Implementing a new policy without informing students?

[love.live.laugh]

So I was recently admitted into an accelerated nursing program and the rule is that you have to do a pre-term before starting nursing classes and clinicals the following semester. One of the pre-term classes that I took was patho and long story short I did not pass the class due to my own lack of focus and studying. I went to meet with the program director early last week to see where to go from there and she basically explained to me that I would have to re-take patho in the upcoming spring semester instead of beginning my nursing classes and on top of that I would have to move from the accelerated path down to the traditional path.

Well today I called the office to have one of the advisors enroll me into the patho class for the spring. Everything was fine and she said to give her a call in the morning and she would enroll me. Not even 20 minutes later the same program director that I met with last week who told me that I had the option of doing the traditional track at the school informed me that I would not be allowed to continue in the program at all. The reason being that someone else at the head of the program, can't remember her position, re-evaluated my file and 'discovered' that for one of my pre-reqs (bio-chem) I had a W and then later retook the class and received a B. Well according to her there was a new policy implemented just this fall that says that students are not allowed to continue in the program if they do not have a passing grade in two science courses. She basically said that the bio-chem withdrawal counted as the first class and the patho counted as the 2nd, so I'm out.

The thing is, I have never once heard about this rule/policy until today! She said that it was written in the handbook but I would think that a policy this important that they would have informed students about it prior to the program starting or at the initial orientation that we had. The program director herself clearly did not know about this policy either until today when she was informed about it, she states so herself, otherwise she obviously would have brought it up during our meeting last week. Now I understand that nursing programs are strict with their policies and do not usually budge and to be honest, after this I'm not even really interested in this program anymore.

How are they allowed to not inform students about a policy this important especially if it was just implemented this fall semester and especially after I had already been accepted and they knew of the W that I had on my transcript? Perhaps I missed the memo but I'm sure something like this I would remember. I knew about the passing grade of 77% and having a 2.75 to remain in the program or you would have to re-take the course, and a workshop and then drop into the traditional track as they made sure to touch on that during orientation and state it multiple times in our program packet but this came completely out of no where. What if I did pass patho but ended up failing or withdrawing a course later on? They would have still dismissed me due to this 'new' rule and I don't think that is fair. Note that I am not arguing against not passing patho as I know that is my own fault but are they really allowed to suddenly include a new policy that could drastically affect a student's placement in the program without telling all of the students?

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

In a word, yes. They can do whatever they want. But I am sure they sent some kind of notification whether it be an email or whatever. My school makes changes mid semester. There is nothing you can really do about it.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Were you required to sign anything stating that you have received said handbook and understand its policies? Regardless of whether or not you did, as a student it is your express responsibility to read ALL of the policies of the school you are attending. By giving you an academic handbook, the responsibility is off the hands of the administrators and into the hands of its student body.

And, to be honest, they are allowed to due whatever they damn well please in regards to the policies and their students. Nursing school is very much "my way or the highway."

[love.live.laugh]

I don't remember receiving a handbook during any point of the orientation the only policies we received in terms of grades and staying in the program were the ones I stated above which were clearly explained and written on the information sheets we received and signed. The orientation happened some time over the summer and I was told that the policy was implemented just this fall so I don't know if the policy was in place at the time of the orientation and as I mentioned, if the director of the accelerated program had no idea about the policy how would they expect the students to? Ultimately, I am too tired and stressed to try and argue against it, I'm just going to take this as a sign that this program wasn't right for me anyways but I've just never heard of a school, rather a nursing program, not tell students something as huge and important as this. Since W's did not mean you aren't going to be accepted into the program, there could be a lot of students in the program currently that transferred in with a W before they retook a class and this could affect them greatly.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

If it's in the handbook, they did inform you. It's your responsibility to read it.

Understandably, it's upsetting to find out a rule like this at the last minute. They are allowed to do whatever they want with the program including changing rules last minute.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Also keep in mind that by failing the patho course, they can re-evaluate your eligibility at that point. So, you aren't "grandfathered" in due to changes in policy. Sorry, but it is what it is. You didn't meet the standards that were set in the handbook. Ignorance of the standards is no excuse. We're required to read the handbook. If you were made aware that the handbook existed during your orientation, it's your responsibility to read it. Our student handbook had some major changes between when I started and this fall. No announcements were ever made. We're expected to review it each semester for changes.

[love.live.laugh]

Once again, there was no mention of a handbook, so there was no ignorance involved and given that the W I received came from a pre-req course that I took a few years back and did not come from a class that I took upon entering the program, yes I feel that students should have been notified of a new policy that could majorly affect their position in the program, period. That is also something that prospective students should be told but ok, thanks for your input. I guess I should have known by reading posts on here how grimey some nursing programs are but I know now.

[caliotter3]

And yes, there are some programs that will go so far as to go against their own written policy if they believe the student is not astute enough to have the policy or know what to do with it. It is not necessarily the program as a whole, but certain individuals with positions of power within that program.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Once you fail a class you have just given the school ammunition. Then the situation is out of your control. Make sure you learn from this experience and take full control of your life. As long as you get good grades you are empowered and can focus on the day to day life challenges and not adding to what is already a difficult life!. As far as the school..if this was listed then it is on you. Unless this policy changed after you were a student and could be grandfathered in. It is not the schools responsibility to inform you of every single rule they have. You must take charge of your own career. Just learn from this...and make it number 1 to get the grades you need and be in control of your life best you can. Good luck.

[love.live.laugh]

Once you fail a class you have just given the school ammunition. Then the situation is out of your control. Make sure you learn from this experience and take full control of your life. As long as you get good grades you are empowered and can focus on the day to day life challenges and not adding to what is already a difficult life!. As far as the school..if this was listed then it is on you. Unless this policy changed after you were a student and could be grandfathered in. It is not the schools responsibility to inform you of every single rule they have. You must take charge of your own career. Just learn from this...and make it number 1 to get the grades you need and be in control of your life best you can. Good luck.

I definitely agree and thank you.