Coursework

The University’s online registration system is housed within the MyU Portal and run by the OneStop Student Services. One Stop has a variety of online tutorials to familiarize users with registration and other processes within the MyU Portal.   More information about coursework is in the Milestone #1 section.

Class Time Conflicts

Because some courses are not taught within the School of Nursing there can be class time conflicts that are unavoidable. While the nursing PhD courses are arranged not to conflict in class time, those outside the School can be challenging at times to schedule. If the faculty from both courses where there are conflicting times agree to a time-sharing arrangement, students may submit the Class Time Conflict Approval form to facilitate the registration. However, this is rarely approved because the courses will be compromised if students are absent. 

Writing Standards

The School of Nursing has adopted the writing standards from the American Psychological Association (APA). All written assignments must confirm to the stylistic requirements outlined by the APA. Students in the School of Nursing are required to have a copy of most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, which describes correct stylistic formats. Refer to http://www.apastyle.org for more information.

Academic Integrity

As with all coursework, academic integrity is a critical part of preliminary written exam. Every student attending the School of Nursing is expected to adhere to the U of M Code of Conduct (https://oscai.umn.edu/), as well as the School of Nursing Behavioral Standards. Any violation of the above is considered an act of misconduct and warrants disciplinary action appropriate to the violation, including failing a written exam. Particularly relevant to the written exam is plagiarism, defined as “representing the words, creative work, or ideas of another person as one’s own without providing documentation of source. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Copying information word for word from a source without using quotation marks and giving proper acknowledgement by way of footnote, endnote, or in-text citation;

• Representing the words, ideas or data of another person as one’s own without providing proper attribution to the author through quotation, reference, in-text citation, or footnote;

• Paraphrasing, without sufficient acknowledgement, ideas taken from another person that the reader might reasonably mistake as the author’s; and

• Borrowing various words, ideas, phrases, or data from original sources and blending them with one’s own without acknowledging the sources.

Students and faculty examiners are encouraged to use sources such as Turn-It-In to verify that plagiarism has not occurred whether intentional or not.

NURS 8888 - Dissertation Credits

After successfully completing the preliminary oral exam, all Ph.D. students are required to register for 24 semester thesis credits (listed under NURS 8888—Thesis Credits: Doctoral). The 24 credits must be taken over two or more terms. Students are advised to register for the number of credits that are equivalent to the amount of work they can/will accomplish within the given term. To register for NURS 8888 credits students must develop a detailed work plan for the work to be completed during the term and review it with their advisor. Once the plan is agreed upon, the student emails the plan to the Director of Graduate Studies to request a permission number for NURS 8888.

Students cannot enroll for thesis credits until the completion of the preliminary oral exam has been recorded in the Graduate School record system. Refer to the Special Registration Options section if coursework is completed, but not the preliminary written exam(s)s as pre-dissertation credits (NURS 8666) are likely the best option in this case. Students cannot register for dissertation credits (NURS 8888) until they have passed the preliminary oral exam. Students who complete their preliminary oral exam prior to the last day of instruction for the term may request to conver their NURS 8666 credits to NURS 8888 registration. Consult with Alicia George ([email protected]) and Karen McCray ([email protected]) for guidance in converting the credits.

Special Registration Options

Occasionally doctoral students may find themselves in a position where they have taken all the courses they need/can take, but they are not at the next milestone step to advance in the program (e.g., have not taken the oral preliminary exam, but have completed their coursework; have taken all required thesis credits but have not defended their dissertation). As previously mentioned, students are still required to register every fall and spring to maintain active student status in the Graduate School and PhD program regardless of this situation.

To better meet the needs for students in this situation, the Graduate School has developed several special registration categories to help fill the registration gap until a student is back on track. These are not meant to be long-term place holders. While these course options will not apply towards a degree, they will maintain a student’s active status in the program. Below is a brief summary of three main options available to doctoral students depending on individual circumstances and needs. Full details on all the special registration categories below can be found on the OneStop Student Services website.

NURS 8666 - Predissertation Credits

NURS 8666 is a registration option for students who must be registered for a specific number of credits (usually to be in compliance with requirements of the University and/or external agencies such as employment as a graduate assistant, loan deferment, visa requirements, etc.), and for whom coursework registration is not an option. Policies limit the number of credits of 8666 (Doctoral Pre-Thesis Credits) to six for which a doctoral student may register in any fall, spring or summer term. The Graduate School will also limit registrations of 8666 to two instances and 12 credits without departmental (SoN) permission. With SoN consent, students may register for 8666 up to four times, for a total accumulation of 24 credits in 8666 registration. Regular tuition rates apply.

To register for NURS 8666 credits students must develop a detailed work plan for the work to be completed during the term and review it with their advisor. Once the plan is agreed upon, the student emails the plan to the Director of Graduate Studies to request a permission number for NURS 8666.

NURS 8444

The Office of the Registrar and the Graduate School have developed procedures which will permit eligible doctoral candidates to be certified as full-time students when registered for only one credit. This course is intended only for doctoral students who have completed all their program coursework and required thesis credits, but still are working full-time on the research or writing of their dissertation. The main impetus for this procedure is to certify as full-time for loan deferment purposes, teaching or research assistants who could be employed in the low-tuition-fringe job classes. An application is required to take NURS 8444 every semester it is taken and must be completed before the registration period ends for the given semester. To apply for NURS 8444 registration:

1. Access and complete the application form.

2. Develop a plan of work for the period for which the credit is requested and a timeline for that work.

3. Send the completed application form and plan of work via email to Dr. Mary Fran Tracy, your faculty advisor, Alicia George, and Karen McCray.

GRAD 999

You must contact the Director of Graduate Studies before registering for GRAD 999.

GRAD 999 is a zero-credit, zero-tuition registration option intended for graduate students who have completed all coursework and (if applicable) thesis credit requirements, and who must maintain registration to meet the continuous enrollment requirement.

While students can register for GRAD 999 to maintain their active student status, they cannot use GRAD 999 to meet any other requirements of the University or external agencies. Students who must maintain full-time status to, e.g., hold an assistantship, defer loans, and/or receive financial aid cannot use GRAD 999 to meet registration requirements. Please talk to the DGS before registering for GRAD 999.

Incomplete Coursework

The School of Nursing expects students to complete coursework in a timely manner. An “Incomplete” grade is assigned at the discretion of the course instructor when, due to extenuating  circumstances a student that has successfully completed the majority of the course requirements is prevented from completing the remainder of the course on time. The faculty member teaching the course completes an incomplete contract with the student and disperses copies of the contract to the student, the student’s advisor(s), and the Graduate Program Coordinator.  All incompletes should be completed by the middle of the following semester to be in compliance with UMN policy unless there is prior approval by the instructor and DGS.

The Graduate Admissions and Progressions Committee (Grad A & P) reviews student progression according to established school policy. An incomplete grade impacts progression in sequential courses, and may be converted to an F or N. 

Leave of Absence 

The University of Minnesota leave of absence (LOA) policy for graduate students allows graduate students to interrupt their enrollment for up to a maximum of two years and return under the rules and policies in effect when they left without having to re-apply or negatively affecting their time to degree. Students should contact the DGS for more information as there are very strict Graduate School policies and procedures to follow for initiating and ending a LOA.

Please note the following points: 

• Students should consult with their advisor prior to requesting a LOA. Being approved for an LOA does not guarantee the preservation of any financial aid or assistantship appointment the student may be currently holding. 

• The submission of an LOA request to the DGS does not guarantee that it will be approved by the SoN nor does it automatically cancel any active registrations (this is the student’s responsibility). 

• LOA requests should be submitted prior to the beginning of the term in which the leave will begin, if at all possible. 

• Students on a LOA will not have access to any University resources exclusive to students during the leave (e.g., library privileges, access to faculty, etc.). The only exception to this is use of University email. 

• Students returning from a leave must fill out a LOA re-entry form before the semester they wish to re-enter (talk with both DGS and GSSP). 

• Students may return early so long as the LOA re-entry form is submitted before the semester they wish to re-enter. 

• Failure to return by the semester indicated on the LOA application will result in the student being discontinued from the program. 

• International students should consult with ISSS prior to requesting a LOA as such action could affect visa status. 

University of Minnesota Leave of Absence and Reinstatement from a Leave: Graduate Students Policy

Withdrawal from Program

Students wishing to withdraw from the PhD program must contact their advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in the School of Nursing as well as the Graduate School at [email protected]. They must provide name, student ID number, program, and reason for withdrawal. They must copy the advisor, the DGS and the Office of Student & Career Advancement Services (OSCAS) on all email messages at [email protected] regarding withdrawal from the program.