout your dissertation. Counseling Psychology students normally follow APA style. Charts, graphs, tables and other illustrative material can be produced in black or color ink. Photographs should be embedded as jpeg files with clear resolution. ProQuest and the Copyright of Your Dissertation Doctoral students are required to submit their dissertations to ProQuest. The agreement you sign with ProQuest allows them to include your work in their dissertation services, primarily the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database. You retain the copyright of your dissertation. If you wish, you may register your copyright yourself with the Library of Congress Copyright Office, or you may pay a fee to have ProQuest register copyright for you. More information about copyright is available on the eTD website at www.bc.edu/etd . Please review your document for the inclusion of any third-party copyrighted materials, including survey and test instruments. Certain copyrighted works may be included under the fair use exception to the exclusive rights of copyright holders. If fair use does not apply, you may need to ask for permission from the copyright holder. If you have obtained permission to include third-party copyrighted materials in your thesis/dissertation, these permissions can be included as supplemental files as part of your submission. Please note that any pages that include signatures (e.g., signature pages, copyright permissions, IRB forms, etc.) should not be included in the main dissertation itself. Dissertation SubmissioneTD@BC (Electronic Thesis and Dissertations at Boston College) Pre-submission checklistAttend an eTD@BC workshop offered by the Boston College Libraries, which includes an overview of the submission process and information about important decisions and issues, such as eScholarship@BC, embargoes, copyright, etc. For information/dates of workshops and a copy of the handout from the latest workshop, please check the eTD@BC website at www.bc.edu/etd or contact etd-support@bc.edu , Submit the Doctoral Checklist and Information Form online. Assess fair use of any third-party-copyrighted materials and request permissions if needed. Review the eTD@BC website and finalize decisions regarding eScholarship@BC, embargoes, etc. Dissertation Embargo Upon submission of a completed doctoral dissertation in the Graduate School of Education, a student may request an embargo for not more than two years without special permission. To request an extension beyond two years, but for no more than five years, a student must submit a written rationale to the Lynch School Educational Policy Committee (EPC). Requests for more than five years will be granted by the EPC of the Lynch School only for extraordinary reasons. Submission Process Dissertations are submitted using Boston College’s online submission system, eTD@BC (electronic Theses & Dissertations at Boston College). Submission of your dissertation is entirely online and free of charge. After successfully defending your thesis (committee signed off, and all requested edits were completed), begin your online submission at the following website: www.bc.edu/etd For further assistance with the submission process, please contact etd-support@bc.edu . Doctoral Checklist and Information Form Dissertation DeadlinesSpring graduation : Defend and submit the final dissertation no later than April 1. Final deadline for revisions by April 16. Summer graduation : Defend no later than June 30 and submit the final dissertation no later than August 5. Fall graduation : Defend and submit the final dissertation no late than December 5. Summer defense hearings in July can only be scheduled with permission from the Associate Dean. Defenses must take place prior to July 22nd. Students must submit their dissertation no later than August 5th. This grievance procedure provides a process for constructively resolving serious academic, supervisory or administrative grievances that undergraduate and graduate students may have with faculty, supervisors, staff or administrators. (Revised Lynch School EPC, May, 2007) This grievance procedure provides a process for constructively resolving serious academic, supervisory or administrative grievances that undergraduate and graduate students may have with faculty, supervisors, staff or administrators. Its purpose is to resolve in a fair manner any grievances arising from grading, other evaluation or supervisory practices, and appeals that students may want to initiate if they are dissatisfied with decisions made by the committees that direct their degree program or the Academic Standards Committee of the Lynch School. To that end, all concerned should display a cooperative manner. Resolutions should be attempted between the parties involved and mediated rather than directed outcomes should be sought, and should be sought at the lowest possible administrative level. Confidentiality of the student(s) and faculty members(s) involved should be maintained at all times. In the event that the student’s Chairperson, advisor, supervisor, Dean or Associate Dean is a party to the grievance that person should recuse him/herself from considering the matter, and the appropriate administrator at the next highest administrative level will replace that person If at any time in these procedures the student anticipates that discussing the matter directly with the faculty member, supervisor, committee or program staff would be uncomfortable, the student may request an ombudsperson. In this case, the Chair or appropriate Associate Dean will make a reasonable effort to assign an ombudsperson who is acceptable to the student. If a student believes that he or she has been evaluated unfairly or has another serious grievance, the student should discuss the matter with the faculty member, supervisor or committee involved as soon as possible after the evaluation has been received or the grievance arises. This discussion should provide an opportunity for further dialogue and clarification between faculty and student about how the matter was determined, what criteria were used, and any related issues. If such a discussion results in a mutually acceptable resolution, the matter will be considered closed. If either party wishes to have a written statement of the outcome, the parties will put the resolution in writing, sign it, and each retain a copy. This written statement must be completed no later than two weeks after the mutually acceptable resolution has been reached. If, however, a mutually acceptable disposition cannot be achieved, the student may present the matter in writing to the Chairperson of the department in which the faculty member, supervisor, or committee is located administratively. The student's written statement to the Chair must be submitted no later than two weeks from the date of the final meeting with the faculty member, supervisor, committee or program staff and clearly specify the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested. The Chairperson will review the matter by meeting individually with each individual involved and reviewing any written materials related to the grievance. The Chairperson will meet again with the individuals involved, either separately or jointly or both, in an attempt to resolve the matter. The Chairperson will provide a written response within two weeks of this meeting. If a settlement is reached, it is to be put in writing and signed by the Chairperson and each of the parties, with each to retain a copy. If no resolution is reached, the Chairperson will prepare a written summary of events relevant to the grievance and provide a copy of it to the student and the faculty member or other individuals involved. In the event that the grievance concerns treatment or evaluation in the practicum, the student should follow this same procedure, discussing the matter first with his or her field supervisor. If this discussion does not lead to resolution, the matter should be brought to the appropriate Director of Field Placements who will follow the guidelines described above for Department Chairs. If a field site grievance involves an organization other than Boston College, the student should pursue the grievance through that organization's applicable procedures. In such a case, the student is advised to inform his or her Lynch School supervisor of the grievance. Formal Appeal Procedures
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
 Schedule an appointment to meet with the Center for Global and Career Services about your area of interest.
 Make it Yours at Curry College!
 Student-run clubs, organizations, and events are a key part of succeeding at Curry.
 A Division III experience unlike any other. See what it means to be a Curry Colonel.
 Empower our students to achieve their ambitions. Consider a gift to Curry College today.
 Our rich liberal arts tradition, sound career focus, and empowering and supportive environment prepare our students for success. 
Educating the Top Nurses in Massachusetts for Nearly 50 Years In 1977, Boston Children's Hospital School of Nursing elected to phase out their diploma school and merge their resources with Curry College. As the first Nursing program in the State of Massachusetts to be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, we pride ourselves on delivering a rigorous, world- class, educational experience that prepares graduates to provide the highest quality of nursing care. The Path to Your Dream Career:Bachelor of science, nursing major. Through specialized courses, clinical placements, supportive faculty, and state of the art technology, students in the traditional undergraduate nursing program receive a hands-on education to help them excel as an RN at top medical facilities. Exercise Science MajorStudents pursuing a degree in Exercise Science will be well-prepared for entry-level careers in fitness, wellness, sports performance, medical fields and/or entrance into graduate-level programs like Nursing, Athletic and Exercise Training, Exercise Physiology, and Physical Therapy. RN-BS DegreeRN to Baccalaureate (BSN, BS or Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs provide an efficient bridge for diploma and ADN-prepared nurses who wish to develop stronger clinical reasoning and analytical skills to advance their careers. Accelerated Second DegreeCurry College offers the Accelerated Nursing Program (ACCEL) to provide a route for students who want to make a career change into nursing by earning a second bachelor's degree. Master of Science in NursingCurry College's MSN program prepares RNs for careers as nurse educators and nurse administrators. Pursuing an MSN takes dedication, but it can have a huge impact on your nursing success in the form of new opportunities, from higher pay to greater responsibilities. MSN - Accelerated EntryAre you ready to make a difference? Designed for graduates who hold a non-nursing degree, Curry’s Accelerated Entry Master of Science in Nursing will prepare you to enter the nursing profession with a master’s degree, opening exciting career opportunities. Benefit from a curriculum built around real-world, hands-on experiences, and learn with a cohort of your peers in a hybrid model. Perioperative 101 CertificatePerioperative 101 is a non-credit six-month certificate preparation program that prepares RNs to sit for certification through Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). Our StudentsGoing above and beyond the classroom.  Curry College Student Nurses Association members participate in community, legislative and recruitment projects, attend national and local conferences, have access to the NSNA Foundation Scholarship Program, and much more.  Honor SocietyStudent members of Sigma Theta Tau have many opportunities, including traveling away and abroad, to leadership conferences, academic events, member forums and a biennial convention.  Curry College students from the School of Nursing and Health Sciences routinely engage in health promotion and disease prevention in the Greater Boston area.  Purple Pride for Clinicals!School of Nursing and Health Sciences students don purple scrubs for their clinical rotations out in the field, representing the official color of Curry College. Highlights in NursingCurry College to be First in Massachusetts to Offer Job GuaranteeCurry College Launches New Major in Exercise ScienceCurry College Faculty Accomplishments Summer/Fall 2023New Nursing and Theatre Collab Creates Unique Course Offering for StudentsSchool of Nursing Students Explore French Healthcare System and Culture During Faculty-Led Trip AbroadJay Gonzalez Appointed as President of Curry CollegePresent, Publish, and Produce: Spring 2023 Faculty AccomplishmentsMaster of Science in Nursing Students Recommend Informed Healthcare Solutions in Capstone ProjectsStudents Present Culminating Research at Annual Academic ForumLife-changing opportunities await. Start with a foundation in the liberal arts. Add attentive faculty and countless opportunities to learn by doing. That’s what you’ll get with a bachelor’s degree from Curry. Learn what’s waiting for you today. We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. By continuing to use this website, you consent to Curry College’s usage of cookies and similar technologies in accordance with the college’s Cookie Notice . |
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Back To Top. Connell School of NursingMaloney Hall140 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill, MA 02467Call: 617-552-4250. Apply. Visit. Give. Find Your Path.
Nursing faculty take pride in the nursing collection. Complete files of all nursing indices, bibliographies, and reference books and selected major indices in related fields are included. ... The Boston College Nursing Library collection has long been recognized for its breadth and depth of coverage of nursing literature. The health collection ...
Expert Clinicians. Seventy-two percent of our full-time faculty are active in nursing practice, working in locations such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, and St. Francis House Boston.
The School of Nursing, as it was then known, was founded in 1947 at the behest of Archbishop Richard Cushing, who saw the need for a bachelor degree-granting school of nursing under Catholic auspices in the Greater Boston area. Mary Maher, who served on the faculty of the Massachusetts General Hospital School, was appointed dean in November 1946. At that time, Boston College was an all-male ...
The William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College (Connell) has 55 full-time faculty members. The total graduate nursing enrollment is 337. At-a-Glance
BC's School of Nursing opened in Feb. 1947 with a class of 35 to accommodate the nursing education system at the time. Though the school was originally based in Newbury St. on Boston, nursing students had to commute to the Chestnut Hill campus for some classes and labs while gaining clinical experience working in Boston hospitals.
You may also set different preferences for internal and external directory search audiences. Before making your choices, please read the privacy pages carefully. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 617-552-4357. Walk-In Help Desk, O'Neill 3rd floor. Technical Resources For. Students. Faculty.
I am pleased and excited to write from the Connell School of Nursing's new home in Maloney Hall. Our late May move to a 35,000-square-foot location on the second and third floors of Maloney made for a momentous end to an extremely successful academic year. I am proud to share with you this annual overview of the many ways in which our faculty ...
Empowering and educating nurses since 1902, Simmons University offers online nursing programs that extends our esteemed Boston-based programs to students across the country through a dynamic, online learning platform. Online RN to BSN. Online MSN-FNP. Online MSN-PMHNP.
Founded in 1947, the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing ... Our students, faculty, and alumni are transforming health care in hospitals, community clinics, research labs, and classrooms. Join them, and prepare to make your own impact. ... U.S. News & World Report Best Undergraduate Nursing. 100%.
During the 2020-2021 academic year, 113 students graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing from Boston College. About 10% were men and 90% were women. The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at Boston College are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 67% of students fell into this category.
Full Time Faculty Nurse Education (Fall Semester) Bunker Hill Community College. Boston, MA 02129. ( Charlestown area) Typically responds within 1 day. $70,000 - $75,000 a year. Full-time. Easily apply. Teach courses in nursing including nursing process, critical thinking, pharmacology, therapeutic communications, priority setting, mental ...
Full Time Faculty Nurse Education (Fall Semester) Bunker Hill Community College. Boston, MA 02129. ( Charlestown area) Typically responds within 1 day. $70,000 - $75,000 a year. Full-time. Easily apply. Teach courses in nursing including nursing process, critical thinking, pharmacology, therapeutic communications, priority setting, mental ...
Boston College. Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. Pay information not provided. Full-time. Ranked 35 among national universities, Boston College has 888 full-time and 1,281 FTE faculty, 2,711 non-faculty employees, an operating budget of $1.4 billion,…. Posted 30+ days ago ·. More... 124 Nursing Faculty Boston College jobs available in Boston, MA on ...
Haeok Lee, Professor Emerita, Department of Nursing. Suzanne G. Leveille, Professor Emerita, Department of Nursing. , Traditional Nursing Program Director and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing. , Clinical Associate Lecturer, Department of Nursing. , Master's and Post-Master's Certificate Program Director and Clinical Assistant ...
The William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College welcomes qualified applicants to apply for the Assistant Professor of the Practice faculty position(s). Qualifications: We are currently seeking candidates with a Ph.D. and/or D.N.P. with licensure and/or certification as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner.
The faculty develops and disseminates knowledge for the advancement of professional nursing practice and the improvement of health and health care for a diverse and global society. ... are active participants in shaping the learning environment within the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing. The Boston College William F. Connell ...
Full-Time Faculty. Suha Ballout, Assistant Professor and Traditional Nursing Program Director, Department of Nursing ... Dean of Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences; Richard K. Fleming, Professor Emeritus, Department of Exercise and Health Sciences ... Boston, MA 02125 617.287.5000. Contact UMass Boston. Directory; Employment; Civil ...
August 5, 2024 Emmanuel College's summer research program offers students and faculty alike the distinct opportunity to collaborate on scholarly work. This summer... Boston's Emmanuel College School of Nursing & Clinical Sciences offers undergraduate nursing programs are designed to take your career to the next level with 100% career outcomes.
Boston College is deeply committed to providing you with the highest quality educational experience. The. Accesses information and seeks experiences to promote personal and professional growth, advance nursing practice, and improve the care of individuals, families, and populations. American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). (2008).
Additionally, many nursing faculty are members of The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. The strength of our academic offerings and the depth of our clinical/practical collaborations comes from how well-respected our faculty is within the health and fitness professions. Faculty: EHS; Faculty: Gerontology; Faculty: Nursing
Boston College nursing students are encouraged to take advantage of a range of opportunities for international study. One popular program is study abroad for an entire semester, which enriches awareness of other cultures and can assist in developing foreign language fluency. ... The Associate Dean and Boston College faculty teaching the ...
In 1977, Boston Children's Hospital School of Nursing elected to phase out their diploma school and merge their resources with Curry College. As the first Nursing program in the State of Massachusetts to be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, we pride ourselves on delivering a rigorous, world- class, educational ...