Grading: RN-BSN Program

The University of Washington's academic policies are explained in the current UW Tacoma Catalog. Included below are some of the most important items.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

UW's GPA is based solely on courses with decimal grades taken in residence at all campuses of the University of Washington, including those with a DL (Distance Leaning) suffix taken through the UW Educational Outreach.

Grade Requirements/Academic Probation and Dismissal

BSN students must have a minimum grade of 2.0 in all required courses and electives. Students must also achieve a 2.0 grade in any repeated course (see BSN policy on repeating courses below). To graduate from UW Tacoma with a baccalaureate degree, a cumulative 2.0 GPA is required. To remain in good academic standing, a 2.0 GPA is required. If a student fails to get a 2.0 GPA in the first quarter of study, an academic progress update is issued. Failure to raise the GPA above 2.0 in the next quarter results in being placed on academic probation and being given an additional quarter to either raise the GPA to 2.0 or get a quarterly GPA of 2.5 until the cumulative GPA reaches 2.0. Failure to do this results in dismissal for low scholarship. If a continuing student's cumulative GPA drops below 2.0, no progress update will be issued. The student will be placed on academic probation and given one quarter to either raise the GPA to 2.0 or get a quarterly GPA of 2.5 until the cumulative GPA reaches 2.0. Failure to do this results in dismissal for low scholarship.

Non-Traditional Grades

Most courses use decimal grades (numerical grades with a range from 4.0 for an "A" to 0.0 for failing). Other grades that may appear on transcripts are:

S/NS: Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory

  • Required BSN courses and 10 credits of upper-division electives cannot be taken S/NS. Only students taking additional coursework should opt for this grading option. A grade of 2.0 or higher must be recorded by the instructor for the grade of "S" to be awarded.

C/NC: Credit/No Credit

  • Some courses are offered credit/no credit; all students in the course will receive a "CR" or a "NC." (The exception to this rule is in independent study, which allows a student to choose between graded or CR/NC.) To receive a "CR," a student has to earn a passing grade (2.0).

I: Incomplete

  • This grade will appear if a student has made arrangements with the instructor to complete the course work over the following quarter. A student must be in good standing at the time of the request. An "I" grade will convert to a "0.0" if the student does not complete the work and the instructor does not submit a grade by the end of the next quarter (summer quarter does not count), or the student does not request and receive an extension. See an advisor, a faculty member, or the catalog for details.

X: No grade submitted

  • The "X" grade serves as a placeholder in the computer system and will appear if no grade is submitted by the instructor. It will change as soon as the grade is submitted.

Academic Progress Update

An academic progress update (formerly called mid-quarter warning) will be sent from the instructor by email to a learner who is in danger of failing or who has less than a 2.0 grade at mid-quarter. The purpose of the progress update is to notify the learner of the difficulty in ample time so that the situation can be rectified. Learners will be asked to reply to the instructor by email to acknowledge receipt of the progress update; learners may also be  asked to meet with the instructor, their advisor, or other support resources. Progress updates are saved in the student's file, but are removed upon graduation.

Satisfactory Progress

BSN students must demonstrate satisfactory progress in the program to graduate. They must maintain an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 and earn a minimum of 2.0 in all nursing, nursing related, and required program courses.

Nursing Grading Scale

BSN Policy on Repeating Courses

Effective Winter Quarter 2014:  

A BSN student may repeat a course once.  Both the original grade and the second grade will be computed in the grade-point average but credit will be allowed only once.  [See UW Tacoma campus policy.] Furthermore, a BSN student who fails two (2) required courses will not be allowed to continue in the BSN Program as this indicates unsatisfactory progress.  A student may petition to continue in the program. The petition will be reviewed by the BSN committee.  The student will be informed of the committee's decision.  Approved by the BSN Committee on Nov. 26, 2013.

RN-BSN Grade Appeal Process

A student who believes he or she has been improperly graded first discusses the matter with the instructor before the end of the following academic quarter. If the student is not satisfied with the instructor’s explanation, the student may submit a written appeal to the director or the dean of the program that offered the course, with a copy of the appeal also to the instructor. This must be done no later than 10 class days after his or her discussion with the instructor.

The director consults with the instructor to ensure that the evaluation of the student’s performance has not been arbitrary or capricious. Should the director believe the instructor’s conduct to be arbitrary or capricious and the instructor declines to revise the grade, the director, with the approval of the voting members of his or her faculty, shall appoint an appropriate member, or members, of the faculty of that program to evaluate the performance of the student and assign a grade. The UW Tacoma Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the University of Washington Provost should be informed of this action.

Once a student submits a written appeal, this document and all subsequent actions on this appeal are recorded in written form for deposit in the student’s file.

RN-BSN Graduation Requirements

Applications for graduation from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program should be filed three quarters prior to expected date of graduation to ensure time to correct any deficiences. Applications will not be accepted after the end of the first week of the quarter of planned graduation. Filing an application the quarter of planned graduation is not recommended, since it does not allow time to make up any required courses or credits. Schedule an appointment to complete a graduation application.

To qualify for graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Washington Tacoma, a student also must complete the following University requirements:

  • Complete a minimum of 180 credits, at least 45 of which are taken in residence at UW Tacoma
  • Complete 45 of his or her last 60 credits as a matriculated student in residence at UW Tacoma. To seek an exception to this requirement, students should contact the Nursing Advisor, who will submit the request to the UW Tacoma Admissions, Academic Standards and Graduation Committee. If an exception is granted, the student still must present a minimum of 45 credits in residence as a matriculated student to be awarded a UW degree.
  • Remove any admission deficiencies
  • Complete all University Admission Requirements and nursing prerequisites
  • Have at least a 2.0 in each required course and a 2.0 cumulative UW Tacoma GPA at the time of graduation
  • At the completion of the BSN program at UW Tacoma, each student is required to evaluate the program, including how well program goals were accomplished. This evaluation will become a part of the student's record of accomplishment in the program.
  • For cohorts prior to Summer 2022: Portfolio completion in TNURS 451. There are two papers required for the TNURS 451 Portfolio class, Statement of Future Goals and Summary of Progress. These two papers rely on material you save to the E-Portfolio you created in TNURS 450.



    ​​1) Statement of Future Goals - You are required to keep a copy of your BSN Applicant Essay in your E-Portfolio. Your Statement of Future Goals paper will be your comparison of past goals (upon applying to the BSN program) and current professional goals as you reach graduation.



    2) Summary of Progress - As you progress through required courses in the BSN program, there are papers and presentations that you write/create. These will be the basis for your Summary of Progress paper. This paper is organized into four areas: critical thinking, communication, diversity and therapeutic nursing interventions. You are asked to provide evidence of meeting each of these program goals by including brief descriptions of products from coursework and relevant professional experiences. Exemplars from coursework in your portfolio may be cited as supporting evidence in meeting program goals. For example: "Critical Thinking: What evidence exists that documents your ability to be a critical thinker? Describe your skills in reasoning, analysis, research and decision making relevant to nursing." 



    Be sure to take time at the end of each quarter to save course materials to your E-Portfolio. By keeping all of your course products organized in your E-Portfolio, the required papers for TNURS 451 will practically write themselves.

 

Please contact Johnica Hopkins if you have questions or concerns.

Diplomas may take several months to receive.  Typically, spring graduates receive their diplomas in September or October.