NURS 5430 5C3: Intergrated Family Practicum

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NURS 5430 - Intergrated Family Practicum: Intergrated Family Practicum (SSIII - June 02 to Aug 07)

Summer 2025 Syllabus, Section 5C3, CRN 52240

Instructor Information

Araceli Solis, FNP-C

Email: araceli.solis@tamiu.edu

Office: Off Campus

Office Hours:
By Appointment Only

Cell Phone: 956-489-3455

Times and Location

Does Not Meet Face-to-Face

Course Description

Additional Course Information

In this course, students may leverage generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, writing tools) to assist with assignments specified by the instructor. The use of GenAI is intended to support [specific learning objectives, e.g., critical analysis, creative thinking, or productivity in content creation], with the following guidelines in place to ensure academic integrity:

Permissible Uses: Students are welcome to use AI tools for tasks such as brainstorming, creating outlines, exploring different perspectives on a topic, data visualization, data analysis or drafting ideas. However, for assignments requiring critical analysis or personal reflections, AI tools are not permitted unless explicitly allowed by instructor.

Documentation of AI Use:

For each assignment where GenAI is utilized, please provide:

· Tool Used: Specify the AI application or tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot).

· Purpose: Describe how GenAI contributed to your work (e.g., idea generation, grammar improvement).

· Evaluation: Reflect briefly on the AI output’s accuracy and relevance.

· Integration: Explain how you incorporated and refined the GenAI content into your final submission.

Students are responsible for maintaining academic integrity by ensuring all GenAI use is properly documented and credited. When AI contributes significantly to the development of an assignment, students are required to cite the tool in APA format (e.g., “ChatGPT, OpenAI”). This citation should explain how the tool was used.

Students are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all content submitted, as AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies. Review and verify all information independently.

Failure to disclose the use of GenAI tools or presenting AI-generated content as one’s original work constitutes academic misconduct and may result in disciplinary action.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MSN program, graduates will:

1. Critically analyze, interpret and utilize appropriate knowledge, research and theories to meet the health care needs of diverse client populations across the lifespan.

2. Collaboratively plan the delivery of culturally sensitive health care with organizations and the community.

3. Contribute to the advancement of nursing profession through evidenced-based research and practice.

4. Synthesize the leadership management, negotiating, teaching/coaching and consulting roles to foster continual improvement in order to meet changing societal and environmental needs.

5. Operationalize ethical, legal, political, and economic principles in application to management of healthcare delivery across the lifespan.

6. Advocate for advanced nursing practice through a commitment to lifelong learning and community service.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1. Communicate effectively orally and in writing with individuals, families, and communities to influence health care outcomes.

2. Integrate data from assessment to develop diagnoses and health care strategies

3. Develop management plans for clients incorporating cultural, economic, ethical, legal, and psychosocial factors.

4. Collaborate with other health professionals and the community to provide comprehensive health services to clients.

5. Teach individuals, families, groups and communities skills and behaviors to promote maintain or restore health.

6. Utilize appropriate evidence to validate knowledge relevant to advanced nursing practice.

Important Dates

Visit the Academic Calendar (tamiu.edu) page to view the term's important dates.

Textbooks

Group Title Author ISBN
Required Current Diagnosis & Treatment Obstetrics and Gynecology 12th edition DeCherney, A.H. 9780071833905
Required CURRENT MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT 64th edition PAPDAKIS, M., & MCPHEE, S. 9781266266232
Required FAMILY PRACTICE GUIDELINES 6th edition CASH, JILL C. 9780826166050

Other Course Materials

To go to the bookstore, click here.

REQUIRED SUPPLIES:

  • High quality stethoscope
  • Ophthalmoscope and otoscope
  • Pen light
  • Reflex hammer
  • Tuning fork (256Hz recommended)
  • Laminated pocket size ruler, pupil size, and visual acuity cards (Rosenbaum)
  • Measuring tape
  • Lab coat – knee length
  • TAMIU graduate student name badge (from ZSC 131).

Grading Criteria

GRADING SCALE:                    Pass or Fail

Refer to the MSN Student Handbook for specific policies governing grading, progression, and intellectual honesty. The current MSN Handbook is located at: msnhandbook.pdf (tamiu.edu)

CLINICAL PRACTICUM COURSE POLICIES: 

  1. For the entire course, a student should document a minimum of 300 to 360 encounters (Typhon logs/cases), averaging 2 encounters/hr. spread across the different sites.
  2. Students have 10 days, from completing a clinical day, to enter cases in Typhon to document or justify clinical or practicum hours. All clinical documentation must be completed within 10 days of patient interaction, or hours will be void and not count towards the total 180 practicum hours/SOAP notes required for course completion.
  3. The student is to initiate contact, develop preceptorship plans, and make initial arrangements with the potential preceptor and agency. Independent action is stressed with University and preceptor/agency constraints. Final approval of preceptor and/or agency rests with the clinical professor(s).
  4. A signed preceptor agreement/contract with the preceptor/agency and the student/university must be in place prior to the start of the student rotation.
  5. Students must develop a calendar schedule for clinical hours with their preceptors and submit the schedule of clinical practicum hours to their assigned clinical professor prior to start of clinical rotation; otherwise, these hours will not be counted in the course. If the clinical professor makes a site visit during the dates/times the student has scheduled clinical hours, and the student is absent without notifying the clinical professor ahead of time, such will result in clinical failure. Students should plan for events, such as study time, class time, etc., at the beginning of the semester and not schedule clinical hours for those days. Thus, there should be no changes in scheduled clinical hours to study for tests. Students are expected to honor their precepted contracted hours.
  6. The clinical preceptor must sign the preceptor documentation log verifying that the student was present during the clinical experience. Signatures must be collected each day of the clinical experience. No corrections (no white-out or alterations) to the form after the preceptor has signed and verified the hours spent for any day.
  7. The clinical professor will make one or more site visits per student in order to further the learning process and to determine student progress. Additional site visits may be made at the professor’s discretion. The clinical performance grade will be determined by the faculty member with input from the preceptor and student. The clinical component of the grade will not be assigned until the end of the semester. Safe clinical practice is mandatory for the successful completion of the course.
  8. All students must obtain a “satisfactory = P” for all coursework to pass this course. This course is graded Pass/Fail. Not passing this course will negatively impact your GPA.
  9. Students may NOT have a clinical preceptorship where they work, nor may they be paid for clinical as part of their working hours.
  10. Student-Faculty Communication and Response Time Policy:  Open communication between the students and course faculty is encouraged. Each student is encouraged to communicate with faculty advisor regarding academic needs.  Students must check their dusty email account every 24 hours to ensure that they are able to respond to any email communication from their course faculty with 24-48 of receiving the email. Emails sent to the course faculty should be emailed through Bb, and faculty will respond within 48 business hours.  If the faculty has not responded within 48 business hours, the student must call or resend the email the faculty to ensure that the original email was received. Students should read any email sent by the course faculty thoroughly to ensure that they respond within the designated time frame or within the requested time frame.  This is considered a professional responsibility.
  11. All clinical hours must be completed by August 8th. Failure to complete all clinical hours or falsification of clinical hours will result in failure of the course.
  12. Every MSN student is expected to demonstrate professional integrity, including but not limited to the standards below. Failure to maintain professional standards of integrity may result in failure of the clinical portion of the course (list not exhaustive):
    • Adhere to the ANA Code for Nurses.
    • Adhere to Texas Board of Nursing Board Rules
      • 213.27b Good professional character – defined “good professional character as the integrated pattern of personal, academic, and occupational behaviors that indicate an individual is able to consistently conform his/her conduct to the requirements of the Nursing Practice Act.”
        • RNs enrolled in a nursing program, the TBON considers the student’s practice setting the academic setting; therefore, accountable for good professional character while in school, and academic dishonesty is considered a reportable offense.
      • 217.12(6)(A) Unprofessional Conduct – Misconduct actions that include but not limited to:
        • Falsifying reports, client documentation, agency records, or other documents.
        • Examples: RNs falsifying clinical log entries, patient progress notes. Etc.
      • 217.12(6)(I) Unprofessional Conduct– Misconduct actions that include “failing to answer specific questions or providing false or misleading answers in a licensure or employment matter that could reasonably affect the decision to license, employ, certify or otherwise utilize a nurse.”
        • The TBON and certifying body is reliant information provided to them by the RN student indicating that they have completed the required number of clinical hours when issuing a license or certification. False information provided to either organization is considered unprofessional conduct.
    • Protect the confidentiality of patient health information.
    • Recognize that within the community and surrounding areas, you are an ambassador of Texas A&M International University School of Nursing, and you must conduct yourself in a manner consistent with University mission and values.
    • Do not engage in any behavior that will compromise patient care or the University’s relationships with community partners.
    • Always introduce oneself as a student and avoid misrepresentation of licensure and certification status.
    • Do not practice outside of your scope or practice.
    • Wear your TAMIU ID while in any clinical setting.
GRADE NUMERIC
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
F Below 70

Evaluation Methods

Item Points (%)
Signed Clinical Log Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
Typhon Log Required # of Cases Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
Site Visit Evaluation by Faculty Midtern & Final Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
Student Evaluation of Preceptor Midterm & Final Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
Preceptor Evaluation of Student Midtern & Final Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory
FNP Student Sef-Evaluation Midterm & Final Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory

Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week of Agenda/Topic Reading(s) Due
6/2 Clinical Practicum Review and Sign Syllabus
6/2 First Class Day		 Typhon Notes
Clinical Contracts
Clinical Schedule
6/9 Clinical Practicum Typhon Notes
6/16 Clinical Practicum Typhon Notes
6/23 Clinical Practicum Typhon Notes
6/30 Clinical Practicum Typhon Notes
Mid-term Evaluations
7/7 Clinical Practicum Typhon Notes
7/14 Clinical Practicum Typhon Notes
7/21 Clinical Practicum Typhon Notes
7/28 Clinical Practicum 7/31 Last day to drop a course or withdraw from the University. Typhon Notes
8/4 Clinical Practicum 8/6 Last Class Day All Typhon Notes Due 8/8
Final Evaluations

University/College Policies

Please see the University Policies below.

COVID-19 Related Policies

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please refer to the Student Handbook, Appendix A (Attendance Rule) for instructions.

Required Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend every class in person (or virtually, if the class is online) and to complete all assignments. If you cannot attend class, it is your responsibility to communicate absences with your professors. The faculty member will decide if your excuse is valid and thus may provide lecture materials of the class. According to University policy, acceptable reasons for an absence, which cannot affect a student’s grade, include:

  • Participation in an authorized University activity.
  • Death or major illness in a student’s immediate family.
  • Illness of a dependent family member.
  • Participation in legal proceedings or administrative procedures that require a student’s presence.
  • Religious holy day.
  • Illness that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend class.
  • Required participation in military duties.
  • Mandatory admission interviews for professional or graduate school which cannot be rescheduled.

Students are responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to faculty members within seven calendar days of their absence and return to class. They must substantiate the reason for the absence. If the absence is excused, faculty members must either provide students with the opportunity to make up the exam or other work missed, or provide a satisfactory alternative to complete the exam or other work missed within 30 calendar days from the date of absence. Students who miss class due to a University-sponsored activity are responsible for identifying their absences to their instructors with as much advance notice as possible. 

Classroom Behavior (applies to online or Face-to-Face Classes)

TAMIU encourages classroom discussion and academic debate as an essential intellectual activity. It is essential that students learn to express and defend their beliefs, but it is also essential that they learn to listen and respond respectfully to others whose beliefs they may not share. The University will always tolerate different, unorthodox, and unpopular points of view, but it will not tolerate condescending or insulting remarks. When students verbally abuse or ridicule and intimidate others whose views they do not agree with, they subvert the free exchange of ideas that should characterize a university classroom. If their actions are deemed by the professor to be disruptive, they will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action (please refer to Student Handbook Article 4).

TAMIU Honor Code: Plagiarism and Cheating

As a TAMIU student, you are bound by the TAMIU Honor Code to conduct yourself ethically in all your activities as a TAMIU student and to report violations of the Honor Code. Please read carefully the Student Handbook Article 7 and Article 10 available at https://www.tamiu.edu/scce/studenthandbook.shtml.

We are committed to strict enforcement of the Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code tend to involve claiming work that is not one’s own, most commonly plagiarism in written assignments and any form of cheating on exams and other types of assignments.

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work as your own. It occurs when you:

  1. Borrow someone else’s facts, ideas, or opinions and put them entirely in your own words. You must acknowledge that these thoughts are not your own by immediately citing the source in your paper. Failure to do this is plagiarism.
  2. Borrow someone else’s words (short phrases, clauses, or sentences), you must enclose the copied words in quotation marks as well as citing the source. Failure to do this is plagiarism.
  3. Present someone else’s paper or exam (stolen, borrowed, or bought) as your own. You have committed a clearly intentional form of intellectual theft and have put your academic future in jeopardy. This is the worst form of plagiarism.

Here is another explanation from the 2020, seventh edition of the Manual of The American Psychological Association (APA):

“Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, idea, or images of another as your own; it denies authors or creators of content the credit they are due.  Whether deliberate or unintentional, plagiarism violates ethical standards in scholarship” (p. 254).  This same principle applies to the illicit use of AI.

Plagiarism: Researchers do not claim the words and ideas of another as their own; they give credit where credit is due. Quotations marks should be used to indicate the exact words of another. Each time you paraphrase another author (i.e., summarize a passage or rearrange the order of a sentence and change some of the words), you need to credit the source in the text. The key element of this principle is that authors do not present the work of another as if it were their own words. This can extend to ideas as well as written words. If authors model a study after one done by someone else, the originating author should be given credit. If the rationale for a study was suggested in the discussion section of someone else's article, the person should be given credit. Given the free exchange of ideas, which is very important for the health of intellectual discourse, authors may not know where an idea for a study originated. If authors do know, however, they should   acknowledge the source; this includes personal communications (p. 11). For guidance on proper documentation, consult the Academic Success Center or a recommended guide to documentation and research such as the Manual of the APA or the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. If you still have doubts concerning proper documentation, seek advice from your instructor prior to submitting a final draft.

TAMIU has penalties for plagiarism and cheating.

  • Penalties for Plagiarism: Should a faculty member discover that a student has committed plagiarism, the student should receive a grade of 'F' in that course and the matter will be referred to the Honor Council for possible disciplinary action. The faculty member, however, may elect to give freshmen and sophomore students a “zero” for the assignment and to allow them to revise the assignment up to a grade of “F” (50%) if they believe that the student plagiarized out of ignorance or carelessness and not out of an attempt to deceive in order to earn an unmerited grade; the instructor must still report the offense to the Honor Council. This option should not be available to juniors, seniors, or graduate students, who cannot reasonably claim ignorance of documentation rules as an excuse. For repeat offenders in undergraduate courses or for an offender in any graduate course, the penalty for plagiarism is likely to include suspension or expulsion from the university.
    • Caution: Be very careful what you upload to Turnitin or send to your professor for evaluation. Whatever you upload for evaluation will be considered your final, approved draft. If it is plagiarized, you will be held responsible. The excuse that “it was only a draft” will not be accepted.
    • Caution:  Also, do not share your electronic files with others. If you do, you are responsible for the possible consequences. If another student takes your file of a paper and changes the name to his or her name and submits it and you also submit the paper, we will hold both of you responsible for plagiarism. It is impossible for us to know with certainty who wrote the paper and who stole it. And, of course, we cannot know if there was collusion between you and the other student in the matter.
  • Penalties for Cheating: Should a faculty member discover a student cheating on an exam or quiz or other class project, the student should receive a “zero” for the assignment and not be allowed to make the assignment up. The incident should be reported to the chair of the department and to the Honor Council. If the cheating is extensive, however, or if the assignment constitutes a major grade for the course (e.g., a final exam), or if the student has cheated in the past, the student should receive an “F” in the course, and the matter should be referred to the Honor Council. Additional penalties, including suspension or expulsion from the university may be imposed. Under no circumstances should a student who deserves an “F” in the course be allowed to withdraw from the course with a “W.”
    • Caution: Chat groups that start off as “study groups” can easily devolve into “cheating groups.” Be very careful not to join or remain any chat group if it begins to discuss specific information about exams or assignments that are meant to require individual work. If you are a member of such a group and it begins to cheat, you will be held responsible along with all the other members of the group. The TAMIU Honor Code requires that you report any such instances of cheating.
  • Student Right of Appeal: Faculty will notify students immediately via the student’s TAMIU e- mail account that they have submitted plagiarized work. Students have the right to appeal a faculty member’s charge of academic dishonesty by notifying the TAMIU Honor Council of their intent to appeal as long as the notification of appeal comes within 10 business days of the faculty member’s e-mail message to the student and/or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement. The Student Handbook provides more details.

Use of Work in Two or More Courses

You may not submit work completed in one course for a grade in a second course unless you receive explicit permission to do so by the instructor of the second course. In general, you should get credit for a work product only once. 

AI Policies

Your instructor will provide you with their personal policy on the use of AI in the classroom setting and associated coursework.

TAMIU E-Mail and SafeZone

Personal Announcements sent to students through TAMIU E-mail (tamiu.edu or dusty email) are the official means of communicating course and university business with students and faculty –not the U.S. Mail and no other e-mail addresses. Students and faculty must check their TAMIU e-mail accounts regularly, if not daily. Not having seen an important TAMIU e-mail or message from a faculty member, chair, or dean is not accepted as an excuse for failure to take important action.

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to download the SafeZone app, which is a free mobile app for all University faculty, staff, and students.  SafeZone allows you to: report safety concerns (24/7), get connected with mental health professionals, activate location sharing with authorities, and anonymously report incidents.  Go to https://www.tamiu.edu/adminis/police/safezone/index.shtml for more information.

Copyright Restrictions

The Copyright Act of 1976 grants to copyright owners the exclusive right to reproduce their works and distribute copies of their work. Works that receive copyright protection include published works such as a textbook. Copying a textbook without permission from the owner of the copyright may constitute copyright infringement. Civil and criminal penalties may be assessed for copyright infringement. Civil penalties include damages up to $100,000; criminal penalties include a fine up to $250,000 and imprisonment. Copyright laws do not allow students and professors to make photocopies of copyrighted materials, but you may copy a limited portion of a work, such as article from a journal or a chapter from a book for your own personal academic use or, in the case of a professor, for personal, limited classroom use. In general, the extent of your copying should not suggest that the purpose or the effect of your copying is to avoid paying for the materials. And, of course, you may not sell these copies for a profit. Thus, students who copy textbooks to avoid buying them or professors who provide photocopies of textbooks to enable students to save money are violating the law.

Students with Disabilities

Texas A&M International University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal education opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Office of Student Counseling and Disability Services located in Student Center 126. This office will contact the faculty member to recommend specific, reasonable accommodations. Faculty are prohibited from making accommodations based solely on communications from students. They may make accommodations only when provided documentation by the Student Counseling and Disability Services office.

Student Attendance and Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy

As part of our efforts to assist and encourage all students towards graduation, TAMIU provides
LOA’s for students, including pregnant/parenting students, in accordance with the Attendance Rule (Section 3.07) and the Student LOA Rule (Section 3.08), which includes the “Leave of Absence Request” form. Both rules can be found in the TAMIU Student Handbook (URL: http://www.tamiu.edu/studentaffairs/StudentHandbook1.shtml).

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, harassment based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions, is prohibited. A pregnant/parenting student must be granted an absence for as long as the student’s physician deems the absence medically necessary. It is a violation of Title IX to ask for documentation relative to the pregnant/parenting student’s status beyond what would be required for other medical conditions. If a student would like to file a complaint for discrimination due to his or her pregnant/parenting status, please contact the TAMIU Title IX Coordinator (Lorissa M. Cortez, 5201 University Boulevard, KLM 159B, Laredo, TX 78041,TitleIX@tamiu.edu, 956.326.2857) and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Dallas Office, U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, TX 75201-6810, 214.661.9600). You can also report it on TAMIU’s anonymous electronic reporting site: https://www.tamiu.edu/reportit.

TAMIU advises a pregnant/parenting student to notify their professor once the student is aware that accommodations for such will be necessary. It is recommended that the student and professor develop a reasonable plan for the student’s completion of missed coursework or assignments. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (Lorissa M. Cortez, lorissam.cortez@tamiu.edu) can assist the student and professor in working out the reasonable accommodations. For other questions or concerns regarding Title IX compliance related to pregnant/parenting students at the University, contact the Title IX Coordinator. In the event that a student will need a leave of absence for a substantial period of time, TAMIU urges the student to consider a Leave of Absence (LOA) as outlined in the TAMIU Student Handbook. As part of our efforts to assist and encourage all students towards graduation, TAMIU provides LOA’s for students, including pregnant/parenting students, in accordance with the Attendance Rule and the Student LOA Rule. Both rules can be found in the TAMIU Student Handbook (https://www.tamiu.edu/scce/studenthandbook.shtml).

Anti-Discrimination/Title IX

TAMIU does not discriminate or permit harassment against any individual on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, educational programs, or employment. If you would like to file a complaint relative to Title IX or any civil rights violation, please contact the TAMIU Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity/Title IX Coordinator, Lorissa M. Cortez, 5201 University Boulevard, Killam Library 159B, Laredo, TX 78041,TitleIX@tamiu.edu, 956.326.2857, via the anonymous electronic reporting website, ReportIt, at https://www.tamiu.edu/reportit, and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Dallas Office), U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, TX 75201-6810, 214.661.9600.

Incompletes

Students who are unable to complete a course should withdraw from the course before the final date for withdrawal and receive a “W.” To qualify for an “incomplete” and thus have the opportunity to complete the course at a later date, a student must meet the following criteria:

  1. The student must have completed 90% of the course work assigned before the final date for withdrawing from a course with a “W”, and the student must be passing the course;
  2. The student cannot complete the course because an accident, an illness, or a traumatic personal or family event occurred after the final date for withdrawal from a course;
  3. The student must sign an “Incomplete Grade Contract” and secure signatures of approval from the professor and the college dean.
  4. The student must agree to complete the missing course work before the end of the next long semester; failure to meet this deadline will cause the “I” to automatically be converted to an “F”; extensions to this deadline may be granted by the dean of the college. This is the general policy regarding the circumstances under which an “incomplete” may be granted, but under exceptional circumstances, a student may receive an incomplete who does not meet all of the criteria above if the faculty member, department chair, and dean recommend it.

WIN Contracts

The Department of Biology and Chemistry does not permit WIN contracts. For other departments within the college, WIN Contracts are offered only under exceptional circumstances and are limited to graduating seniors. Only courses offered by full-time TAMIU faculty or TAMIU instructors are eligible to be contracted for the WIN requirement. However, a WIN contract for a course taught by an adjunct may be approved, with special permission from the department chair and dean. Students must seek approval before beginning any work for the WIN Contract. No student will contract more than one course per semester. Summer WIN Contracts must continue through both summer sessions.

Student Responsibility for Dropping a Course

It is the responsibility of the student to drop the course before the final date for withdrawal from a course. Faculty members, in fact, may not drop a student from a course without getting the approval of their department chair and dean.

Independent Study Course

Independent Study (IS) courses are offered only under exceptional circumstances. Required courses intended to build academic skills may not be taken as IS (e.g., clinical supervision and internships). No student will take more than one IS course per semester. Moreover, IS courses are limited to seniors and graduate students. Summer IS course must continue through both summer sessions.

Grade Changes & Appeals

Faculty are authorized to change final grades only when they have committed a computational error or an error in recording a grade, and they must receive the approval of their department chairs and the dean to change the grade. As part of that approval, they must attach a detailed explanation of the reason for the mistake. Only in rare cases would another reason be entertained as legitimate for a grade change. A student who is unhappy with his or her grade on an assignment must discuss the situation with the faculty member teaching the course. If students believe that they have been graded unfairly, they have the right to appeal the grade using a grade appeal process in the Student Handbook and in the Faculty Handbook.

Final Examination

All courses in all colleges must include a comprehensive exam or performance and be given on the date and time specified by the Academic Calendar and the Final Exam schedule published by the Registrar’s Office. In the College of Arts & Sciences all final exams must contain a written component. The written component should comprise at least 20% of the final exam grade. Exceptions to this policy must receive the approval of the department chair and the dean at the beginning of the semester.

Mental Health and Well-Being

The university aims to provide students with essential knowledge and tools to understand and support mental health. As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer access to Telus Health, a service available 24/7/365 via chat, phone, or webinar. Scan the QR code to download the app and explore the resources available to you for guidance and support whenever you need it. The Telus app is available to download directly from TELUS (tamiu.edu) or from the Apple App Store and Google Play.