SENIOR IN NURSING SCHOOL FACING HUGE PROBLEM...please help

[JNogueira95]

Hi folks, Im here for a bit of advice, I hope someone can help.

Long story short....

Im a senior nursing student (4 yr program), single mom, working 2 jobs to get through school. The passing grade for as long as Ive been there has been 75 for all nursing courses. Over last summer they changed it to 77 and did not grandfather the senior class in. Unfortunately, I ended up with a final course grade of 75 and they have failed me for the semester. This means no grauation in May, no classes to start in 2 weeks and I would need to retake the entire class all over again in the fall with no financial aid....$6,000.00. If I was 18 still living with my folks to help, it might not be so bad but this isnt the situation. I have a child who depends on me and I need to start working immediately.

I met with the chairperson of the nursing dept and got nowhere. I was told they do not grandfather seniors because if they did, they would have to do the jrs and sophmores as well and new policies would never get implemented. I spoke to a student advocate who basically guides me to the next step (Im trying to follow protocol). She works under the Dean. She brought up the problem to him and he directed it back to the chairperson of the nursing dept...in which I got no where the first time. I was also told by another classmate that the Dean will be resigning after this semster to go right to the president of the college (talk about intimidating !!).

I am emotionally, physically and financially exhauted at this point and I need some direction. I have 2 state reps offering to help me. Should I have them contact the President or should I do it on my own basically waste my time. Or should I make arrnagements to meet with my 2 professors to go over my exams to look for extea points that could be brought into the mix. Can someone please advise? I know there are very well educated and professional nurses on this site and I would apprecaite any advice you can throw my way. Thanks so much!!!! future RN....soooo confused

[TazziRN, RN]

My school tried the same thing in my last semester. We got a new DON at the beginning of the year who turned out to be a total witch. She changed the passing grade and implemented it for the seniors even though it was our last semester. There was one who did not get to graduate with us. She went through the chain of command and got nowhere and finally hired an attorney and asked for a hearing before a peer review board. It wasn't until she went before the peer review that she finally got anywhere.......the students on the board could not believe the new grade was implemented for the students about to graduate. My classmate was allowed to get her degree even though it happened after the actual graduation, and was able to take her boards. None of us, even my classmate, argued the change in passing grade level. It was unfair to implement it for the graduating seniors. Whoever told you the juniors and sophs would also have to be grandfathered in was wrong. If you have reps willing to go to bat for you, I'd take them up on it.

[ann945n, RN]

Like others said check your student hand book and see what the rules are and If they told you at the begining of the quater Im afraid you have no way to argue this but if it was mid way then you should be able to argue that then cause you werent given notice at the right time. I would also hire an attorney if things get ugly, you spent too much time and money to let them take it away from you, also work the chain of command and be nice but firm, good luck and im so sorry you are going through this, keep fighting!

[edgwow]

CAll the newspaper, write a letter to the editor of the paper about the injustice that the school is serving you. Go to the President with info in hand about grading policy. Ask the dean for a syllabus for the class and see what the requirement was at the beginning of the course. Talk to an attorney, if you get no where.

[peds4now, RN]

This whole thread just saddens me so much. What is it with nursing schools that people are treated so disrespectfully? Unfortunately, I think they may have learned it during their careers as nurses. I don't want to be a mean, combative person-but nursing school has taught me to be one. An acquaintance called me the other day to say she may go into nursing and I actually said, "Are you sure?" And I'm not even graduated yet!

I think the person who pointed out that the date they announced the new grading scale is important has a good point. If you were given materials or told on the first day of the class that 75% would pass, it should pass.

I would pursue all avenues to pass the class, and aggressively, but at the same time, start making plans. Did you say single mother of 2? If it were 100% necessary, surely you could take a breather, earn some more money, and reconnect with your kids (i.e., learn their names again-just joking!). I'm not saying give up, just start thinking about your options. Man plans and God laughs, as they say. So you have to learn to adjust.

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

I know this may not be a popular answer, but if the passing grade at the beginning of the semster was 77, then, I don't see why there is a problem. If they had changed the policy mid semester, then that's one thing, but if it was like that all semester....

Some schools have a 80% passing average, so it's not impossible.

[burn out]

Hey you have to survive this world and I think you should use all the resources available to you..use the representatives if you have to..then if that dosen't work you can do it over.

[fleur-de-lis, BSN, RN]

I am so sorry this is happening to you. I would definitely take the representatives up on their offer - and use any and all other resources. Like others have said, newspapers (including the student one if there is one), radio and tv stations, etc. Even if only one of them picks up the story it might have an impact. I even like the recommendation to seek legal counsel. I know you are strapped for cash, so maybe try a law student in their final semester - I am sure they can relate to your situation. And do review your exams when you get the chance, every point helps! Best of luck to you, and let us know how it goes.

[nurse4theplanet, RN]

I disagree with the majority here as well, but in a different direction. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHEN THEY TOLD YOU ABOUT THE CHANGE IN POLICY, YOU SHOULD BE GRANDFATHERED IN...as well as any students who interviewed and entered into the program BEFORE this new policy was every instituted. You had a responsibility to research different programs and their policies to decide whether or not you could meet the requirements before you made the final decision which program you would attend...you put up thousands of dollars in tuition with the understanding of what would be expected of you...and you have met all their requirements thus far.

Just because they decide they want to institute a change in their grading policy, does not mean they have the right to switch them on you midstream. Sure, we are talking two points...but if they have the "right" to raise it two points, they have the equal "right" to raise it 10 points. I think anyone would agree that if the school had raised the passing rate 10pts after you had signed on for the program and tried to make you abide by that policy change, then that would be absolutely ridiculous. So what's the difference because the policy was raised just two points. There is no difference. That's my point.

It's the PRINCIPLE of you having an understanding of what would be required of you before you ever ENTERED into the program. Students who now enter the program have the benefit of reading the new grading policy and determining whether they believe they can meet the minimum standards, therefore determining whether they want to invest their money in the program. You do not have that option.

I would fight this one tooth and nail. I would demand that I be passed, grandfathered, or get a refund for my tuition. I would get an attorney...whatever it took. The school has every right to change their policy, and you have every right to finish under the policy that existed when you decided to enter the program. That's my humble opinion. Good luck to you.

[Halinja, BSN, RN]

In our university there are people called "ombudsmen" that are advocates for the student within the university system. They can arrange for meetings between the offending teachers/department heads etc and the higher administration, and even the university's legal counsel. (believe me, the university/college has legal counsel on retainer)

I didn't see it mentioned anywhere, but I may have just missed it. If at the beginning of the semester the syllabus of the class says a passing grade is 75, they cannot legally change the requirement to a 77, unless they do it IN WRITING and BEFORE the end of the class. If they told you in the syllabus at the beginning of a class that 77 was the passing grade, then what happened in the past is irrelevant.

[kukukajoo, LPN]

Yup I would go straight to the top and pull out all the guns I could find if it meant my future was in danger!

When you start out at the bottom it just takes you longer to get where you want. You HAVE to protect your future for your kids!

I too am a single mom and I KNOW what this degree means to you and as hard as you have worked and them to get this kind of treatment is just plain old WRONG!

Were they trying to weed out certain people by doing this? If so it could be thinly veiled discrimination.

In my college, the way the program is when you enter, is the way it is when you graduate, other than tuition increases expected. No classes added, no grading changes, etc. Subsequent changes only effect incoming students which I think may be the law in many places. It falls under contractural obligations.

Good luck and please keep us posted. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you until I know you are okay!

[JoJo_Ga_Girl]

Hi! I may not end up with a lot of fans in this thread but I was just wondering something. What is the problem with changing the average to 77 and not grandfathering seniors in? You failed the class by not meeting their new standard. It is the same as if you had failed it by not getting a 75 before. I understand the hardship you are facing. My sister in law is a single mother with two kids who is trying to make ends meet while going to school but you knew at the beginning of this class that you needed a 77 to pass, correct? I don't see a problem with a school raising their standard. I don't think that you should be allowed to pass because you are a senior. I can see your point if you are saying they changed the overall passing average to 77 but this is just one class. When students fail a class, they have to take it over.

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

Did they tell you about the '77 is passing policy' at the beginning of the semester where you made a 75? If not, then it seems like they should have to use the policy that was in place at the start of the semester.

I agree. I dont see how they can implement a new policy in the middle of a semester. Also, dont you have a student handbook? At my school, we went by the policies that were in place in OUR handbook at the time we started. If we dropped out for a semester for a time out or failed a semester, when we came back we had to go by the new one and its new policies. That may be an argument worth haggling. Let us know what happens.