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University of Washington

The Warning Notice and Learning Contract: Notification to Student of Unsatisfactory Progress

Academic Services Memorandum No. 6

A warning notice is issued for any nursing student who is doing less than satisfactory work in a School of Nursing (theory, seminar, clinical) A warning card must be used for ANY student who is not meeting course objectives, is in danger of failing, or who has less than a 2.0 grade (undergraduate students) or 2.7 grade (graduate students) at mid quarter.

The warning notice has two parts:

  1. Warning notice: outline which course objectives the student is not meeting and provide examples for each. Use the Warning Notice form.
  2. Learning Contract: on a separate sheet outline what student must do for the remainder of the quarter to pass the course, e.g. list all your expectations and provide examples if necessary.

The instructor meets with the student in a private space to discuss the student's lack of progress in the course, goes over objectives not being met and provides examples. The instructor then presents the warning card. Next the instructor and the student review the learning contract which outlines and expectations and conditions the student must meet to complete the quarter successfully.  After the discussion, the student is asked to sign the Warning Notice and learning contract.  The student's signature indicates that that the student has had a chance to meet with the instructor, hear the concerns and has received the warning notice and learning contract.  The student signature does not necessarily indicate agreement.  Instructor and student shall meet regularly through the remainder of the quarter to go over student progress until the student has successfully completed the course or has been informed of course failure.

The instructor keeps the original warning notice and learning contract; the student receives a copy of the learning contract. The original signed warning notice and a copy of the learning contract is sent to Academic Services where it is placed in the student's file. All warning notices and learning contracts are removed at the time of graduation and do not become part of the permanent file.

All students are encouraged to seek support through the Office of Academic Services. BSN & ABSN students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Undergraduate Advisor; Graduate students may schedule an appointment with the Graduate Student Advisor.

Revised May 2013