Program Requirements

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer up to three hours of post-masters credit from a regionally accredited college or university provided:

• The course is clearly comparable to one of the DNP course offerings based on course description and learning outcomes.
• The course is at the 600 or higher numbering system and was not part of the master's degree requirements.
• A grade of “B” or higher was earned in the course.
• The course was completed within the past five years.
• The course reflects current knowledge and best practice.
• The course reflects higher order thinking, study, and assessment requirements of the scholarship of discovery.
• Courses containing clinical content may not be met by transfer course(Advanced Healthcare Policy, Global Healthcare and all DNP Project I-V courses).
• All work must be original and accomplished exclusively during IWU DNP enrollment.

Attendance Policy

The doctoral program is a blend of onsite residencies and interactive online workshops. Students are required to attend all onsite residencies and substantively engage in all interactive, online and prescribed learning activities.

• Residency Attendance - Three residencies are held on the Marion campus during the program.   Residency dates will be posted in advance.  Attendance at all residency sessions is mandatory. Transportation to and from campus is at the student’s expense.
• Online Attendance - Attendance is determined by activity during a workshop, either through discussions or assignments.  A student is reported absent for a workshop if there is not at least one submission (or posting of an assignment or in a discussion forum assigned during that workshop.  A student may be allowed one online absence per course. 
  • Excessive Absences - If a student exceeds the allowed absences and does not contact the Office of Student Services to officially withdraw before the first day of the last workshop, the professor is directed to issue the grade of "F" and the student will be withdrawn from the program.
  • Leave of Absence - Students are expected to take courses in the predetermined sequence.  Students who are unable to participate in a course due to unavoidable circumstances must arrange for a temporary leave of absence with the Office of Student Services prior to the beginning of the course and/or block. Students who withdraw while in a course may do so with permission of the Associate Director of Doctoral Programs or designated academic leader and by arrangement with the Office of Student Services prior to the start of the first day of the last workshop of the course, but the regular refund and academic withdrawal policies apply.

Residency

Residency for the doctoral program is satisfied by attending three onsite residencies in Marion.  Students are expected to be in attendance throughout the residency and are not allowed an absence from required workshops, events, or class sessions that are scheduled during the residency. If a student does need to withdraw from a residency, and the withdrawal date is less than 10 days from the start date of the residency (DNP-801, DNP-803, DNP-805, DNP-810, and DNP-812), residency fees are non-refundable. Business casual is the expected attire. Students are expected to follow the community lifestyle statement of the university while on campus. This includes refraining from the use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, use of firearms, and unethical or illegal activities. 

• Residency I – Orientation to the DNP Program and DNP Project requirements 
• Residency II – DNP Project proposal presentation
• Residency III –DNP Project presentation 

Reenrollment

A student who wishes to re-enroll in the DNP program must first contact the appropriate advisor to complete a Request for Re-enrollment form and forward to the Associate Director of Doctoral Programs or designated academic leader for approval. Following approval, the student may re-enroll in the program through the Office of Student Services and will agree to follow the prescribed plan of study. Students sitting out of a core program for more than 90 days are subject to current tuition rates upon returning. Students re-entering after six months are subject to any changes made in curriculum in the intervening time as well as current catalog policy.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students enrolled in the DNP program are regarded as members of the academic community of Indiana Wesleyan University. Students are responsible for conforming to the standards of conduct for adult learners. Continued enrollment in the program is subject at all times to review of the student's academic record and actions with regard to observance of university policies and regulations. Policies and regulations can be found in the School of Nursing Student Handbook (located within each course).

Incomplete Grades - Students are expected to complete the course requirements by the last day of the final workshop. There may be instances when crisis circumstances or events prevent the student from completing requirements in a timely manner. In these rare situations, a grade of "I" (incomplete) may be issued after completing the following process:

• The student must request an "I" from the instructor via email.
• The instructor must obtain approval via email from the Division Associate Dean.

A grade of "incomplete" may be granted only for extenuating circumstances. A student who receives an "incomplete" has ten weeks from the final meeting date of the course to complete course requirements and turn them in to the instructor. If, at the end of the ten-week extension, the student has failed to complete the course requirements the "incomplete" will become an "F." An incomplete cannot be issued if the student fails to meet the attendance requirements.

Progression - Two courses are offered during each 16-week block of classes.  Both courses must be satisfactorily completed with a grade of “B” or above before progressing into the subsequent block.

Probationary Status - Students enrolled in the DNP program will be placed on probation if their GPA falls below 3.25.

Students are given two consecutive blocks to satisfactorily raise their GPA.  The GPA is reviewed after the second block, and if it has been successfully raised, the probationary status is removed.  Academic suspension will result if the student's GPA is not successfully raised.

Academic Suspension - Academic suspension will result if:

• A student fails to clear the academic probationary status within the probationary period of two consecutive blocks.
• A student with more than one incomplete on record is subject to academic suspension.

In all cases, the suspension will occur once the grades have been recorded in the Registrar's Office. Students will be notified of the academic suspension in writing. Application for readmission may be made after six months. The application must be made in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for the School of Nursing.

Academic Dismissal

• Upon a second academic suspension in the same program, students are not eligible to reapply to Indiana Wesleyan University.
• Upon a second unsatisfactory grade, students will be academically dismissed and ineligible to reapply for admission into the DNP program.
• Students dismissed due to academic dishonesty are ineligible for readmission to the program.
• Students who fail to complete the program within four years will be administratively withdrawn.

A minimum of 1000 graduate level practicum hours are required to be eligible for graduation. Practicum hours may be a culmination of practicum hours completed during the nursing master’s degree and the DNP. A maximum of 500 practicum hours may be transferred from a master’s level practicum experience. Applicants who cannot provide documentation of practicum hours completed at the MSN level may provide proof of APRN certification, which verifies having acquired a minimum of 500 practicum hours. In this circumstance, 500 practicum hours will be accepted. Other validated exceptions may be considered on an individual basis.

Practicum hours may be accrued by completion of work or projects as approved by the course faculty or the Associate Director of Doctoral Programs or designated academic leader. Further explanation of practicum hours can be found in the DNP Project Manual.

Progression Requirements

• Students must maintain an RN license that is active and unencumbered at all times during enrollment in the program. Students must have a valid unencumbered RN license in the state(s) of the practicum sites. If students have multiple state licenses, all must be unencumbered. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the School of Nursing if the status of his or her RN license changes. Students will be administratively withdrawn from the program at any point if this status is not maintained.
• Students must meet all practicum agency requirements. Nurse Practitioner students must have health clearance and documentation of TB, Rubella, and Hepatitis B status; and meet any other requirements of the practicum site before any client contact. A second criminal background check and drug screen (at the student's expense) will be required for all Nurse Practitioner students prior to the first practicum course. Progression in the program is dependent on the results of the reports.

The DNP program is designed as a lock-step curriculum to be completed in approximately 26 months. Program completion must be accomplished within four years. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment with their original cohort and curriculum will be required to join a new cohort (as space is available), adapt to all subsequent curricular changes and DNP Project Manual changes, and incur any changes in program charge or cost. Any exceptions to this policy must be requested in writing to the Associate Director of Doctoral Programs or designated academic leader with the final decision resting with the Student Life Council.

DNP Project Continuation

Doctoral students not completing the DNP Project by the end of the second year will be required to maintain continuous enrollment. Students will enroll in a one-hour DNP Project Continuation course (DNP-900) continuously until the DNP Project is successfully defended. Students will pay the one-credit-hour course tuition and any required fees to maintain continuous enrollment. Each continuation course will be ten weeks in length. The maximum number of continuation courses will be seven.