Northwest Florida State College RN to BSN Nursing Program

during the next year. Second, aggregate results of the evaluation processes are discussed in
department meetings and used to develop recommendations for program improvements, which
are then included in the regular program review process. Throughout these review processes,
faculty members are accorded the opportunity to recommend additional or revised outcomes.
Key Element IV-E
The program has established policies and procedures by which it defines and reviews
formal complaints; analyses of aggregate data regarding formal complaints are used to
foster ongoing program improvement.
As of this writing, no student complaints or appeals have been received from or
processed for students in the previously existing upper division nursing courses, nor have any
complaints been received or processed in relation to the new stand-alone program. However, a
tracking system has been established in both the department/program office and the Office of
Instructional Services to monitor student appeals and complaints. All such items are logged into
a spread sheet by name, date and issue, and tracked for follow-up and action as appropriate,
including the possible revision of program-level practices. Aggregate data from the tracking
system is reviewed annually for trends, patterns and other indicators that program improvements
or policy revisions may be necessary.
The college and the program are committed to an environment that encourages feedback
and that provides students with fair and equitable avenues for grievance and appeal. To that end,
both informal and formal processes are available to students. All such processes are included in
the Student Handbook, which is available in the onsite resource room.
Should a student disagree with the grade that was computed by a faculty member
regarding an assignment or have other program-related concerns, the student should contact the
faculty member to discuss the assignment, grading criteria, the student’s grade and/or other
concern. If the discussion does not result in a resolution of the issues, the student may contact the
program director to discuss the matter. If the student is uncomfortable raising a specific issue
with the instructor while enrolled in that instructor’s class, he/she can approach the director or
the associate dean with the concern. If the issue is related to a course grade or grade(s), the
student can also wait until the end of the semester to discuss the grade with the faculty member
and/or program director.
Northwest Florida State College Self-Study Report for the BSN Program, August 20, 2008 Page 57 of 59