ASU Department of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences
Undergraduate Student Handbook
Classroom Policy

Student Attendance

It is imperative that students attend lecture, clinical and laboratory experiences as scheduled. A week's worth of cumulative absences in any one course will result in faculty evaluation of the student's ability to meet course objectives and may result in failure of the course. Three tardies (over 5 minutes late for lecture, campus laboratory, or clinical) will equal 1 hour of absence.

Equivalent weekly attendance is an expectation of online classes and critical to the successful completion of the course. For example, in a 3 hour credit course, a faculty member may require 3 separate days attendance in an on-line discussion forum. Online classroom attendance is evidenced by timely participation in the discussion assignments and other assigned activities. Failure to contribute in a timely fashion to any weekly discussion is considered an absence and could also result in an evaluation of the student's ability to meet course objectives and may result in failure of the course.

Classroom Behavior

Students are expected to observe the following guidelines for classroom behavior:

• Neither children nor pets may be brought to classes or clinical agencies under any circumstance. Children must not be left unattended in any area of the building.
• The Lloyd D. & Jonell S. Vincent Nursing-Physical Science Building is a non-smoking facility.
• No food or drinks are allowed in classrooms.
• Students are expected to be seated by the designated starting time for classes.
• A student deemed disruptive by a faculty member may be asked to leave the classroom.
• Cell phones must be turned off during class or lab. Pager/beepers, if used, must be set on silence during class or lab. Messages received during lecture may be returned during class breaks.
• Respectful, formal communication skills are used in online forums.

Examinations

The exam counseling and test review policy is congruent with our mission to prepare competent professionals to meet the nursing care needs of a culturally diverse society.

The goal of this policy is threefold:

1. Improve student’s understanding of critical core concepts
2. Improve student test taking skills
3. Maintain exam security 

The exam review procedure will include the following steps:

• Each student is assigned to a testing group.  Each testing group is assigned a specific exam time.
• Each student will be able to review the exam questions and their responses immediately – during the specified exam time period - only.
• Faculty will evaluate test questions, analyze  results and identify the most frequently missed concepts.  Students will be provided a list of concepts – derived from questions they answered incorrectly.  Students will be encouraged to re-read and review content in textbook correlating with missed concept and then re-test on the content area using ATI or any other available testing program.  The score or grade a student received on the ATI assessment will not influence the final grade or any grade received in a nursing course.

Exam Counseling (AASN Program):

A student receiving a grade below 75 on an exam or a student with an average of below 75 must be advised by faculty within one week after exam.  Students are responsible for making appointments with their instructor for counseling.  During this appointment and student and faculty member will together outline a written plan for improvement on the Exam Counseling Statement.  Students in jeopardy of non-progression (grade below 70) will be advised regarding their status before the last drop date.  Readmission criteria are outlined in the current University Catalog.

Exam Make Up:

A student not present to take an assigned nursing examination may receive a grade of zero for that examination.

A student may be allowed to make-up an examination under the following circumstances:

1. Absence is due to serious illness/hospitalization of the student or an *immediate family member.  Documentation by a health care provider will be required at the time the student requests a make-up exam for the day they were ill..
2. Absence  is due to a death in the *immediate family.  Documentation will be required.
3. An absence the faculty and/or Department Head deems as unavoidable.

*Immediate – family member living in the same household or outside household totally dependent on the student for care such as a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild.

To be eligible for a make-up exam in the above circumstances, the student must notify their instructor prior to the absence, and must make arrangements within 48 hours after the absence for the retake.  Faculty have the right to offer an alternative form of the exam and/or to deduct up to 10 points from the exam grade.

Clinical/Skills Lab Absences During Exam Week:

A student who is absent from clinical or skills lab up to 48 hours preceding an assigned nursing examination must present documentation from a health care provider at the time of the exam in order to be eligible  to take the test.  Students without this documentation will not be allowed to take the exam and thus will receive a grade of “0”.  The student must see a health care provider on the day of the absence with the excuse dated accordingly.  Documentation (excuses) dated after the date of the clinical absence will not be accepted. Faculty have the right to offer an alternate form of the exam and/or to deduct up to 10 points from the exam grade. 

Online Testing

Exams in online courses are always considered an independent student activity – NOT a group activity (unless otherwise indicated by your course instructor.) Students are expected to take exams alone and not in a study group. This means that you cannot refer to your textbook or any other materials while you are taking the exam. It is inappropriate to share answers with other students. It is inappropriate to talk to other students while you are taking the test. Students who do not follow the honor code will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Grading Criteria

Course grades will be dependent upon meeting the learning objectives and completing the course specific requirements. Each student will receive the actual grade earned based on exam scores and other graded activities according to the evaluation criteria and percentages outlined in the course syllabus. (Scores and final course grades will not be rounded up.) The following grading scale is used for all courses:

     90 - 100 = A
     80 - 89 = B
     70 - 79 = C
     60 - 69 = D
     59 OR below = F

Guidelines for Written Work

The official source book for formatting papers is the most current edition of:

     Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
     Washington, DC: American Psychological Association

Students are expected to follow the guidelines in this manual. While there are online APA websites with abbreviated guidelines, there is no substitute for the detailed information in the book. Faculty may return papers with an abundance of noticeable errors, including spelling and grammar, and give a zero for the assignment.

Testing Center (Vincent Building - Room 291)

The Computerized Testing Center provides access to a computerized testing system arranged in individualized carrels. Although the Department of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences has priority when scheduling exams in the Testing Center, other university departments and students will also be utilizing this center.

All Associate Degree nursing courses will utilize the Testing Center for most examinations. High security is maintained at all times. Students will be asked to present a picture ID in order to be admitted to the testing center. Personal items will be stored in storage bins before entering. No electronics, phones, equipment, writing utensils, etc. will be allowed in the center. Scratch paper and pencils are provided during testing times.