Academic Grading Scale:
Grade
A+
A
B+
B
#
C+
C
former grade
D
F
Committee
Percentage
Equivalent
95-100
90-94
85-89
80-84
Grade Index
4.00
3.75
3.50
3.00
Other Indicators
I
Incomplete
R
Repeat
T
Transfer Credit
WP
Withdrawn Passing
No grade point
No grade point*
No grade point
No grade point
78-79
70-77
2.50
2.00
* The grade in a repeated class replaces the
65-69
≤ 65
1.00
.00
in computing the cumulative GPA.
# Requires approval of Scholastic Standards
Grading Policy
Evaluation of student achievement in all nursing and science prerequisites courses will be
calculated using only measureable academic assignments identified in the syllabus and directly
related to course outcomes / objectives. No points will be assigned to non‐academic or unplanned
activities such as attendance, participation, bonus points, or extra credit. No grades will be
rounded.
Each student’s work is to be evaluated individually. There will be no comparison based grades or
grading on a curve. All course outcomes / objectives must be evaluated in the grading rubric
(testing, clinical / laboratory evaluations, other assignments).
No more than 20% of the course grade may be comprised of non‐objective / non‐test
assignments. However, non‐objective assignments are encouraged in order to promote student
learning in writing and critical thinking skills. Grading of all non‐objective assignments MUST
use an approved grading rubric distributed within the course syllabus.
At least 80% of the course grade will be determined by objective testing methods (methods with
specific right and wrong answers that could be graded electronically). Standardized tests (such as
HESI) will constitute 20% of a course grade when there is an appropriate test available. The
HESI conversion score will be used for calculation of the 20% portion of the course grade.
Tests may not be repeated to improve a grade. Students taking a test after the scheduled test time
MUST be given an alternative test. For successful completion of a course, a minimum composite
test score of 78% and clinical and lab performance grades of Pass ‘P’ are necessary.
Clinical and laboratory activities will be graded as Pass/Fail using approved grading rubrics that
identify critical elements that must be judged satisfactory for passage. Any Pass/Fail element in
the syllabus grading rubric will be considered necessary to achieve a passing grade in the course.
Failure of clinical or lab will result in failure of the entire course. All elements of a course must
be repeated when a course is repeated.
Each nursing student at DSN is required to participate in the Evolve Success (HESI) Program.
This program prepares students for successful completion of the NCLEX examination after
completion of the ADN or BSN curriculum. In addition to testing, this process includes ongoing,
individualized remediation based on exam performance, and academic advising program, virtual
clinical excursions, case studies, practice tests, and an NCLEX review course during the final
term.
Advising and remediation are encouraged for all students, and mandated for those students who
score <78% on the HESI Specialty Exams and <850 on the HESI Comprehensive Exit Exam
during the final term. Students admitted to DSN beginning January 2012 will be required to
achieve and 850 on the HESI Comprehensive Exit Exam to pass the Capstone course. Students
must show documentation of required remediation activities between exam attempts.
There are two versions of each HESI Specialty and Comprehensive Exam and students are
required to take both exams to complete the course. Prior to taking the Version 2 Exam, students
need to demonstrate they have spent significant time working in their Version 1 HESI Specialty
Exam online remediation. Individualized HESI exam online remediation is available via the
student’s individual Evolve Account. Use the conversion score (the percent - %) score to
determine the grade.
A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 is required for graduation and awarding of an
ADN or BSN Degree.
Only one repeat of a course within the curriculum may be attempted. A second failure of the same or a
different course will result in dismissal from the program.
Students not obtaining a grade of “C+” or better must repeat the course and maintain this minimum
academic standard in order to continue at Denver School of Nursing and to be eligible for graduation. A
grade of ‘C,’ ‘D’ or ‘F’ is considered not-passing.