Graduate Student Progression

Good Standing

Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Health Administration, Post Master’s Certificates

In the online graduate programs (MSN, MHA, Nursing Certificates), students are expected to earn a minimum of a “B” grade in all attempted graduate degree courses. A grade lower than a “B” is not considered passing, can only be earned in a graduate program one time, and must be repeated to improve the grade.

At the end of each semester, students must have earned a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 to be considered in “Good Standing.”

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

In the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, students are expected to earn a minimum of a “C” grade in all attempted graduate degree courses.

At the end of each semester, Physician Assistant students must have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.8 and passed all curriculum components to be considered in “Good Standing."

Academic Probation

Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Health Administration, Post Master’s Certificates

Students will be placed on academic probation when:

  1. The cumulative GPA in all graduate work attempted falls below a 3.0.
  2. Students fail to comply with academic requirements or regulations as outlined in the program of study.

As long as students remain on academic probation, the graduate program director may impose restrictions on enrollment. Students who fail to meet the requirements for progression in the graduate program may be academically dismissed, at which time the Office of Student Records will send an academic dismissal notification.

Removal from Academic Probation

Students will be removed from academic probation when the cumulative GPA in all graduate coursework attempted at Mercy College is 3.0 or higher and when all other academic requirements have been met.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Should students in the MPAS program not in good standing be allowed to progress in the program, they will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation are required to petition the Academic Performance and Progression Committee (APPC) to identify issues that affected their performance and suggest methods to overcome those issues. Students in the MPAS program must formally acknowledge the APPC remediation plan including due dates and methods to evaluate successful remediation. Such students must successfully remediate the material to the satisfaction of the APPC, which includes formal remediation of the course or supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE). For removal from probation, students must not only demonstrate successful remediation of the course/SCPE material (per the remediation policy below) but also show improvement in academic performance in the next semester. Specifics regarding benchmarks for improvement are under the jurisdiction of the APPC. Students unsuccessful in meeting the criteria for removal from academic probation are subject to dismissal from the MPAS Program.

Removal from Academic Probation

Students will be removed from Academic Probation when the cumulative grade point average in all entry into the profession graduate coursework attempted at Mercy College is 2.8 or higher and when all other academic requirements or regulations have been met. The APPC will notify students of removal from academic probation.

Academic Dismissal

Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Health Administration, Post Master’s Certificates

Students will be academically dismissed for failure to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA or any of the following reasons:

  • Second failing grade, "C" and/or "F," is earned in a course in the graduate program
  • Second withdrawal from a single graduate course

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

The MPAS Program’s Academic Performance and Progression Committee (APPC) may dismiss students in the MPAS program for failure to pass a class, failure to meet progression criteria, failure to clear academic probation at the end of a semester, for unprofessional behavior, or for two or more episodes of academic probation during the course of study.