Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations

A Private, Not-for-Profit, Licensed and Nationally Accredited College of Nursing
Where dreams of a Better Tomorrow Come True … Learn, Grow, Become …
Located at:
5154 Okeechobee Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33417
Phone: (561)683-1400
Fax: (561)683-6773
Email Us 
Lois M. Gackenheimer Richards, PhD Ed, MSN, RN
Executive Director / President

Satisfactory Progress

Satisfactory Progress is defined by a passing grade in five areas: 1) academic, to include stand-alone tests (SATs), 2) attendance/cumulative completion rates, 3) decorum, 4) skills, and 5) maximum time frame. Satisfactory Progress will be monitored at the end of each payment period/term and the end of the program.

This Satisfactory Progress Policy applies to all students regardless of the method they will be using to pay for their education (i.e., CareerSourcePBC, WTP, Title IV, private pay, scholarship, grant program or any other method of payment or program). This Satisfactory Progress Policy applies to all students regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time, attend day classes or evening classes, attend Nursing or Health Occupation classes.

Standard 1: ACADEMIC 

For Clock Hour and Standard Term (Credit Hr) Programs: An academic grade average of at least seventy-eight percent (78% or “C”) is considered passing for Satisfactory Progress. In order to progress, all prerequisite courses must be passed. Prior to moving into Integration, a minimum score of 78% must be achieved on all previous courses and stand-alone tests. During the Integration course, Integration exams must be passed in order to graduate and be eligible to take licensure exams.

If a student does not meet satisfactory progress, they will be placed on financial aid warning. If, at the end of the warning the students is not meeting satisfactory progress, the student is terminated. Student may apply for an appeal to be placed on financial aid probation. If accepted, student would be placed on financial aid probation, have an Academic Plan, if applicable, and continue their financial aid eligibility for one term. At the end of the term if they are not meeting satisfactory progress they will be terminated. If they are on academic plan and are making progress per the plan, their financial aid may be extended for one additional term. If unsuccessful, they would be terminated from the program.

Standard 2: ATTENDANCE 

Attendance is extremely important in order to achieve success in the college and work environment. Therefore, students are expected to attend all classes and clinical scheduled by their respective Instructors.

For Clock Hour Programs: Attendance will be taken and charted daily for all clock hour programs. Excused absences cannot exceed ten percent (10%) of the scheduled hours. If 10% or less, the missed (excused) hours do not need to be made up, but the work must be mastered. The students’ verbal report of their circumstance is sufficient for determining “excused” status.

Any absences exceeding 10% must be made up according to this college’s Procedure for Making-Up Missed Hours/Coursework/Competencies which is included in the student handbook. All coursework must be mastered. If a student does not make up missed hours by the end of the payment period, their progress will be considered unsatisfactory and will be placed on financial aid warning. If student is not successful at the end of the payment period, they will be terminated. Student may apply for an appeal to be placed on financial aid probation. If accepted, student would be placed on financial aid probation, have an Academic Plan, if applicable, and continue their financial aid eligibility for one term. At the end of the term if they are not meeting satisfactory progress they will be terminated. If they are on academic plan and are making progress per the plan, their financial aid may be extended for one additional term. If unsuccessful, they would be terminated from the program.

In the event that a student misses fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days, they will be deemed unsatisfactory and terminated from the program.

For Standard Term (Credit Hr) Programs: If a student does not make up missed coursework, as stated in the Procedure for Making-Up Missed Hours/Coursework/ Competencies, their progress will be considered unsatisfactory and will be placed on financial aid warning and if not successful may apply for an appeal for financial aid probation. In the event that a student misses fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days of coursework, they will be deemed unsatisfactory and terminated from the program.

Standard 3: DECORUM 

All Students, regardless of Clock Hour or Standard Term (Credit Hr) must behave in a professional and courteous manner demonstrating sound judgment, maturity, honesty, respectfulness, and compassion for patients, faculty and co-students, or they will be terminated from the program. There are some circumstances which are so severe that may result in automatic termination without counseling and without warning.
Examples of such infractions are:
  1. Inflicting harm, abuse, neglect, abandonment or theft affecting a patient, a Health Care Facility, the School, Students, or Faculty/Staff.
  2. Use of or under the influence of controlled substances including alcohol at any time while on or around school and/or clinical premises.
  3. Breach of Honesty, Integrity, Confidentiality or Patient Rights.
  4. Violation of the Agency for Health Care Administration conditions of acceptability for health care employment regarding Criminal and Drug Abuse offenses.
  5. Fighting, threatening, or profanity.
  6. Possession of a weapon of any kind, at any time while on or around classroom or clinical premises.
  7. Cheating, dishonesty, falsification
  8. Incivility, bullying, harassment
  9. Sexual Misconduct
Anti-Hazing Policy: All student activities relating to hazing such as subjecting another student to abusstandard4e, humiliation or ridicule will be prohibited. In the event that any student is involved in such an activity, immediate disciplinary action, including termination, will ensue. This policy will be strictly enforced.

If a student fails decorum due to a circumstance that does not rise to immediate termination, they may be placed on a financial aid warning continuing financial aid eligibility, and if decorum is not corrected (i.e., professional and courteous manner demonstrating sound judgment, maturity, honesty, respectfulness, and compassion for patients, faculty and co-students), student may apply for a financial aid appeal and if accepted will be placed on financial aid probation. In the event that the student is still not satisfactory at the end of the probation term, the student will be terminated.

Standard 4: CLINICAL SKILLS/APPLICATION 

All students regardless of Clock Hour or Standard Term (Credit Hr) programs, must pass the clinical portion of the course. This will be evidenced by the Instructor’s evaluation of clinical experiences/application, demonstration of skills and ability to correctly explain the steps of procedures in order to safely care for patients. Data collection, care plans, notes, medications, case studies, simulation, EHR, clinical projects and SCANS Competencies may also be evaluated as part of the clinical experience/application. Entry level skill-attainment is what is expected and used as the guideline to measure ability. Skills evaluated are those described in each course of the curriculum. Clinical facility staff evaluation of the student is also considered in the students’ grade. If a student misses clinical time, they forfeit the opportunity to adequately demonstrate skill attainment resulting in failure for that course and will be placed on financial aid warning. At the end of the term, if student is not meeting satisfactory progress, the student is terminated. Student may apply for an appeal and, if approved, will be placed on financial aid probation with an Academic Plan, if applicable. In the event that the student is still not satisfactory at the end of the probation term, the student will be terminated. However, if the student has made progress toward his academic plan, the student may be allowed to continue his financial aid eligibility for one additional term.

Standard 5: MAXIMUM TIME FRAME 

The maximum time frame for satisfactorily completing a program may not exceed one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the published length of the program (for example):
 Scheduled TimeMaximum Time 
Hr Programs (sample)5 Mths7.5 MthsTo be measure at each payment period/term(1-301.5 hrs 301.5-603 hrs)
 A student must complete a program measured in clock hours within a period no longer than 150 percent of the published length. Example: If the published length of the program is 1518 hours, a student must complete the program within 2277 hours.
For Standard Term (Credit Hr) Programs: The cumulative completion rate, the standard that must be maintained for meeting satisfactory progress is 67% or above of attempted credits must be successfully completed. Any time a student withdraws or failed a class after the add/drop period, for any reason, it is counted as an attempt. Example of cumulative completion rate: If a student attempted 24 credit hours but only completed 12 cumulative credit hours, this equates to 50% cumulative completion rate which would not be satisfactory. Student cannot exceed more than 150% of program credit hours.


Student Progression within CLOCK HOUR programs:

At the completion of each term satisfactory progress will be evaluated:
Those students who have a minimum of a 78% cumulative grade average, a minimum of 78% on all stand-alone tests and have passed all pre-requisite courses, and have met attendance, decorum and maximum timeframe, have met satisfactory progress and will proceed.

If the students’ grades, attendance, decorum, and/or maximum time frame do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, and the Dean determines that the student has the ability to be successful, the student is placed on financial aid warning status.

At the end of the financial aid warning term, if student is not meeting satisfactory progress, financial aid will be terminated. The student may apply for a financial aid appeal by completing an appeal form. If appeal is approved, student will be placed on financial aid probation for one additional term and will remain eligible for financial aid. At this time a student may be placed on an Academic Plan as applicable.

At the end of the probation term, if student is not successful, they will be terminated. However, if student was on an Academic Plan during probation and was making progress on their Academic Plan as applicable, they may be allowed an extended period to meet satisfactory progress standards and continue financial aid eligibility. If student continues to be unsatisfactory, they will be terminated from the program. (Refer to #2 under ANHO Rules and Regulations for Returning Students)

Regarding Integration, all prior coursework and stand-alone exams must be passed prior to the start of Integration. Integration must be passed in order to be eligible to graduate and become eligible to take licensing exams. Failing the requirements for passing Integration will result in being placed probation. If not successful, student will be terminated from the Program. Once, terminated, the student may apply for re-enrollment. (Refer to #2 under ANHO Rules and Regulations for Returning Students)

Student Academic Progression within STANDARD TERM (Credit Hr) Programs:

Please note that in the program description there are several instances where program Prerequisite Courses must be passed before progressing to the next sequential course.

If the students’ grades, attendance, decorum, and/or maximum time frame do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, and the Dean determines that the student has the ability to be successful, the student is placed on financial aid warning status. During this term, the student will continue to be eligible for Title IV Funding. If the student doesn’t meet satisfactory progress standards at the end of the Warning Term, student will be terminated. They may apply for a financial aid appeal. If granted, student will be placed on financial aid probation for one additional term, continue financial aid eligibility and may be placed on an Academic Plan as applicable. At the end of the probation term, if student is not successful, they will be terminated. However, if student was on an Academic Plan during probation and was making progress on their Academic Plan as applicable, they may be allowed an extended period to meet satisfactory progress standards and continue financial aid eligibility. In the event, the student fails to meet satisfactory progress, they will be terminated. (Refer to #2 under ANHO Rules and Regulations for Returning Students)

If a student cannot progress beyond the pre-requisite requirement due to unsatisfactory progress, the student may repeat the term and may continue financial aid eligibility. All repeated courses must be counted as attempted credits as it applies to the maximum time frame requirement. The most recent grade will count regardless of whether a course was previously passed or failed.

Regarding Integration, all prior coursework and stand-alone exams must be passed prior to the start of Integration. Integration must be passed in order to be eligible to graduate and become eligible to take licensing exams. Failing the requirements for passing Integration will result in being placed on probation. If not successful, student will be terminated from the Program. Once, terminated, the student may apply for re-enrollment. (Refer to #2 under ANHO Rules and Regulations for Returning Students)



ANHO Rules and Regulations for Both Clock and Credit Hour

  1. Appeal Process: A student who fails to meet Satisfactory Progress at the end of the financial aidwarning period must submit an appeal to the School Director based on mitigating circumstances such as ill ness, death in the family, etc. The appeal form must state why the student did not meet satisfactory progress and what has changed that would now allow them to meet satisfactory progress. The School Director will review the appeal and advise the student of the final decision. If the student’s appeal is approved, they will remain in school on financial aid probation and will be eligible for financial aid. The student must agree to the Academic Plan as applicable established at this time.
  2. Returning Students:
    All Programs: Students who are unsatisfactory and have been terminated, or voluntarily withdrew, may re-apply to ANHO Admissions Office. All maximum time frame rules apply. Students will be placed on probationary status for one term. Students will be placed in a class for which there is an opening.They will be given one term to re-establish Satisfactory Progress and, if applicable, reestablish financial aid. Failure to meet satisfactory progress at the end of this probationary period will result in termination from the school and student will no longer be eligible to re-apply for this program.
  3. Grades:
    1. Exam grades are calculated by dividing the total number of questions the student answered correctly by the total number of questions on the test. Rounding Rule: Decimals are rounded to the nearest whole number.
    2. A numerical score of seventy-eight percent (78% or “C”) or above is considered a passing grade.
    3. The following schedule will be used to assign grades:
    NUMERICAL POINTS            PERCENTAGEGRADEGrade Point Average 
    100 to 9393% to 100%A4.077 or Below=(F)ail
    92 to 8484% to 92%B3.078 or Above=(P)
    83 to 7878% to 83%C2.0T=Transfer Credit Given
    77 to 00% to 77%F0.0 


    Overall average is computed by a weighted grade average using earned grades of all courses of the program the student is enrolled in.

    Failed Exams: Students may repeat a failed exam once. This exam must be taken on the date scheduled by the Instructor. Only one opportunity will be provided for this repeat exam. If the student misses the scheduled exam, or repeat exam, or fails the repeated exam, no further accommodations will be made.

    The most recent grade will be counted for the student’s grade average and satisfactory progress. It will replace the previous grade.


  4. Student progress reports will be distributed individually, confidentially, and timely according to this college’s Progress Report Policy and Procedure.

  5. Make Up Exams. If a student is absent on the day of an exam, they must take the “make up” exam on the scheduled “re-take” day. There will be only one opportunity to take and pass a make-up exam. Frequently missed exams are not acceptable. All make-up exams must be completed and passed prior to the end of the payment period/term.

  6. Attire. Students must be attired in proper business clothes while at this college. Jeans and shorts are not acceptable. Once uniforms are issued, students must adhere to this college’s Dress Code Policy which is published in the Student/Faculty Handbook.

  7. Leave of Absence. Any student requesting a leave of absence from the Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations must submit in writing, a Leave of Absence Request to the Dean identifying the exigent & exacerbating reason for the request. Once the written request is received, the Dean will attach the request to the Leave of Absence Notification form and formally approve or deny the request. If approved, the Leave of Absence Notification Form must be signed and dated by the student and the Dean and must contain the start and end date of the leave of absence. All Leaves of Absence must be requested prior to the start of the leave of absence unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from applying prior to the start of the leave of absence.

    Federal regulations allow for one approved leave of absence for enrolled students of no more than 180 days. A second leave of absence can only be considered if the first leave of absence did not exceed 180 days in the same 12-month period in which the first LOA was taken.

    A student on a leave of absence will incur no additional charges by the college. Any student failing to return to college the day after the expiration of a leave of absence, which becomes the date of determination, will be terminated and the students’ last date of attendance will be considered the withdrawal date. The college’s Refund Policy and a Return to Title IV Calculation (for Title IV recipients) will be applied and all refunds will be due 30 days from the date of determination. Prior to a leave of absence being granted to a Title IV, HEA loan recipient, the student must see the financial aid office in order to explain the effect the leave may have on the student’s grace period for repayment of loans. A copy of the leave of absence request will be maintained in the student’s file. School policy allows service members and reservists to be readmitted to programs interrupted by military service.

  8. RETENTION: Students will be offered the necessary supplements and support needed for successful achievement and competency attainment in order to remain enrolled and achieving satisfactory progress. In keeping with the college's philosophy and belief that every student can succeed, varied methodologies and teaching techniques will be offered in an effort to assist the student to progress toward successful achievement.

  9. DISMISSAL POLICIES - The College’s satisfactory progress policy will be followed to evaluate and measure progress unless a student has jeopardized the safety and security of a patient or other person or has violated a condition for automatic dismissal.

Policies

Policy on Transfer Students Between Programs within ANHO
  1. Students wishing to transfer within ANHO (i.e., day class to an evening class, evening class to day class, from one program to another will be accommodated with the following considerations:
    1. If there are seats available
    2. If the student will not exceed 150% of the hours and/or weeks to complete the term
    3. If the requested class has not progressed beyond the student’s current class.


  2. Students must meet all admission criteria and after acceptance must secure the available position by completing the enrollment agreement and paying the required fees or agreeing to the conditions of the financial assistance available.

  3. Once enrolled into a class at ANHO all standards and policies in effect as of the new enrollment date will apply and must be met.


Policy on the Transfer of Credits Earned at Other Colleges of Higher Education for Application toward the Completion Requirements of Programs at ANHO
  1. All students wishing to apply credit earned from other colleges must furnish a transcript from the conferring college, including credits earned while in the Military to ANHO in enough detail to establish that the coursework and clinical work is comparable to the program they wish to attend at ANHO or provide their State of Florida License. Courses must be passed at the conferring college in order to be considered and transcript must be submitted to Admissions one week prior to the program’s scheduled orientation.
  2. After all current admission criteria are met, competency testing will take place.
  3. Students will be granted credit consistent with the level of mastered competencies of this College’s program.

Requirements:

  1. Meet all current admission criteria.
  2. Supply a transcript in enough detail to establish that coursework and clinical work is comparable to the program they wish to attend at ANHO.
  3. In order to confirm competencies, all applicants will be required to be tested prior to credit being accepted
  4. Students will only be admitted at the beginning of a term as applicable by testing results and will be accommodated as seats are available. These terms will be credited as earned from another college if the student passes the competency testing. All remaining terms must be taken at ANHO with no credit applied from another college. A minimum of 25% of the program must be taken at ANHO.
  5. After all paperwork, transcripts, references and other required documents are received and completely reviewed, the applicant may be interviewed and considered for admission.
  6. Selections will be made and applicants will be notified by phone that they have been selected.
  7. After acceptance, the applicant must secure the available position by completing the enrollment agreement and paying the required fees or agreeing to the conditions of the financial assistance.
  8. Once enrolled at ANHO, all standards and policies in effect as of the enrollment date will apply and must be met
  9. Advanced Placement and transfer of Nursing courses does not apply to applicants who have been out of college for more than five years unless they hold a valid Florida license to practice Nursing.
  10. ANHO does not award credit for life experience. ANHO does not utilize articulation agreements at this time. ANHO does not have a limit on the type of nursing school a student is transferring from due to its policy on competency testing.

Policy on ANHO Students Wishing to Transfer to Another School/College

Upon written request, this college will furnish the final official sealed transcript directly to the requested insitution in order for the student to resume similar studies without having to repeat competencies mastered. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the accepting college and it is the students’ responsibility to confirm whether or not credits will be accepted by another college of the students’ choice.

Please note that all of the student’s financial obligations must be taken care of before transcripts will be issued.

PROMOTION
Since programs are competency based, students will be allowed to move on to more advanced competencies as they demonstrate mastery, thereby allowing for accelerating at a faster pace and allowing for more advanced experiences within the unit currently being studied. Students will move to the next unit of study at the prescribed planned time. Additional learning opportunities will be available for students on Fridays.

RETENTION
Students will be offered the necessary supplements and support needed for successful achievement and competency attainment in order to remain enrolled and achieving satisfactory progress. In keeping with the college's philosophy and belief that every student can succeed, varied methodologies and teaching techniques will be offered in an effort to assist the student to progress toward successful achievement.

DISMISSAL POLICIES
The college’s satisfactory progress policy will be followed to evaluate and measure progress unless a student has jeopardized the safety and security of a patient or other person or has violated a condition for automatic dismissal.

  1. If the situation does not involve automatic dismissal, the student will receive a written report notifying the student of the problem and offering the student a chance to satisfactorily correct the problem.

  2. If correction does not occur, the student will be terminated with no audit opportunity.

STANDARDS TO BE MET BY STUDENTS

In order to successfully complete the program, students must pass all courses within each program as evidenced by an academic grade of seventy-eight percent (78% or “C”) or better, must pass all stand alone tests, clinical skills, and decorum, and must have satisfactory attendance.

This Satisfactory Progress Policy applies to all students regardless of the method they will be using to pay for their education (i.e., Workforce Alliance, Inc., WTP., Title IV, private pay, scholarship, grant program or any other method of payment or program). This Satisfactory Progress Policy applies to all students regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time, attend day classes or evening classes, attend Nursing or Health Occupation classes.