1. Graduate Student Orientation
Welcome to the University of South Florida New Student Orientation.
All students are welcome to view this presentation in order to get a better understanding of some of the processes and procedures for the college of nursing.

2. Welcome
This Online Orientation is designed to help you make the most of your academic career in the College of Nursing. Each section provides you tools to help ensure your success as you progress toward your academic goals. Please accept our warmest welcome on behalf of the faculty and staff at the USF College of Nursing. Sincerely, Dr. Dianne Morrison-Beedy, Dean College of Nursing

3. Dates to Remember Fall 2017 Semester (January 11 to April 29)
Last day for add/drop – January 15 at 5:00pm
Fee liability/tuition payment deadline – January 15 at 5:00pm
Last day to withdraw without academic penalty (a W grade) –
March 25th at 5pm.
HOLIDAYS
January 18
Spring Break: March 14-19
For additional dates, the university calendar is accessible from the Registrar’s website:

4. Program Format
A Letter grade of “B” or higher MUST be earned in all courses (B- is not passing).
A Program Plan (list of course and when you are required to take them) will be provided by the Academic Advisor.
Students are expected to adhere to this plan unless special permission is obtained. As not all courses are offered each semester, a student who deviates from the program plan understands that delay in graduation can be expected. Priority is given to students who maintain initial degree plans. Clinical and/or site placements are based on preceptor and/or site availability. While every effort is made to assign students to preceptor/clinical sites near their residence, it is not always possible, and thus, students will need to understand these limitations.

5. Academic Advising
It is recommended that students maintain contact with their Academic Advisors as needed, either in person or by phone.
To speak with an Academic Advisor, call (813) or questions to:
Julia Myers

6. USF Health E-mail/Software Requirements
Prior to classes beginning, you will want to obtain a USF Health account. Please go to the website below to begin this process:
All official communications from the College of Nursing, (including class cancellations and offers of financial aid), are ONLY sent to Nursing Students through their USF Health account. Inquiries sent from an account other than your USF Health address will not be answered in compliance with the Federal Privacy Act.  
Use Your HEALTH Account & Check it OFTEN!
To review computer/software requirements for the USF College of Nursing, please go to:

7. College of Nursing Background/Immunization
Complete a Background Check, Immunization Tracker, and Drug Screening for the College of Nursing via Certifiedbackground.com. It is your responsibility to order your background check, immunization and drug screening package as well as monitor its status, by uploading the required documents and ensuring that they are processed and cleared. Any questions about the requirements, documents, or status must be directed to CertifiedBackground at
If you have specific questions Certified Background cannot answer, please contact Shawn Afflick

8. Registration For Classes
You will be eligible to register for your classes (once you have completed the required steps) and on the date that the Registrar has designated for new students.
Moving forward, the USF Registrar’s office will assign an “appointment time” to you for registration purposes. If you try to register prior to your scheduled time, you will receive an error message with your scheduled date and time.
For tutorials on how to register please visit: click on ‘Registration Tutorial on OASIS’ – on the right hand side (in the green outer circle)

9. OASIS
OASIS is the comprehensive Student Information System that supports a full range of university and college functions for USF students, faculty and staff.
OASIS is where USF students can see their scheduled registration date, review class schedules, register for classes, pay tuition and fees, check grades, change contact information, view holds, and see Financial Aid awards. 
OASIS is also where you can access DegreeWorks, USF’s online degree audit system. DegreeWorks is a tool used by both advisors and students to monitor progress toward graduation. The acceptance website has additional information about DegreeWorks and how it is used in the RN-BS program to track your progress.

10. General Directions for Registration
The USF schedule of classes is called “class schedule search”. It can be located at:
You will use the class schedule search to locate your courses and the associated CRN numbers. The CRN # of the courses is what the OASIS system uses to register you in your courses. Each course has a specific CRN # in the CRN column on the search results.
Tips on using Schedule Search:
You do not have to fill in every section of the schedule search.
Select Term (Spring, Summer or Fall)
Select Campus (Tampa)
Select College (Nursing)
Select Search
When viewing schedule search results for nursing classes, please pay attention to the title column.
Once you have written down the CRN# affiliated with the courses that will be registering for, log into OASIS.
From the main menu click “student” then “registration” then “select term” and choose the proper term.
From the main menu click “student” then “registration” then click “register, add or drop classes.”
Place all of the CRN # for your classes in the CRN boxes and click submit. You must put in and submit all three of your first courses at the same time (as they are co-requisites of each other) to avoid error messages.
To view and print your schedule, return to the registration menu and click “Student Detail Schedule”.

11. Textbooks
Textbooks for Online Classes may be purchased by contacting the USF Health Science Center Bookstore. The bookstore will ship your books via UPS on the same day you place your order IF you place the order before 10:00am.
Students may place textbook orders at the USF Health bookstore three different ways:
Come to the USF Health Sciences Bookstore on Campus
Call (813) to place your order
Go to the website –
Instructions on how to identify your course textbooks for the College of Nursing:
Go to the bookstore website –
Click the "Shop Now" link, then enter your course information in the drop-down menu on the right, add your courses to a list, and View Textbook List on the left.
(If you do not know certain details of your course (number or section) use your registration info from OASIS).
If no textbooks are listed, it may mean your instructor has not added them yet with the bookstore or there are no textbooks required. Contact your instructor for more information. Please keep in mind, that if the book is not posted, then no students will have the textbook information and you will not be falling behind in the class without having early access to the textbook. (hint: Academic Advisors do not have textbook information)

12. Canvas
Canvas is the primary learning management system for the USF College of Nursing. Canvas is the interactive platforms where USF faculty and students interact and where assignments are submitted.
Canvas tutorials and guides are located on the College of Nursing website at: 
Need Help with Canvas? If you have questions, please contact the IT Help Desk at or Toll Free

13. Information Technology Services
USF Health Information Technology (Health account help, connecting wirelessly at CON) 
After Hours/Weekend Canvas Issues  

14. Parking (if needed)
If you need to visit campus (for tutoring, to use the library, for events, etc.), parking permits are required to park at USF 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Permit types are used to designate different parking locations on campus.
Your permit would be valid in corresponding St. Petersburg and Sarasota Campus lots.
Individuals may purchase only one vehicle permit but they may be transferred between same owner vehicles only.
For parking information at the Tampa campus go to:

15. USF Catalog
Upon entering the University of South Florida, the catalog for that specific year serves as your contract with USF. 
All policies, procedures and requirements pertaining to your academic career at the university are found in this catalog. 
It is your responsibility to review your catalog and know the policies, which pertain to you and your degree.
Go to to access the electronic version of your entry catalog.

16. College of Nursing Student Handbook
The College of Nursing publishes Handbooks for Undergraduates, Graduates and Doctoral students. The Handbooks outline expectations for all students accepted into a Nursing program as well as the policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and forms.
To access go to:
The Nursing Student Handbook is a source for college policies and procedures that govern your stay in the college. Areas to review carefully include:
Grade requirements
Academic jeopardy
Course withdrawals, limited to one withdrawal per course, with a limit of two per undergraduate or graduate program.

17. Professional Behavior
The College expects all advanced education students to be professional in their interactions with patients, colleagues, faculty and staff and to exhibit caring and compassionate attitudes. This and other qualities will be evaluated during course participation, patient contacts and in other relevant settings.
Professional behavior is defined as appropriate behavior to the circumstance. Behavior of a student reflects on a student's qualification and potential to become a competent health care provider.
Attitudes and behaviors inconsistent with compassionate care, refusal by or inability of the student to participate constructively in learning or patient care, derogatory attitudes or inappropriate behavior directed at patient groups, peers, faculty or staff, or other unprofessional conduct, can be grounds for dismissal.

18. Withdrawal Policy
Withdrawals are limited to 1 per course, with a total limit of 2 withdrawals. (If you withdraw from the same course twice, you may be dismissed) 
Withdrawals are defined as officially withdrawing from any class after the Drop/Add period (1st week of classes) and before the final withdrawal date as outlined in the Academic Calendar. 
Any student withdrawing in excess of stated policy may be dismissed from the College of Nursing unless the College of Nursing has pre-approved a documented Medical and/or Emergency situation.

19. Progression Policy
1.1. Graduate students must earn the grade of ‘B’ or higher in each required course in their respective nursing program. An unsatisfactory (‘U’) or any grade below a ‘B’ (e.g. B-) is not acceptable.
1.2. Graduate students must also maintain an overall grade point average of 3.00 in order to be considered in academic "good standing". Students also must meet any special conditions of their admissions.. All grades will be counted in computing the overall grade point average. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.00 at the completion of their respective program, or they will not be awarded a degree from the University of South Florida.
1.3. If a student earns a grade below a ‘B’ or receives a ‘U’ in a required course, she/he must repeat the course. The course must be taken in the next semester that it is offered and the student must earn a ‘B’ or higher. Any student, who earns below a ‘B’ (or ‘U’) in two or more required courses or earns below a ‘B’ (or ‘U’) in a required course twice, will be dismissed from the College. The Dean of the College of Nursing, or her designee (Associate Dean of Academic Affairs), will notify students who are dismissed, in writing.
(p. 685)

20. Tuition and Fees
You must pay tuition and fees by the 5th day of the term or you will be charged a late fee.
If you owe library fines, parking fines, or other monies due the university, you may not be able to register and may incur late fees.
There is a $30 fee per credit hour for all web-based classes.
Some courses require lab fees. When you view the class schedule on OASIS, you can see all fees associated with a specific course.
If you have not registered for and paid for a class, you are not officially in that class and will not receive a grade. It is your responsibility to use OASIS to check your class schedule early in the semester to ensure that it is correct.
Click here for more information about USF Tuition and Fees:

21. Financial Aid Financial Aid is available in several different forms.
Loans are granted for educational expenses, but must be repaid, including interest, usually beginning six to nine months after graduation.
Scholarships and grants are funds awarded to students (must complete required application when announced) and are considered gifts, do not need to be repaid, but must be noted on your income tax returns.
Assistantships require work in the college either as a graduate assistant, teaching assistant or research assistant. Hours are typically restricted to twenty hours per week and payment is received bi-weekly.
In order to be considered for ANY sort of Financial Aid, you must first complete the FAFSA (The Free Application for Federal Student Aid ) – This includes College of Nursing Scholarships, Grants, and Assistantships.
Follow this link for everything you ever wanted to know about Financial Aid:
USF College of Nursing Financial Assistance page - this page is designed to provide an overview of the types of financial assistance available to nursing students. This list is not all-inclusive, but instead serves as a starting point for individuals in researching the options.

22. Thank You Thank you for completing the online orientation.
Please review the appropriate sites for policy and program information. If you have further questions, please contact your Academic Advisor.