General Academic Information

Academic Calendar

The academic year consists of two semesters, each approximately 16 weeks in length and one summer term. Classes are generally scheduled on a five-day week. The university offers daytime, late afternoon, and evening classes.

Fall Semester 2024

Spring Semester 2025

Summer Term 2025

Academic Responsibilities

Students have the following responsibilities: to plan an academic program that meets current requirements, to meet all financial obligations, to attend classes and complete course requirements, to maintain established academic standards, to fulfill graduation requirements, and to familiarize themselves with information in the Catalog and the Student Handbook. Students are expected to manifest those qualities judged to be appropriate and necessary in the profession for which they are preparing. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.

Accessibility

Accessibility of Information and Communication Technology

The University of Saint Francis strives to ensure that all people, including those with disabilities, have equal access to its educational services and content, including services and content made available using information and communication technology (ICT). ICT refers to electronic resources used for instruction, information distribution, or communication. The University’s commitment to ICT accessibility aligns with federal and state law as well as the University’s Franciscan Values. Creating an accessible ICT environment is the responsibility of all University administrators, faculty, and staff.

To notify the University of an issue with information and communication technology accessibility, please contact the Dean of Student Academic Support, Academic Career and Development Center at https://accessibility.sf.edu/.

Additionally, the Coordinator of Student Accessibility Services provides services and accommodations for students with disabilities in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. To learn how to request assistance, visit https://accessibility.sf.edu/.

Course Definitions

Course Descriptions: The hours identified with each course description represent the amount of credit hours a student will earn upon successful completion of the course.

Prerequisite: A prerequisite indicates a course which must be successfully completed before enrolling in other courses as indicated.

Co-requisite: This indicates a course which must be taken no later than the same semester as the course described.

Recommended Background: Indicates level of course background or other criteria a student needs to be successful in a course.

Graduation Completion

The university offers a Commencement ceremony once a year, typically on the first weekend in May. Students who complete their degree requirements during an academic year (fall, spring, or summer term) may participate in Commencement. Candidates for graduation must apply for the degree in the academic year in which they intend to graduate. Applications must be submitted by April 1 in order to be listed in the Commencement Program.

Graduation Audits

Every candidate for graduation from the Graduate School will have two audits of their transcript prior to the awarding of a degree. An initial audit is done after an Application for Graduation is received, and a final audit is completed after final grades are submitted.

Degree Credit Hour Minimum

The institution conforms to commonly accepted minimum program length 30 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree to earn a master’s degree.  

Conferral of Degree and Diploma

After the final audit is concluded and the Registrar’s office is informed, the Registrar will enter the date of the conferral of the degree on the student’s official transcript. Students may request a copy of their transcript as evidence of their degree completion.

For those who have completed their requirements but cannot attend the commencement ceremony or those who have not finished their degree requirements, their diplomas are returned to the Registrar’s office. The student must either make arrangements with the Registrar’s office to pick up their diploma or provide a valid mailing address. For those who prefer to receive their diploma in the mail, the Registrar’s office will send it to the address provided by the student.

Transcript of Credits

Transcripts may be requested and fees paid online through the National Student Clearinghouse website, allowing a variety of ways to send the transcript, including electronically. Official transcripts can also be picked up in person or mailed directly from the Registrar’s Office to a third party, but a form must be completed in the Registrar’s Office, and the presentation of a photo ID is required. Transcripts requested via the Registrar’s Office also require the payment of a fee of $20.00 per transcript, and credit cards cannot be accepted. Transcript requests are not processed until all financial and other obligations have been satisfied. The University of Saint Francis will not release a copy of a transcript of grades earned at another institution.

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, student records will not be released without the written consent of the student, except in emergency situations, or in the following situations:

• To school officials, including faculty, who have legitimate cause to view the records;
• In connection with application for and receipt of financial aid;
• Where the information is classified as Directory Information. Directory Information includes name, address, telephone number, dates of attendance, date of graduation, and birth date. At the student’s request, any of these items will be withheld.

Posthumous Degree Conferral

Any currently enrolled graduate student who has earned academic credit at USF but who has not yet completed all degree requirements for her/his current academic major and who has passed away in any circumstance will receive a degree posthumously.

The degree will be awarded immediately following confirmation of the student’s passing by the university and after consideration of the case by the President’s Cabinet.

If approved by the President’s Cabinet, the Vice President of Academic Affairs will handle the procedure with the Registrar:

• A degree conferral date will be entered on the student’s official USF transcript.
• An official transcript containing a note indicating that the degree was conferred posthumously will be sent to the family.
• The diploma will be sent to the family or presented to a family member at the commencement ceremony if desired.
• The student’s name will be listed in the commencement program with the notation “Degree Awarded Posthumously”.

Institutional Review Board

The University of Saint Francis has a standing Institutional Review Board (IRB) that reviews all research involving humans, animals and/or biologically hazardous materials. All research, prior to being conducted, must be approved for its protection of human participants or animal subjects by the university’s IRB. The IRB’s role is to assure that ethical designs and controls are implemented in any research conducted by individuals associated with the university.

College of Health Science Technical Standards

The University of Saint Francis has identified technical standards critical to the success of students in health sciences programs. These standards are designed not to be exclusionary, but to establish performance expectations that will enable students to provide safe patient practice with or without accommodations.

Acquiring fundamental knowledge

Students must be able to learn in classroom and other educational settings via lectures, demonstrations, review of research and patient care situations.. Students must have the ability to find sources of knowledge, acquire the knowledge, be a life-long learner and demonstrate adaptive thinking.

Developing Communication Skills

Students must have the ability to effectively communicate verbally, nonverbally, in writing, with groups and using information technology. Students must be able to interact appropriately with patients (persons, families and/or communities), peers, and with all members of the health care team. Students must be able to interpret and convey information gathered from communications. They must be able to speak, read and write in English.

Interpreting Data

Students must have the ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize data in a timely manner. They must successfully fulfill examination requirements of the program, including written and practical examinations. Students must have the ability to (1) observe patient conditions and responses to health and illness, (2) assess and monitor health needs, (3) translate data into abstract concepts, and (4) understand evidence-based reasoning.

Integrating Knowledge to Establish Clinical Judgment

Students must demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving and decision making ability needed to care for individuals, families and/or communities across the health continuum. They must demonstrate clinical competency and the ability to participate in clinical experiences. Students must possess sensory capacity and motor function to gather patient data, perform patient assessment and implement therapeutic interventions.

Incorporating Professional Attitudes and Behaviors into Practice

Students must demonstrate cross cultural competency, integrity, moral reasoning, ethical behaviors and concern for others. They must have the ability to acquire interpersonal skills for professional interactions with diverse individuals, families and/or communities. They must be able to work cooperatively with intra and inter professional teams, adapt to changing environments inherent in clinical practice,, and function effectively under stress.

Criminal Background

To comply with clinical requirements, all students in the College of Health Sciences will undergo a Criminal Background Check before starting clinical rotations. Evidence of positive drug screens, any DUI, driving violations or penalties, crimes such as battery or assault, theft or embezzlement, and drug or other substance abuse-related crimes may make a student ineligible to participate in clinical experiences and therefore ineligible to be admitted to or to complete a health sciences degree.

Time Limits

Enrolling for Initial Coursework

A student must begin the course of studies toward the degree within 12 months of being accepted into a graduate program or it will be necessary to repeat the entire admission process.

Completing Degree Requirements

Once a student has begun coursework toward a graduate degree, a maximum of five (5) years is allowed for completion of all degree requirements. (Transfer work also must be completed within this time.) Courses more than five (5) years old may not be accepted toward revised programs.

Interruption of Studies

If a student discontinues taking courses in the Graduate School, his or her file will be kept for an additional two semesters. Candidates must reapply to the graduate program if they discontinue coursework for two or more consecutive semesters (excluding summer). To re-enroll at this time, the candidate must meet the admission requirements as determined by the department/program. Candidates must follow the current program of study requirements. Exceptions to this policy are at the discretion of the department chair/program director of each graduate program.