As a nursing student at the University of South Florida's College of Nursing, you've chosen to undertake a challenging educational path leading to what, for many, is an extremely rewarding career. On top of this, you're helping reduce the chronic shortage of qualified nurses across the US. That's why it's so important for you to take it seriously if you're charged with misconduct – academic or otherwise – while at school. You can help protect your academic record and your future by contacting the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. Our experienced attorneys understand how disciplinary procedures at USF work and can help you defend yourself in any misconduct proceeding. Call us today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to learn more about how we can help.
There are a number of reasons why you may find yourself defending your academic or conduct record at UCF. Poor grades, allegations of cheating, or behavioral misconduct can result in notations on your permanent record that could make employment after graduation more difficult. Being suspended or even expelled from UCF or its College of Nursing could delay your education for months or years. In extreme cases, the school may refer you to local authorities for possible criminal prosecution.
But you don't have to face these kinds of situations alone, nor should you. By working with one of the experienced attorneys from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team, you'll greatly improve your ability to defend yourself against charges brought against you by the university.
Academic and Professionalism Standards for Nursing Students at the USF College of Nursing
You're probably familiar with the USF College of Nursing's Student Handbook; if not, we recommend you take a few minutes to review it. At more than 150 pages, we admit it's not an easy read, which is one reason we've put together this summary. But as a UCF College of Nursing student, it's important that you are familiar with some of the topics it covers.
For undergraduate nursing students, the USF requires a minimum grade of “C” (on the A/B/C/D/F scale) in nursing curriculum “didactic” (lecture or classroom) courses and a grade of “S” (on the S/U scale) for clinical courses. If your academic performance is “so deficient that the student will not meet this minimum grade requirement,” you can be dismissed by the College of Nursing “immediately.” Similarly, if you're on track to earn or earn a grade below a C or S in two nursing courses, you can be dismissed from the College of Nursing.
In those cases, you will have to petition the USF Baccalaureate Progression Committee for permission to continue with the nursing program and may be required to follow a revised curriculum as a condition of remaining a student in the College of Nursing. In addition, if you receive a notice from USF that you're facing “potential dismissal from the College of Nursing” due to poor grades, you can also petition the USF Baccalaureate Progression Committee.
If you receive a “U” in a clinical program during a semester, you may not be allowed to continue in the clinical program for the remainder of the semester, and in some cases, you “may be removed from all clinical experiences that semester.” If your actions in a clinical setting placed a patient at risk, you could be “immediately dismissed” from the nursing program “and will not be permitted to continue in any nursing coursework or clinical experiences.” While you can file an academic grievance in this situation, the school won't allow you to return to the nursing program until the grievance procedure is complete.
As a nursing student at USF, you're also expected to complete your nursing education in a reasonably prompt manner, ideally according to the academic schedule that the USF College of Nursing provides you with when you are admitted to the college. You're limited to one voluntary academic withdrawal per course, with a limit of two withdrawals total per undergraduate or graduate nursing program. If you take a break from your studies, you may be delayed for up to one year “based on the availability of learner seats.”
Graduate nursing students face higher standards: they must earn a “B” or above in every required nursing course and may not earn any “U” grades in S/U courses. In addition, their overall GPA must be at least 3.00. Ph.D. nursing students must earn at least a B- or better in all doctoral courses and keep a 3.0 average to remain in “good standing” academically. A Ph.D. student who earns below a B- in a course will be required to repeat it.
USF College of Nursing Rules and Procedures Regarding Personal Integrity Violations
The USF College of Nursing expects students to “demonstrate the highest level of honesty, integrity, and responsibility,” and to use their own efforts to complete all academic requirements. College of Nursing students are also expected to follow USF's policy on academic integrity.
In addition to that, nursing students are also required to follow USF's university-wide student conduct policies. These include the Student Code of Conduct, which sets forth “Standards of Behavior” that all USF students are expected to follow. These standards include the following prohibitions:
- Underage alcohol possession or consumption
- Possession of kegs, coolers, “party balls,” and other “common source containers” for alcohol
- Attending class while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Possession or use of illegal drugs, or misuse of a “regulated or controlled substance”
- Dating or domestic violence
- “Disruptive conduct” – generally, any conduct that may “disrupt, disturb, impair, or interfere” with a variety of campus activities
- Sexual and other types of harassment, including stalking
- Hazing
- Physical violence
Altogether the USF Student Code of Conduct lists a total of 31 different categories of misconduct that can result in discipline.
Sanctions
The student conduct process at USF includes a number of potential sanctions that can be imposed on students found to violate university conduct policies. These include:
- Attendance at designated alcohol or substance abuse education programs, or other behavioral modification workshops or seminars
- Conduct probation, which can include restricting the student's campus privileges and activities
- Deferred suspension, where suspension is withheld for a designated period of time during which the student is expected to meet certain requirements set by the school and to demonstrate “satisfactory citizenship.”
- Housing restriction, where the student is not allowed to live in (and sometimes visit) USF residential facilities, including dining halls
- Suspension, which is removal from the USF for a specified period of time
- Expulsion, or permanent removal from the university
Student Conduct Process at USF
The same disciplinary process applies to nursing students at USF as it applies to students across the university. The steps generally include:
- Investigation of the misconduct report by the Director of Student Conduct and Ethical Development, followed by an investigation where warranted
- Issuance of charges against the student by the Director of SCED
- Informational meeting with a Hearing Officer, where the allegations, charges, procedures, and rights will be explained to the student
- Potential resolution of the matter without a hearing. The student can waive a formal hearing and allow the Hearing Officer to resolve the matter without one. In that case, the Hearing Officer will provide the student with their decision regarding “responsibility for conduct violations and applicable sanction” within five days.
- Formal hearings can take two forms; one is before a single Hearing Officer, and the other is before a University Conduct Board composed of two students and one faculty member. There are specific procedures that are followed when formal hearings take place. The university must establish that it was “more likely than not” that the student committed the misconduct in order to rule against the student.
- Appeals are possible from decisions of the Hearing Officer or University Conduct Board, but the grounds for appeal are limited. Appeals may be filed with the USF Dean of Students. In some cases, the final university decision can be appealed in court.
Record Expungement Process
Students at USF who have been disciplined have an opportunity, in some cases, to have their academic records expunged, which will remove the notification on their record about their discipline to be removed. Students must generally wait a year to request expungement, and not all violations can be expunged. But where applicable, it provides an opportunity to “clear your name” going forward and will allow you to indicate in job and other applications that you were not disciplined during your time at USF.
Retain an Experienced Nursing Student Defense Attorney
The procedures surrounding academic sanctions and misconduct proceedings at the USF are complicated, with deadlines and filing requirements that can be difficult to keep track of. The experienced attorneys from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team understand how these procedures work and can help defend your academic and nursing career just as they've helped nursing and other students all over Florida and the US.
Don't try to defend yourself when serious academic or misconduct issues arise; call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to set up a confidential consultation. We know how upsetting it can be to find your nursing education and career at risk; we're here to listen and to help!
