The School of Nursing

Kimberly Fenstermacher Ph.D., Dean, School of Nursing

Jane Wilson, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Undergraduate Nursing

Julie Bowser Ph.D., Chair of the BSN Track, West Palm Beach Campus

Jenny Nickless, M.S.N., Chair of the BSN Track, Orlando Campus

Faculty

Associate Professors

• Julie Bowser, Ph.D.
• Kathy McKinnon, D.N.P.
• Fontaine Timmer, D.N.P.
• Jane Wilson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors

• Briana Andrassy, D.N.P.
• Christine Conti, D.N.P.
• Vanessa Duncan, M.S.N.
• Kristen Riggi, D.N.P.
• Lisa Sebar, M.S.N.

Instructor

• Alexandra Hubley, M.S.N.
• Jenny Nickless, M.S.N.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Palm Beach Atlantic University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).”

School of Nursing Mission

The mission of the Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Nursing is to prepare and equip graduates within a Christ-centered environment to serve God boldly in a life of service in the profession of nursing incorporating intellectual, professional, and spiritual integrity.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is based on a strong liberal arts and science foundation within an integrated Christian faith and worldview. The School of Nursing prepares professional, competent nurses who are reflective, inquiring and able to apply nursing theory, processes, and technical nursing skills within the context of the Christian worldview, while recognizing the global, pluralistic nature of society.

School of Nursing Philosophy

The philosophy of the School of Nursing at Palm Beach Atlantic University is one that is Christ-centered and focused on the success of the students, professionally, spiritually, and personally. The faculty and administration actively engage students in the discovery of the meaning of Christ-centered care for others. Providing care takes place in community settings, hospitals, local and global missions, as well as primary education for the community. Nursing application, synthesis, and evaluation of practice is essential in our ever-changing healthcare. The outcome of nursing education at Palm Beach Atlantic University is a competent nurse who is reflective, inquiring, and able to apply nursing theory within the context of the Christian worldview while recognizing the needs of the patient, family, and community.

Core Values

Christ-centered
Christ is at the center of everything the School of Nursing does. “He [Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” – Colossians 1:17 – 20 (NIV)

Servant Leader
PBA prepares students for lifelong learning and leadership. We strongly believe that leadership begins with being a servant. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26 – 28 (NIV)

Ministry of Caring
Caring for the sick is not simply an act of goodness, but an act of worship and obedience, taking part in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

Empathy for: Empathy leads to action: “Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” – Matthew 20:32-34 (NIV)

Connection to: Our common humanity binds us together. “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” – John 11:33

Being with: Sometimes simply being with another is more important than doing for them: “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” – Luke 10:40-42 (NIV)

Holistic approach
Health involves much more than mere physical wellness or even psychological well-being. Health includes socio-cultural and spiritual aspects as well, and nurses must take them into account. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” – Mark 8:36 (NIV)

Professionalism
PBA is dedicated to excellence. PBA Nursing expresses that excellence through dedication to professionalism. It is not enough to simply feel empathy or compassion, or even act on them. Caring must be competent, tempered by learning, experience, and judgment. “I was sick and you looked after me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:36,40 (NIV)

BSN Program Mission

The BSN Program’s Mission is to prepare graduates for generalist nursing and graduate nursing education with a Christ-centered focus.

The BSN Program Goals

• Provide baccalaureate degree-level nursing education that builds on a broad, liberal, and Christian foundation.
• Prepare graduates for practice as generalist nurses.
• Prepare graduates for graduate studies in nursing.

The BSN Program Outcomes

1. Apply theoretical and empirical knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, humanities, Christian faith, and nursing as a source of clinical reasoning and decision-making to provide holistic care in a variety of nursing contexts and settings.
2. Deliver person-centered care framed in Christian values that is holistic, individualized, equitable, respectful, compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive.
3. Provide population healthcare that spans the healthcare continuum from wellness promotion to disease prevention, collaborating with community partners, healthcare systems, local government entities, and others for the improvement of equitable population health outcomes.
4. Apply nursing knowledge through evidence-based practice to improve quality of care and patient outcomes.
5. Employ established and emerging principles of safety as core values of nursing practice to enhance quality and minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
6. Demonstrate effective interprofessional communication and collaboration to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience, and improve outcomes.
7. Use systems thinking to coordinate resources and provide cost-effective, safe, high-quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.
8. Use healthcare technologies for gathering data, providing and documenting care, and driving decision making to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare in accordance with best practice and professional and regulatory standards.
9. Cultivate a professional identity that encompasses Christian values, accountability, integrity, a collaborative disposition, and ethical comportment reflective of nursing’s characteristics and values.
10. Participate in activities and self-reflection that foster personal health, resilience, and well-being, contribute to lifelong learning, and support the development of nursing expertise and leadership skills. 

Responsibilities

School of Nursing Responsibilities

1. Post policies to myPBA (including the policies set forth in this document)
2. Post schedules to myPBA in a timely manner
3. Notify students of changes in a timely manner.
4. Send correspondence to the student contact information on record.
5. Provide theory and clinical courses as described in the Catalog.
6. Provide a caring, Christian environment and framework for learning and developing professionalism.

Student Responsibilities

1. Ensure that contact information with the University and the School of Nursing is current.
2. Ensure that current e-mail is reflected in myPBA and Canvas.
3. Read, understand, and follow University and School of Nursing policies in the catalog and the Nursing Student Handbook.
4. Read and follow announcements and schedules which will be posted on myPBA > Schools > Nursing (https://my.pba.edu/ics/schools/nursing) and in the course calendar within Canvas.
5. Complete assignments and requirements as described in the syllabus, policies, and announcements.
6. Learn the material and develop professionalism.
7. Meet degree requirements.
8. File an official application for graduation according to Palm Beach Atlantic University policy.
9. Acknowledge receipt of nursing course fees.
10. Complete and return the Signature Page to the Nursing Coordinator.

Academic Advising

Each nursing student is assigned an academic advisor. The advisor’s role is to assist the student in course scheduling, clarify graduation requirements, answer questions, and be a resource for prayer and spiritual growth. Advisors are available to students throughout the semester. Students are expected to read and use the Nursing Student Handbook, Navigator, and University catalog for planning their course scheduling and access their academic advisor with questions. Students are required to meet with their assigned academic advisors prior to one-week before online registration (myPBA).

Definition of Terms

• Nursing Course - Any class course with a course code beginning in ‘NUR’
• Level 1 Nursing Courses: NUR 2003, NUR 2023, NUR 2004, NUR 2012
• Level 2 Nursing Courses: NUR 3013, NUR 3343, NUR 3352, NUR 3223, NUR 3043, NUR 3403, NUR 3412, NUR 3233, NUR 3242
• Level 3 Nursing Courses: NUR 4153, NUR 4162, NUR 4104, NUR 4112, NUR 4323, NUR 4333, NUR 4343, NUR 4203, NUR 4223, NUR 4232, NUR 4504
• Nursing Pathway: Students wishing to pursue a nursing major but have not yet been admitted. Students must meet the minimum GPA requirement after one semester at PBA to be eligible to progress in the nursing major.
• Clinical – the application of nursing knowledge—guided by theory and research—in a practical setting such as hospitals, clinics, and the community.

Admission to the Nursing Major

Direct Admit Requirements

If SAT/ACT/CLT scores are not available, the following admission criteria will be followed:  

• High school GPA of 3.5 or higher  
• Must have two or more science courses with a lab with grade of B or higher  
• One of the science courses must be high school chemistry course with grade of B or higher  
• Evidence of extracurricular activities and/or strong-leadership in school or community activities  
• Honors courses, evidence of dual enrollment, or AP courses is preferred  

If SAT scores are available: >560 EBRW and >530 Math  

Super scores will be accepted.  

If ACT scores are available: > 21 ACT composite and > 44 combined English + Reading ACT score and > 21 ACT Math 

If CLT scores are available: > 52 CLT combined Verbal Reasoning + Grammar Writing and > 20 CLT Quantitative Reasoning 

Pathway to Nursing Requirements

Students wishing to pursue the nursing major with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (high school or transfer GPA) are eligible for the Pathway to Nursing track. During their first semester at Palm Beach Atlantic University, students on the Pathway to Nursing must earn a 3.0 GPA and 3.0 Science/Math GPA to progress in the Nursing major. Students who do not obtain the minimum GPA requirements in the first semester will not be eligible to pursue nursing.

Completion of Prerequisites

Prerequisite courses required for progression to Level One Nursing Courses (denoted by 2000-level nursing courses) include:

• BIO 1103/1101 Biology I with Lab
• MAT 1853 College Algebra
• CHM 1123/1111/1120 Principles of Chemistry with Lab
• PSY 2133 General Psychology
• BIO 2283/2281 Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
• BIO 2293/2291 Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
• BIO 2503/2501 Principles of Microbiology with Lab
• PSY 2183 Life Span Development
• MAT 2003 Elementary Statistics

Students admitted to the nursing major must meet progression criteria to advance into the nursing courses. The following are necessary to enroll in the first semester of nursing theory and clinical courses:

1. Students must have an overall earned GPA of 3.0 and complete all prerequisite courses listed above with an earned prerequisite GPA of 3.0 (excludes General Psychology/Lifespan Development). Nursing pre-requisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Students are only permitted to retake one prerequisite course, one time, for a higher grade. A “W” in any course will be viewed as a course failure. The student may submit a written explanation for the withdrawal to the APRG committee using the Course Withdrawal Explanation form. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a Science/Math prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is required to start nursing clinicals.  
2. The student must receive a satisfactory background check, including fingerprints and drug screen.
3. The student’s moral and professional behavior must be consistent with the Florida Nurse Practice Act and Rules of the Board of Nursing, American Nurses Association Standards and PBA School of Nursing Professional Standards. Failure to demonstrate compliance with any of the aforementioned codes may result in denial of enrollment in clinical nursing courses.

Transfer Students

Internal

Internal transfer students applying to the nursing major: The student must meet with the Undergraduate Coordinator of the School of Nursing or a designated faculty member to review the Nursing BSN Degree Plan. The Admission and Progression Committee will review all requests for internal transfer to determine eligibility based upon GPA and science grades. If accepted into the nursing major, the student must complete a change of major form through the Registrar’s Office. Upon enrollment in the nursing major, internal transfer students must meet the admission criteria as previously stated.

External

1. External transfer students applying to the nursing major: Students must apply to the university by April 15th (fall admission) and November 15th (spring admission) and meet all University admission criteria prior to the nursing admission review process. Students transferring from a college or university other than Palm Beach Atlantic University must have an earned cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be admitted to Palm Beach Atlantic as a nursing major. Students must take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and earn a minimum score of 68.7% to be admitted as a nursing major. The TEAS must be taken in person and proctored at PBA’s School of Nursing Computer Lab. Students will have one attempt to earn a passing score of 68.7%. Nursing pre-requisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Students are only permitted to retake one prerequisite course, one time, for a higher grade. A “W” in any course will be viewed as a course failure. The student may submit a written explanation for the withdrawal to the APRG committee using the Course Withdrawal Explanation form. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a Science/Math prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is required to start nursing clinicals.  Pre-requisite courses include:

• BIO 1103/1101 Biology I with Lab
• MAT 1853 College Algebra
• CHM 1123/1111/1120 Principles of Chemistry with Lab
• PSY 2133 General Psychology
• BIO 2283/2281 Human Anatomy & Physiology with Lab
• BIO 2293/2291 Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
• BIO 2503/2501 Principles of Microbiology with Lab
• PSY 2183 Life Span Development
• MAT 2003 Elementary Statistics

Transfer students applying to the nursing major are notified of acceptance upon completion of the application review process. Notification of acceptance into the nursing major will occur on an ongoing basis. Upon enrollment in clinical courses, transfer students must meet the criteria as previously stated.

2. External transfer students who have completed any courses with a nursing designation at another college or university:

Students applying directly to the first clinical nursing course must have transcripts and descriptions of previous course content submitted to the School of Nursing Admission, Progression, Retention, and Graduation (APRG) Committee by November 15th (Spring) and April 15th (Fall). A reference letter from the current college/university Dean or Director is also required. Applicants who have previously attended another nursing program must submit a letter of good standing on letterhead paper with a reflection of performance, professionalism, and integrity from the Dean of Nursing stating that they could return in good standing to the original program. This letter should include the Dean’s contact information for verification. Any transfer student who was dismissed/failed out of a nursing program or withdrew/failed from a Nursing Theory or Clinical course will not be eligible for admission. No nursing course credits taken from another institution will be considered for transfer. Admission decisions are made on an individual basis upon review of course work and space available in clinical nursing courses.

Reapplication to the Nursing Major:

Students who have been denied admission to, or dismissed from, the PBA School of Nursing are not permitted to reapply to the program. 

Transfer and Non-Traditional Credits

Natural Science and Technology courses completed more than 5 years prior to enrolling at PBA may not be accepted for transfer credit toward a major or minor. Natural Science and Technology courses may be counted toward General Education credits up to 7 years after completion. Additionally, for the Nursing program application, all nursing prerequisite courses must be completed within 5 years of beginning Level One Nursing courses.

A College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exam will be accepted for credit towards General Psychology. No other nursing prerequisite courses will be accepted from CLEP Exams.

Progression to Nursing Clinical Courses

Current PBA Students

Every December and May, the APRG committee meets to review student GPAs for progression to Nursing clinical courses. Students will be notified of the committee’s decision via email. In order to progress to Nursing clinical courses, students must submit all required documents two weeks prior to the commencement of the designated term per the Nursing Student Handbook. Prior to starting clinical nursing courses, all students are required to obtain and maintain the following:

• A physical examination
• Specified immunizations
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from American Heart Association Health Care Provider course. CPR certification from another organization will not be accepted.
• Criminal history background check
• Drug screening
• Tuberculosis screening
• Health insurance coverage

Transfer Students

In addition to the above requirements, transfer students will be required to formally accept or decline admission by the date indicated on the acceptance letter. Students who decline progression to nursing clinical courses and later reapply must compete with the applicant pool and meet the existing requirements at the time of reapplication. Students who fail to enroll in nursing courses and submit the required documents by the date indicated on the acceptance letter will be ineligible to begin nursing clinical courses at PBA.

Expectations of Nursing Majors

Academic Integrity

As prospective healthcare professionals, nursing students are expected to maintain the highest level of integrity. The School of Nursing abides by the Academic Integrity policy as outlined in the University Catalog. 

Florida law prohibits persons convicted of a felony from becoming licensed as nurses. The School of Nursing is not responsible for interpreting state statutes (and Board of Nursing requirements) for individual scenarios that may be impacted by the above.  Background checks and drug screening are required upon acceptance. Falsifying application information results in immediate dismissal from the program and failure of all enrolled courses.

Health Requirements

Professional nursing students are responsible for their own health and for the health of others with whom they come in contact. The following policies have been created to protect both the student and clients. Students are responsible for timely updates of their health care records according to the prescribed schedule. In order to successfully complete the nursing program, students must be able to perform the following essential abilities:

Observation/Sensation

Nursing students must be able to observe and sense the client’s current physical, psychological, developmental, spiritual, and sociocultural health care status as well as client responses to nursing interventions. Vision, hearing, and other sensory perceptions are necessary for this ability.

Communication

Nursing students must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms with clients and the health care team members. Communication in nursing includes the ability to gather assessment data, provide effective teaching, and provide emotional support for all clients.

Motor

Nursing students must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from clients by palpation, percussion, auscultation, diagnostic maneuvers, and comfort/positioning measures. They must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general nursing care and emergency treatments. Such actions require moderate motor strength, equilibrium, gross and fine muscle movement coordination, and functional use of touch and vision senses.

Intellectual

Nursing students must have the ability to accurately measure, calculate, reason, and analyze. In addition, they must be able to synthesize and apply complex information. Students must be fully alert and attentive at all times when caring for clients and communicating with health care team members. Each student must demonstrate mastery of these skills and possess the ability to incorporate new information from peers, professors, and the nursing and medical literature to formulate sound judgment in patient assessment, intervention, evaluation, and teaching and setting of short- and long-term goals.

Behavioral/Social

Nursing students must possess a level of emotional health that allows full utilization of intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, prompt completion of all responsibilities, attention to the nursing diagnoses and subsequent patient care, and the development of mature, empathetic and effective nurse-client relationships. Students must be able to function effectively under stress. The student must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, accept and integrate constructive criticism given in classroom and clinical settings, effectively interact in the clinical setting with other members of the healthcare team, and learn to function cooperatively and efficiently in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice.

The student must be able to adapt to and function effectively in stressful situations in both classroom and clinical settings, including emergency situations.

Immunization

All students must meet the University’s requirements for immunization and health information documentation.  Also, students in the School of Nursing must meet additional requirements for immunizations, health documentation, and background screening based upon the clinical affiliate’s requirements.

Special Circumstances:

Pregnant students must inform the faculty as soon as possible and provide clearance to attend clinical from a healthcare provider. The student’s privacy will be respected as only those needing to know will be informed. This information is necessary for faculty to plan client assignments and student experiences.

Students with Disabilities

Students admitted to the PBASON must be able to fully perform the essential nursing functions in each of the following five categories: observation/sensation, communication, motor, intellectual, and behavioral/social. Degrees of ability vary widely among individuals. SON faculty will consider candidates with any form of properly disclosed and documented disability on an individual basis. Students with documented special needs must contact the Office of Academic and Accessibility Resources designate to activate their accommodations. Students must submit documentation of their accommodations to the faculty member of each course at the start of each semester. . Palm Beach Atlantic University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities through established University policies and procedures.

Transportation: 

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical assignments. Students may choose to carpool with members of their assigned group. It is suggested that students who do use their automobile to carpool make certain that they have sufficient liability coverage. Students will need to have individual transportation for their Community based and Preceptorship experiences to motor to hospitals and/or agencies.

Nursing Course Progression Policies

Courses that are designated Theory and Clinical—e.g., Fundamentals of Nursing: Theory and Fundamentals of Nursing: Clinical—are co-requisites and must be taken together. The School of Nursing requires that theory and clinical courses must be successfully completed together.

• If a student withdraws from a Theory course, the student must also withdraw from the Clinical course.
• If a student withdraws from a Clinical course, the student must also withdraw from the Theory course.
• If a student is unsuccessful in a Theory course but passed the Clinical course, they will be given a grade of Y as a placeholder for the Clinical course. The student is required to repeat both courses together in their next enrolled semester.
• If a student is unsuccessful in a Clinical course but passed the Theory course, they will be given a grade of Y as a placeholder for the Theory course. The student is required to repeat both courses together in their next enrolled semester.
• If a student misses more than a semester of clinical, the student will be required to complete NUR 3711: Reentry to Nursing Practice.

Unsuccessful Completion of a Nursing Course

Nursing courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Students are only permitted to retake one failed nursing course, one time, for a passing grade. A “W” in any nursing course will be considered a course failure. A “Y” in any nursing course will be considered an unsuccessful completion. The student may submit a written explanation for the withdrawal to the APRG committee using the Course Withdrawal Explanation form. In addition, students must achieve an exam average of 75% in order to pass a nursing course.

School of Nursing Academic Probation

Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA to progress in the Nursing major. The APRG committee is charged with reviewing student cases and determining a course of action for the student involved. Failure to meet an earned cumulative GPA of 3.0 may result in probationary status for one semester. If an earned cumulative GPA of 3.0 is not achieved after the probational semester, the student will be dismissed from the nursing major.

Dismissal

Nursing students are expected to adhere to academic standards and represent good moral character. A student will be dismissed from the Nursing major for any of the following. 

• Failure to obtain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 following one semester of Academic Probation.
• Failure to obtain a minimum grade of C (2.0) in a repeated nursing course. 
• Failure to obtain a minimum grade of C (2.0) in two nursing courses.
• Failure to meet Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Nursing’s Health Requirements.
• Inability to conduct oneself in a professional fashion consistent with the American Nurses’ Association Standards and Code of Ethics for Nurses or the Palm Beach Atlantic University Code of Student Ethics as listed in the Navigator. In particular, falsification of records and reports, plagiarism, or cheating on an examination, quiz, or any other assignment is cause for dismissal.
• Faculty reserve the right to dismiss any student whose personal integrity or conduct demonstrates unfitness to continue preparation for the profession of nursing.

A student may be dismissed without prior probationary status when any of the above conditions exist.

Grievance Policy (Academic Complaint)

An academic complaint refers to the grievance a student may have concerning faculty evaluation of his or her academic performance represented in the final grade for a course, OR, a professor’s assessment of academic dishonesty.

The following procedure must be followed in filing a grievance:

Grievance of Final Grades:

Issues concerning individual assignments, examinations, and other graded work during the course may only be appealed to the professor; a student may not use this policy for appeal until a final grade has been assigned for the course. To appeal a final grade, the student must take the matter to the faculty member, in writing, and within 15 PBA workdays of the grade being posted in my.pba.edu. Appeal via PBA e-mail correspondence will be considered as a written appeal. The Faculty Member will respond to the student in writing within 15 PBA workdays of the student’s written notification of the grievance. Response via PBA e-mail will be considered as written response. The Dean of the School of Nursing must be copied on the written appeal.

Grievance of Academic Dishonesty:

To appeal an academic dishonesty judgment, the student must take the matter to the faculty member, in writing, within 15 working days of being notified of the judgment. Appeal via PBA e-mail correspondence will be considered as written appeal. The Faculty Member will respond to the student in writing within 15 PBA workdays of the student’s written notification of grievance. Response via PBA e-mail will be considered as written response. The Dean of the School of Nursing must be copied on the written appeal.

Appeal Procedure:

After following the grievance policy above, the student may appeal the case to the Dean of the School of Nursing, only after written communication with the professor in resolving the complaint proves to be unsatisfactory to the student. This appeal to the Dean must be done within 15 PBA workdays of the written response from the faculty member. The written justification for appeal must identify the issues, with all substantiating documents attached. Appeal to the Dean via PBA e-mail must include appropriate attachments including the signed appeal application and all substantiating documentation. The Dean will denote his or her decision to the student in written form or via PBA e-mail within 15 PBA workdays. If the original appeal involves the Dean as the professor of record, the Provost will appoint another dean to review the appeal.

If, after the Dean has made the decision on the appeal, the student is not satisfied with the outcome, he or she may appeal to the Council of Deans through the Office of the Provost. The only justification for appeal to the Council of Deans is a procedural violation. The student’s appeal must demonstrate which procedure was violated and how it was violated. Simple disagreement with the decision is not sufficient grounds for appeal. This application for appeal must be submitted within 15 PBA workdays of the written response from the Dean and must be submitted to the Office of the Provost. The appeal may be delivered in written form or via PBA e-mail. If the appeal is delivered via PBA e-mail, all substantiating documentation must be attached to the e-mail.

This appeal will be reviewed by the Appeals Committee of the Council of the Deans (which consists of three people who are appointed from the members of the Council of Deans for a one- year term by the Provost) to determine the merit of the case. If the Appeals Committee determines that the case is not sustainable on its merits, the decision is final and there is no further appeal. If the committee determines there is compelling evidence to proceed with the case, such appeal can proceed in one of two ways. First, the Appeals Committee may refer the matter back to the Dean with recommendations for resolution. Second, the Appeals Committee may refer the matter to be heard at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Council of Deans which falls in the following calendar month. The Administrative Assistant to the Provost will provide the student with the date of the Council of Deans meeting.

The Council must be supplied with the completed application for appeal, a written summary of the complaint, and all substantiating documents relating to the case, including the original appeal to the Dean. The only evidence admissible is that which has previously been presented to the Dean, with the exception of evidence related to procedural violation by the Dean. The Dean to whom the complaint was submitted also will provide a written summary account of his or her conclusions and written recommendations within 15 PBA workdays prior to the scheduled appeal, along with any substantiating documents. The Administrative Assistant to the Provost is responsible for gathering these materials and for making them available to all parties for review prior to the meeting.

Both the student and the faculty member will be afforded the opportunity to present their cases to the Council. Communication to the Council during its deliberations is the responsibility of each party in the complaint. The presence of the student and of the faculty member is only for fact-finding. Deliberations based upon these presentations and the written records of the case are kept strictly confidential and are open only to Council members.

The Provost and any member of the Council who is a party to the complaint or who believes that past experience or relationship with individuals involved prejudices an objective review of the case may recuse themselves from the final decision.

As chair of the Council, the Provost will communicate the Council’s findings in writing to the student and faculty member within ten working days of deliberations.

The Office of the Provost is responsible for enforcing the decision of the Council of Deans. The conclusions and recommendations of the Council are final and binding upon the parties to the complaint. No further appeal may ensue.

*NOTE: Students seeking information regarding a non-academic complaint should review the Grievance Policy (Non- Academic Complaint) in the Student Life section of the PBA Undergraduate Day Catalog.

Degree Requirements for the BSN

Students assume responsibility for meeting degree requirements and for filing an official Application for Graduation according to Palm Beach Atlantic University policy. All candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing must fulfill the following requirements:

• Satisfactory completion of at least 120 credit hours. Credits earned in remedial learning skill courses and courses that are repeated do not apply toward the degree.
• University Requirements
  • For the BSN student, degree conferral is contingent upon completion of additional University requirements  including:
  • Workship Hours
  • Chapel Credits
  • Financial Obligations

Programs

• Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN)