Academic Policies

The following academic information is important. It is the student’s responsibility to read, understand, and follow these policies.

Academic Advising

Each student is personally responsible for assuring that all academic requirements for graduation are met. To assist with this task, a faculty advisor is assigned to each student. Students are required to meet with their academic advisors each semester to plan their program and semester schedules.

Academic Complaints

Student’s formal, written complaints about academic issues are kept by the Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Provost. These records, including information about the disposition of the complaints handled internally and referred to external agencies for final resolution, will be available for review by agencies that accredit Mercy College. These procedures comply with Federal Title IV regulations. (Click here to view the Student Handbook.)

Administrative Withdrawal

The Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Provost, the administrator of Student Services, and the Financial Aid Office may administratively withdraw a student in situations when he/she has never attended class, has established attendance but has current prolonged absences, or has exceptional circumstances preventing him/her from attending class or coming to the College to complete a withdrawal form. Exceptional circumstances might include:

1. Extreme medical situation in which the student is unable to initiate the withdrawal process. In such cases the administrator of Student Services initiates the withdrawal process.
2. Behavioral situations where it is deemed the student may be a danger to themselves or others and must be suspended, dismissed, or expelled from the College. In such cases the administrator of Student Services initiates the withdrawal process.

Attendance

Students are expected to be punctual and attend all class, laboratory, and clinical sessions for which they are registered. There are no exceptions to this rule unless specifically addressed by the instructor at the beginning of each course.

Auditing a Course

A student may audit a course if there is sufficient space available. Students may not audit any portion of a course that includes a clinical component. Although auditing students need not complete class assignments, take tests, or participate in class activities; they may do so with the permission of the instructor.A student may not change from or to audit status after the first week of the course. Neither a grade nor credit will be granted for an audited course. Audited courses do not serve as prerequisites for other courses. The student’s transcript will reflect “AU” for the audited class.

Cancellation of a Course

Mercy College reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment. Students will receive a full refund for the course.

Change of Registration

Schedule Change. Schedule changes are not official until a completed Schedule Change Form is received by the Registrar. Guidelines for schedule changes are as follows:

1. A Schedule Change fee is required after the second Friday of the semester.
2. Students may not enter a course after the first full week of the term or equivalent period for shorter courses without instructor permission.
3. Students may withdraw from a course before the end of the second week without having the course appear on their academic record.
4. All changes in course schedules must be approved by the student’s advisor and course instructor.
5. Students who withdraw from a course after the second week and before the end of the eighth week of the semester will receive a grade of “W.” Withdrawals after this time period will result in a grade of “F.” Students may withdraw from a course that is shorter than 15 weeks with a “W” after 13% of the course is completed and before 50% of the course is completed. Refer to registration information provided by the Registrar.
6. Students receiving financial assistance must consult with the Financial Aid Office regarding financial consequences before changing schedules.

Withdrawal from the College

Students who withdraw from the College must present the Registrar with a completed College Exit form. Tuition charges paid by a student withdrawing will be refunded according to the college refund policies.

Student wishing to withdraw from the College or a program for medical reasons will be considered for readmission according to the readmission policies.

Clinical Transportation

Students are required to provide their own transportation to the clinical site. Clinical sites are located in Des Moines, Grinnell, Knoxville, Madrid, Marshalltown, Mason City, Nevada, Newton, Pleasant Hill, Winterset, and other cities.

Communication Competency Requirement

In order to graduate, all degree seeking students must demonstrate written and oral communication competency by passing the Communication Competency Requirement (CCR) as follows:
Submit the following to the Assessment Office:

1. Two examples of writing other than those completed in ENG 101 English Composition I.
2. Two oral communication examples or small group presentations other than those completed in SPE 105 Small Group Communication.
    

These materials are due no later than the semester prior to when the student will graduate. Detailed information can be found within a student’s E-LEOS login at http://mercy.angellearning.com through the Mercy College 101: Mercy College Student Course as well as the Student Handbook.

Students holding a bachelor’s degree or higher are not required to complete the Communication Competency Requirement.

Continuous and Non-Continuous Attendance

A student in continuous attendance must complete all graduation requirements listed in the Mercy College Catalog in effect at the time the student initially enrolled at the College. If the student remains in continuous attendance and new graduation requirements are in place at the time the student completes the application for graduation, the student will have the option of choosing to complete the new requirements as published in the current catalog.

If a student does not remain in continuous attendance, the graduation requirements in effect at the time you initially enrolled at the College remain in effect, provided the period of non-attendance does not exceed one full semester (two semesters for bachelor degree seeking students). This does not include a semester in which a student withdraws before the semester is complete, or a semester in which a required course is not offered and there are no other required courses available for the student to enroll in that semester. If the period of non-attendance exceeds these limits, the student will be required to complete the graduation requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Failing Liberal Arts and Sciences Course

Liberal arts and sciences (LAS) required program courses are considered failed courses unless a grade of “C” or higher (not “C-“) is earned. LAS elective courses not required for a program are considered failed courses if a grade of “F” is earned. (See Program Promotion Policy section)

Grade Point Average

Semester GPA

A student’s semester Grade Point Average (GPA) is determined by dividing the number of quality points earned during the semester by the number of credit hours attempted during the semester. Only course grades earned at Mercy College are used to calculate a student’s semester GPA.

Cumulative GPA

A student’s cumulative GPA is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. Only course grades earned at Mercy College are used to calculate a student’s cumulative GPA.

GPA is calculated to the thousands decimal place.

Grading

Mercy College uses the following grading system to monitor student progress:

Determination of Course Grade

Faculty members determine the grading standards for each course they teach and identify these standards in the course syllabus. The course syllabus is not to be considered a contract with the student. The instructor can revise, modify, add to or eliminate terms and requirements contained in the course syllabus at any time with proper notice to the students.

Grade Disputes

Students who dispute a course grade are required to follow the Student Academic Complaint Procedure found in the Student Handbook.

Graduation

Students wishing to graduate must complete all degree requirements, including Community Service Project, Communication Competency Requirement, and Program Portfolio (if applicable) by their intended graduation date. You must complete the Application for Graduation when registering for the semester prior to the semester of your intended graduation. Students who will have only one course to finish at the time of their intended graduation date may participate in graduation ceremonies, but will not receive their diploma until all graduation requirements and financial obligations are successfully completed.

Graduation Residency Requirements

Students completing a certificate (not short-term certificate) or graduating with an Associate Degree must complete 15 credit hours at Mercy College.Students graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree must complete 30 credit hours at Mercy College.

Further details of graduation requirements are found within the program specific sections.

Honors

Graduation Honors

Mercy College recognizes the outstanding achievement of its graduates by awarding the following graduation honors:

Recipients of the Bachelor’s Degree

• Summa Cum Laude. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher.
• Magna Cum Laude. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.650 to 3.799 inclusive.
• Cum Laude. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.500 to 3.649 inclusive.

Recipients of the Associate’s Degree

• Highest Honors. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher.
• High Honors. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.650 to 3.799 inclusive.
• Honors. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.500 to 3.649 inclusive.

Recipients of Certificates

• Certificate Highest Honors. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher.
• Certificate High Honors. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.650 to 3.799 inclusive.
• Certificate Honors. Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.649 inclusive.

Student must complete 30 credit hours at Mercy College to be a recipient of Associate’s Degree honors or Certificate honors and must complete 60 hours at Mercy College to be a recipient of Bachelor’s Degree honors.

Commencement ceremony honors are based on the student’s cumulative grade point average achieved at the end of the semester before graduation. Official honors are determined by the final cumulative grade point average.

Semester Honors

Mercy College has established a President’s List and a Dean’s List to recognize exceptional academic achievement. The lists are prepared at the end of each semester including the summer session. All students who have been admitted to the College and who are enrolled in six or more credit hours are eligible.

President’s List

Students who earn a semester GPA of at least 3.75 and do not have Incomplete grades are placed on the President’s List.

Dean’s List

Students who earn a semester GPA between 3.50 and 3.749 and who do not have Incomplete grades are placed on the Dean’s List.

Petition for Graduation

Students must complete the Graduation Application form when registering for the semester prior to the semester of their intended graduation. Verification of eligibility shall be determined by the Registrar and the student’s academic advisor. Graduating students are encouraged to attend Commencement.

If the student remains in continuous attendance and new graduation requirements are in place at the time the student completes the application for graduation, the student will have the option of choosing to complete the new requirements as published in the catalog, in effect, at that time.

A conferred degree and official transcripts are issued after fulfillment of all graduation requirements, including clearance through all College departments e.g. to the library, the business office, and financial aid.

Repeated Courses

A student may repeat a course in order to obtain a better grade. A student is not required to repeat a failed course or a course in which he/she earns a “C-” or below unless it is a required liberal arts and sciences or professional course in their program of study. However, lower grades significantly impact a semester and cumulative GPA. If a student chooses to repeat a course in which they earn a grade of “F” it must be repeated in the next semester the course is offered. Students choosing to repeat a course should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if financial aid is available to pay for the course.

Repeated courses are designated on the student’s transcript with an “R”.  The “R” is placed on the transcript when the grade for the repeated class is assigned.  The last grade earned is the grade calculated in the student’s GPA. Both the original course and the repeated course(s) appear on the student’s official transcript.  Students cannot remove unsatisfactory grades earned at Mercy College by repeating the course at another institution nor will the GPA calculations be changed as a result of transferring a course to Mercy College. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

At Mercy College, students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 as well as a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher. In order to maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must be able to complete the program course requirements of each semester in order, and be promoted to each sequential semester in their program of study. Students who maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 are considered students in “good standing” with the college.  It is possible for students to be in good standing with the college and yet not make satisfactory progress in their program of study.  This can lead to delayed promotion or program dismissal. Academic standards for individual programs remain applicable to students who are in good academic standing.

Service Learning Project

Because the primary purpose of Mercy College is to prepare students for service and leadership in health care Mercy College students will participate in service learning opportunities.  The key objective of these experiences is to integrate meaningful community service with reflection as a way of enhancing our students’ learning. Other objectives include the following:

• To enable students to help others, give of themselves, and enter into caring relationships with others.
• To give students an opportunity to join theory with experience and thought with action.
• To fill unmet needs in the community through direct service which is meaningful and necessary.
• To develop an environment of collegial participation among students, faculty, and the community.
• Shift attention away from an exclusive preoccupation with education as private gain and seeks to balance that concern with a focus on the common good.
• To assist agencies to better serve their clients and benefit from the infusion of enthusiastic volunteers.
• To develop a richer context for student learning.
• To provide cross-cultural experiences for students.
• To better prepare students for their careers and/or continuing education.
• To foster a re-affirmation of students' careers choices.
• To give student greater responsibility for their learning.
• To help students know how to get things done.

In order to graduate, all associate and bachelor degree-seeking students are required to complete a 15-hour Service Learning Project. Six of which will be completed in the PHI/NSG 280 Caring in a Diverse Health Care Environment course. The remaining nine hours will be completed in one of the following methods, depending on the respective professional program requirements:

• An approved service learning experience in the student’s professional program.
• An independent client-centered service project planned by the student and approved by their professional program advisor.
• A combination of both or these.

Each student will keep a journal and a log sheet of their service learning experiences. Additional information on service learning, including the needed paperwork, can be found in the E-LEOS student course.

For associate degree students the Service Learning Project and a final reflection essay are due at the end of their fourth semester of professional coursework. For bachelor degree students or certificate degree students continuing on to their associate degree, the Service Learning Project and a final reflection essay are due no later than the end of the semester prior to when the student will graduate. Although no grade is given, specific criteria must be met. Detailed information can be found within a student’s E-LEOS login at http://mercy.angellearning.com through the Mercy College 101: Mercy College Student Course as well as the Student Handbook. The student’s academic advisor is the initial point of contact regarding the project and is the individual who approves and supervises the activity.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Mercy College is committed to equality of educational opportunity for all students. The Student Success Program Coordinator facilitates academic accommodations and services for students with disabilities so that those students have equal access to College programs and activities, and can participate fully in all aspects of the College.

Student Disability Services administered by the Student Success Program Coordinator include:

1. Establish and communicate criteria for disability services at Mercy College;
2. Review documentation to verify eligibility for disability services;
3. Facilitate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities; and
4. Support disability-related services and opportunities for students with disabilities.

Academic Accommodation

Academic accommodations are provided on a case-by-case basis. The Student Success Program Coordinator reviews the recommendations in the professional report submitted on the student’s behalf and then meets with the student to discuss how the functional impact of his/her disability may relate to course requirements. Together, they develop an accommodation plan subject to approval by the instructor.

Students are required to meet with the Student Success Program Coordinator to initiate the interactive process to provide reasonable academic accommodations.

Student Portfolios

Individual academic programs may require students to complete a portfolio. The portfolio contains samples of the student’s academic work — writing, speech presentations, community service documentation, and other materials — that enable members of the faculty and the student to gauge progress in learning. The portfolio is intended to provide a record of a student’s development with regard to three crucial skills and abilities: communication, critical thinking, and ethical reflection.

Student Work Policy

Clinical students in an Allied Health or Nursing program may be employed by a clinical affiliate in some capacity, but not in the scope of practice of their educational program.

1. Employment hours and clinical hours must be clearly separated.
2. Students must wear clinical student uniforms and student identification name badge while at the affiliate site during clinical program time and may not wear clinical student uniforms and student identification name badge while working as an employee at the clinical affiliate.
3. Students may not receive compensation during clinical hours, but they may receive compensation for working as an employee at the clinical affiliate.
4. Students may not perform in the role or scope of practice of their educational program unless under the supervision of the assigned clinical instructor or preceptor.

Unsatisfactory Academic Progress

At Mercy College, students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 as well as a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher.  In order to maintain satisfactory academic progress, the student must be able to complete the program course requirements of each semester in order, and be promoted to each sequential semester in their program of study. Failure to meet or maintain this standard will result in academic probation, academic dismissal, delayed promotion, or program dismissal from their program of study and/or the College.

Academic Probation

A student will be placed on academic probation by Mercy College for one semester if he/she fails to earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Academic probation will be removed at the end of the next semester if the cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Academic Dismissal

1. Students are dismissed from the College if they fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for two consecutive semesters.
2. Students will also be dismissed from the College if they have been on academic probation twice and their cumulative GPA again falls below 2.0.An exception will be made for students who cannot take the failed course the following semester because the course is not offered. 

Delayed Promotion

A nursing student who is not promoted to the next semester in his/her program of study, according to program promotion requirements, will be placed on Delayed Promotion by the Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Provost. Students must satisfy their promotion requirements within one year or be dismissed from the nursing program. (See Program Promotion Policy within each program section)

Program Dismissal

Mercy College will dismiss a student from his/her program if he/she fails to meet promotion standards for the program. The student may also be subject to Academic Dismissal from the College. (Click here to view the Readmission Policy.) A student who has been dismissed from his/her program may qualify to pursue liberal arts and sciences course work and/or the student may qualify for admission into a new program of study.