Academic

Capstone Information and Requirements

Components of the Capstone Experience

The capstone experience is a culminating project in which a student leverages the knowledge and skills gained throughout their program. The capstone involves both reflective and forward-looking components.

All the capstone components will be completed within the time frame of the capstone course; no preparation is needed other than a continual reflection on the next steps in a student’s journey.

Some programs include additional assignments and requirements for the completion of the capstone. Details for additional components will be shared during courses throughout a program or within the capstone course.

Maximum Number of Enrollments in a Capstone

Due to unforeseen circumstances, times may exist when a student cannot complete their capstone prior to their intended graduation date/end of program. If a capstone is not completed, a student can be re-enrolled in the course as long as they do not exceed the maximum number of enrollments. A student can take the (5-week course) Capstone course no more than five times (25 weeks of course time) during their enrollment at ACE. If a student is not successful after the designated number of course enrollments, they will be administratively withdrawn from the college.

RN to MSN and BSN to MSN Capstone Experience

RN to MSN

The RN to MSN program has a capstone course at both the bachelor’s level (NUR4093) and master’s level (NUR5094 or NUR5194).  Specific information can be found in Nursing Toolbox located in the Student Commons.

BSN to MSN

The BSN to MSN program has a graduate-level capstone experience at the master’s level (NUR5094 or NUR5194). Specific information can be found in the Nursing Toolbox located in the Student Commons and in the MSN Graduate Capstone/Practicum Handbook.

The following components are required for completion of the Capstone Experience for RN to MSN and BSN to MSN:

Original Contribution-Change Project

The Original Contribution is an evidence-based change project that grows out of a student’s interest in a specific patient population, professional nursing role, and/or healthcare setting. In the Original Contribution, students will identify a need or problem in a healthcare setting and implement and evaluate a plan to resolve the problem. In addition, a student will have the opportunity to share how their leadership practice has grown and will continue to grow because of program completion.

Clinical Practicum Hours 

A 200-hour practicum is embedded in the RN to MSN and BSN to MSN programs and is required for program completion.  To avoid disruption in course sequencing, the following must be completed before enrollment in subsequent term(s) or enrollment in the capstone/practicum course can occur: 

• Clinical practice site and preceptor approval must occur three (3) terms before beginning the practicum experience; and  
• Any required documents, which may include, but are not limited to, liability insurance, background check, drug screening, immunizations, proof of health insurance, evidence of HIPAA training, and current CPR certification, must be submitted no later than 30 days before beginning the practicum experience. 

General Education Requirements (Undergraduate) 

American College of Education requires students enrolled in programs where a bachelor’s degree is conferred to complete thirty general education credits aligned with Indiana College Core. General education courses may be completed at ACE, transferred from an approved educational institution, or by proficiency exam.  The established framework for the Indiana College Core includes two categories: “Foundational Intellectual Skills” and “Ways of Knowing.” Each category includes three competency areas as depicted in the chart below. Indiana College Core requires for students to earn a minimum of 3 credits in each of the competency areas (18 credits) and complete a minimum of 30 credits in the defined competencies. ACE has defined the additional credit hours needed to fulfill general education requirements as listed below:

ACE students can complete general education credits prior to enrolling at ACE or while attending ACE. All credits are required to be fulfilled prior to degree conferral unless required as a prerequisite in a course as listed in the College Catalog. 

Maximum Number of Attempts in Courses

This policy limits the number of times a student can take any course with ACE. Students can take courses no more than three times during a registration at ACE.  If a student is not successful after three attempts, they will be administratively withdrawn from the College. Exception for EL5981- an attempt with a grade of PR will not count toward a student’s three allowed attempt(s). 

Registration will schedule students according to program progression.  Students-At-Large may not register for the same course more than three times. Registration will count as the first registration for the course. If a student does not receive a passing grade after that attempt, they will be required to retake this course per progression.  This process will continue until one of the following occurs:

• Student receives passing grade and matriculates in program accordingly.
• Three graded attempts are reached.

After three attempts students will be administratively withdrawn from the college and notified accordingly.

If a student is administratively withdrawn, they will be subject to the Re-Entry policy.

A student has the right to appeal this decision per the appeal process.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

The American College of Education defines a course prerequisite is any requirement an academic program identifies as necessary for a student to complete successfully before taking the course. A course corequisite is any requirement an academic program identifies as necessary for a student to satisfy concurrently with the course (a corequisite may be satisfied prior to the course as well as concurrently). Prerequisites and corequisites typically are other courses but may also be some other requirement.

Course prerequisites and corequisites are published in the course descriptions within this catalog. Students are ultimately responsible for knowing and adhering to course prerequisites and corequisites requirements. Failure to follow such requirements may delay a student’s progress and/or place a student at academic risk.

Repeating a Course

If a student repeats a course, both grades will appear on the student’s transcript. However, only the highest grade will be reflected in the student’s cumulative GPA.

Students who do not receive the required grade in a course for degree completion requirements will be automatically rescheduled to retake the course.  Should a student wish to retake a course for reasons other than degree requirements, they must formally request approval through the Registration Office.

Repeating a course will slow a student’s completion time and will involve additional costs. 

Per the Maximum Number of Attempts in Courses policy, a student will be administratively withdrawn from the college after three unsuccessful attempts at a course.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Academic Achievement Standards & Satisfactory Academic Progress

To graduate from American College of Education, each student must achieve a standard of academic achievement as defined by their cumulative grade point average (GPA). This standard is determined based on the degree level of the student. Bachelor’s degree students must earn a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA; doctorate, specialists, master’s degree, licensure certificate degree, and Nursing students (RN-MSN, RN-BSN, and BSN-MSN) must earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Students must also complete their program in a specified amount of time:

• Undergraduate, RN to MSN, and master’s students are required to complete their program within 1.5 times the length of the program (without stop-outs).
• Specialist students must complete their program within 7 years.
• Doctorate students within 10 years (with or without stop outs).

A course in which a grade below a “C” is earned will not be counted toward graduation requirements and must be retaken. When the course is retaken, each course and grade will appear on the transcript, but only the highest grade will be reflected in the student’s cumulative grade point average.

To ensure students are tracking towards successful degree completion, students are required to maintain the academic achievement GPA.

If a student’s GPA does not meet the academic achievement level or if the student has been provisionally admitted, the following statuses and rules will apply:

Provisional Admission

If an applicant is ineligible for full admission due to GPA, rubric results, or as the result of an admissions appeal, the applicant will be allowed to enroll as a provisionally admitted student. The student will be placed on Academic Probation for their first two terms at the College.

Graduate and Nursing (RN-MSN, RN-BSN, and BSN-MSN) students cannot earn a grade below a “B” in either of the first two courses at the Master’s and Doctoral Level. Undergraduate students cannot earn below a “C” in either of their first two courses.

Undergraduate students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and graduate and Nursing (RN-MSN, RN-BSN, and BSN-MSN) students must have earned a 3.0 cumulative GPA by the end of their second course in order to be removed from Academic Probation status and be considered in good standing with the college.

Students who earn below a B (graduate and all Nursing (RN-MSN, RN-BSN, and BSN-MSN) students) or C (undergraduate) in either of their first two courses or do not earn the required GPA by the end of their second course will be dismissed from the College.

Academic Warning

Academic Warning is assigned when a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.0 for bachelor’s degree and 3.0 for doctorate, specialists, master’s degree, licensure certificate degree, and all Nursing (RN-MSN, RN-BSN, and BSN-MSN) students. The status is assigned for two terms to provide students the opportunity to raise their GPA. If the GPA is not raised to the required GPA at this time, they will be placed on Academic Probation. While placed on this status, graduate and Nursing (RN-MSN, RN-BSN, and BSN-MSN) students are required to earn a grade of “B” or better in each course; undergraduate students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in each course. If these grades are not received, the student will be dismissed. 

Academic Probation

Academic Probation is assigned to a provisionally admitted student or when a student on Academic Warning does not meet the GPA requirements within two terms (2.0 for bachelor’s degree and 3.0 for doctorate, specialists, master’s degree, licensure certificate degree and all Nursing degrees).  The Academic Probation status is assigned for two terms to allow students to raise their GPA. If the GPA is not raised to the required GPA during this time, they will be Dismissed. While placed on this status, graduate-level and all Nursing students are required to earn a grade of “B” or better in each course; undergraduate-level students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in each course. If these grades are not received, the student will be dismissed. 

Dismissal

A graduate-level, Nursing (RN-MSN, RN-BSN, and BSN-MSN), or provisional admit student on a SAP status, may be dismissed if they receive a grade of “C” or below in their courses. The one exception is if a student receives a “C” and this grade results in raising their GPA to a 3.0 cumulative GPA, they will not be dismissed. An undergraduate student on a SAP status may be dismissed if they receive a grade of “D” in their courses.

Students who have been academically dismissed are restricted to one petition for Re-Entry or Readmission to the College. The dismissed student is required to wait four standard 5-week terms prior to being allowed to re-enter (See Re-Entry or Readmission procedures).

Students who have been academically dismissed two times are not eligible to return and are expelled.

Re-Entry after Dismissal or Withdrawal 

A student who leaves ACE for any reason while on an Academic Warning or Academic Probation status will return under this same status if he or she is granted Re-Entry or Readmission.

Expelled

Students who have been academically dismissed two times will be expelled and are not eligible for re-entry or readmission.