Remove the EXIT HESI Benchmark Score
The Issue
December 20, 2025
President, Herzing University
Chief of Academic Operations
Dean / Associate Dean of Nursing
Graduate Nursing Program Chair
Graduate Nursing Faculty
Academic Affairs and Curriculum Committee
Re: Petition and Policy Proposal to Remove the HESI RN Exit Exam as a Graduation and Progression Requirement for the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry) Program
Dear University Leadership and Graduate Nursing Faculty,
We respectfully submit the enclosed Petition and Policy Proposal requesting that Herzing University revise the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Direct Entry program policy to discontinue the use of the HESI RN Exit Exam as a mandatory graduation or progression requirement for students who have successfully completed all required graduate-level coursework and clinical requirements.
The MSN Direct Entry program is designed for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and who complete an intensive, accelerated professional nursing curriculum at the graduate level. These students demonstrate competence through rigorous didactic evaluation, high-stakes course final examinations, faculty-supervised clinical practicums, and achievement of program outcomes aligned with Board of Nursing requirements. The use of a single standardized exit exam as a graduation barrier undermines this comprehensive evaluation process.
This proposal is grounded in national nursing education guidance, statistical evidence, and principles of fair testing. It seeks to preserve academic integrity while ensuring that degree conferral reflects demonstrated competence rather than performance on a single third-party examination.
We respectfully request a written response and an opportunity to meet with academic leadership to discuss this proposal.
Sincerely,
Herzing University MSN Direct Entry Students
Petition and Policy Proposal
Proposal to Remove the HESI RN Exit Exam as a Graduation and Progression Barrier in the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry) Program:
I. Purpose of the Petition
This petition formally requests that Herzing University eliminate the HESI RN Exit Exam as a mandatory benchmark requirement for course completion, progression, or graduation within the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry) program when a student has:
• Successfully completed all required graduate-level nursing coursework and final examinations; and
• Successfully completed all required clinical hours, competencies, and professional practice requirements consistent with Board of Nursing standards.
The petition does not oppose the use of standardized exams as NCLEX preparation tools; rather, it seeks to remove their use as punitive or gatekeeping mechanisms.
II. Program-Specific Background
The MSN Direct Entry program is academically and clinically intensive. Students are evaluated using multiple high-stakes measures, including graduate-level examinations, clinical competency validation, faculty evaluations, and professional performance assessments. These measures collectively establish readiness for entry into professional nursing practice.
Current policy provisions that assign Incomplete grades or delay graduation based solely on failure to achieve a HESI RN Exit Exam benchmark allow a single standardized test to override sustained academic and clinical success.
III. Regulatory and Educational Rationale
Boards of Nursing determine licensure eligibility based on graduation from an approved nursing program. They do not require passage of standardized exit examinations for degree conferral. National nursing education organizations further caution against using single standardized exams as the sole determinant of high-stakes outcomes such as graduation.
Best practice supports the use of multiple evaluative measures that reflect academic achievement, clinical judgment, and professional readiness.
IV. Statistical and Evidence-Based Support
Research demonstrates that while standardized exit exams may correlate with NCLEX outcomes, the incremental benefit of higher benchmark cut scores is minimal. Differences in NCLEX first-time pass rates between students scoring above commonly used thresholds are small and do not justify delaying or denying graduation to otherwise qualified students.
Moreover, evidence documents significant student harm associated with high-stakes standardized testing, including delayed graduation, financial burden, and workforce entry delays, without proportional improvement in licensure outcomes.
V. Student Impact in Graduate Direct Entry Programs
MSN Direct Entry students often incur substantial financial obligations and opportunity costs due to the accelerated nature of the program. Graduation delays caused by exit exam policies exacerbate financial hardship, delay professional employment, and undermine the program’s stated objectives of preparing competent entry-level nurses efficiently and ethically.
VI. Proposed Policy Revision
We respectfully propose that:
1. Graduation eligibility in the MSN Direct Entry program be determined solely by successful completion of all coursework and clinical requirements.
2. The HESI RN Exit Exam be retained only as a non-punitive diagnostic and NCLEX preparation tool.
3. Failure to meet an exit exam benchmark shall not result in an Incomplete grade or delay in graduation when all program outcomes are met.
4. NCLEX readiness be supported through structured remediation, advising, and review resources without academic penalty.
VII. Requested Action
We respectfully request formal review of this policy, written response from Academic Affairs within fifteen business days, and an opportunity to meet with program leadership to discuss implementation.
Appendix A: Documentation of Current Policy Impact
Current MSN Direct Entry program materials describe the HESI RN Exit Exam as a benchmark tied to course completion or progression. In practice, this has resulted in delayed graduation or Incomplete grades despite successful completion of graduate coursework and clinical requirements.
Appendix B: Evidence Summary and Statistical Rationale
Evidence from nursing education literature demonstrates minimal NCLEX outcome differences between exit exam benchmark thresholds and documents harm associated with high-stakes standardized testing policies.
Appendix C: Student Impact and Equity Considerations
High-stakes exit exam requirements disproportionately impact graduate direct entry students, contributing to financial hardship, emotional distress, and delayed workforce entry without reflecting clinical competence.
Herzing University–Specific Policy Citations and Alignment
This petition is submitted in alignment with Herzing University’s published institutional and academic policies, which emphasize transparency, academic integrity, and fair evaluation practices. A review of Herzing University Policy Statements indicates that:
• Herzing University affirms that course grades and academic progression are determined by successful completion of stated course objectives, evaluations, and clinical requirements as outlined in official course syllabi and program plans of study.
• The published Herzing University Policy Statements do not explicitly state that a third‑party standardized exit examination may be used to override successful completion of all required coursework and clinical education for purposes of degree conferral.
• Herzing University policies emphasize consistency, fairness, and due process in academic evaluation and student progression decisions.
Accordingly, the use of the HESI RN Exit Exam as a sole graduation or progression barrier in the MSN Direct Entry program appears to exceed the scope of explicitly published institutional policy and creates ambiguity regarding academic due process.
Primary Reference:
Herzing University. (n.d.). University policy statements. https://www.herzing.edu/university-policy-statements
This proposal respectfully requests that any graduation‑impacting requirements be explicitly articulated in published policy, consistently applied, and aligned with national nursing education standards and Board of Nursing expectations.
Student Signatures Page
By signing below, I affirm my support for the petition to remove the HESI RN Exit Exam as a graduation and progression requirement in the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry) program when all academic and clinical requirements have been met.
283
The Issue
December 20, 2025
President, Herzing University
Chief of Academic Operations
Dean / Associate Dean of Nursing
Graduate Nursing Program Chair
Graduate Nursing Faculty
Academic Affairs and Curriculum Committee
Re: Petition and Policy Proposal to Remove the HESI RN Exit Exam as a Graduation and Progression Requirement for the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry) Program
Dear University Leadership and Graduate Nursing Faculty,
We respectfully submit the enclosed Petition and Policy Proposal requesting that Herzing University revise the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Direct Entry program policy to discontinue the use of the HESI RN Exit Exam as a mandatory graduation or progression requirement for students who have successfully completed all required graduate-level coursework and clinical requirements.
The MSN Direct Entry program is designed for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and who complete an intensive, accelerated professional nursing curriculum at the graduate level. These students demonstrate competence through rigorous didactic evaluation, high-stakes course final examinations, faculty-supervised clinical practicums, and achievement of program outcomes aligned with Board of Nursing requirements. The use of a single standardized exit exam as a graduation barrier undermines this comprehensive evaluation process.
This proposal is grounded in national nursing education guidance, statistical evidence, and principles of fair testing. It seeks to preserve academic integrity while ensuring that degree conferral reflects demonstrated competence rather than performance on a single third-party examination.
We respectfully request a written response and an opportunity to meet with academic leadership to discuss this proposal.
Sincerely,
Herzing University MSN Direct Entry Students
Petition and Policy Proposal
Proposal to Remove the HESI RN Exit Exam as a Graduation and Progression Barrier in the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry) Program:
I. Purpose of the Petition
This petition formally requests that Herzing University eliminate the HESI RN Exit Exam as a mandatory benchmark requirement for course completion, progression, or graduation within the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry) program when a student has:
• Successfully completed all required graduate-level nursing coursework and final examinations; and
• Successfully completed all required clinical hours, competencies, and professional practice requirements consistent with Board of Nursing standards.
The petition does not oppose the use of standardized exams as NCLEX preparation tools; rather, it seeks to remove their use as punitive or gatekeeping mechanisms.
II. Program-Specific Background
The MSN Direct Entry program is academically and clinically intensive. Students are evaluated using multiple high-stakes measures, including graduate-level examinations, clinical competency validation, faculty evaluations, and professional performance assessments. These measures collectively establish readiness for entry into professional nursing practice.
Current policy provisions that assign Incomplete grades or delay graduation based solely on failure to achieve a HESI RN Exit Exam benchmark allow a single standardized test to override sustained academic and clinical success.
III. Regulatory and Educational Rationale
Boards of Nursing determine licensure eligibility based on graduation from an approved nursing program. They do not require passage of standardized exit examinations for degree conferral. National nursing education organizations further caution against using single standardized exams as the sole determinant of high-stakes outcomes such as graduation.
Best practice supports the use of multiple evaluative measures that reflect academic achievement, clinical judgment, and professional readiness.
IV. Statistical and Evidence-Based Support
Research demonstrates that while standardized exit exams may correlate with NCLEX outcomes, the incremental benefit of higher benchmark cut scores is minimal. Differences in NCLEX first-time pass rates between students scoring above commonly used thresholds are small and do not justify delaying or denying graduation to otherwise qualified students.
Moreover, evidence documents significant student harm associated with high-stakes standardized testing, including delayed graduation, financial burden, and workforce entry delays, without proportional improvement in licensure outcomes.
V. Student Impact in Graduate Direct Entry Programs
MSN Direct Entry students often incur substantial financial obligations and opportunity costs due to the accelerated nature of the program. Graduation delays caused by exit exam policies exacerbate financial hardship, delay professional employment, and undermine the program’s stated objectives of preparing competent entry-level nurses efficiently and ethically.
VI. Proposed Policy Revision
We respectfully propose that:
1. Graduation eligibility in the MSN Direct Entry program be determined solely by successful completion of all coursework and clinical requirements.
2. The HESI RN Exit Exam be retained only as a non-punitive diagnostic and NCLEX preparation tool.
3. Failure to meet an exit exam benchmark shall not result in an Incomplete grade or delay in graduation when all program outcomes are met.
4. NCLEX readiness be supported through structured remediation, advising, and review resources without academic penalty.
VII. Requested Action
We respectfully request formal review of this policy, written response from Academic Affairs within fifteen business days, and an opportunity to meet with program leadership to discuss implementation.
Appendix A: Documentation of Current Policy Impact
Current MSN Direct Entry program materials describe the HESI RN Exit Exam as a benchmark tied to course completion or progression. In practice, this has resulted in delayed graduation or Incomplete grades despite successful completion of graduate coursework and clinical requirements.
Appendix B: Evidence Summary and Statistical Rationale
Evidence from nursing education literature demonstrates minimal NCLEX outcome differences between exit exam benchmark thresholds and documents harm associated with high-stakes standardized testing policies.
Appendix C: Student Impact and Equity Considerations
High-stakes exit exam requirements disproportionately impact graduate direct entry students, contributing to financial hardship, emotional distress, and delayed workforce entry without reflecting clinical competence.
Herzing University–Specific Policy Citations and Alignment
This petition is submitted in alignment with Herzing University’s published institutional and academic policies, which emphasize transparency, academic integrity, and fair evaluation practices. A review of Herzing University Policy Statements indicates that:
• Herzing University affirms that course grades and academic progression are determined by successful completion of stated course objectives, evaluations, and clinical requirements as outlined in official course syllabi and program plans of study.
• The published Herzing University Policy Statements do not explicitly state that a third‑party standardized exit examination may be used to override successful completion of all required coursework and clinical education for purposes of degree conferral.
• Herzing University policies emphasize consistency, fairness, and due process in academic evaluation and student progression decisions.
Accordingly, the use of the HESI RN Exit Exam as a sole graduation or progression barrier in the MSN Direct Entry program appears to exceed the scope of explicitly published institutional policy and creates ambiguity regarding academic due process.
Primary Reference:
Herzing University. (n.d.). University policy statements. https://www.herzing.edu/university-policy-statements
This proposal respectfully requests that any graduation‑impacting requirements be explicitly articulated in published policy, consistently applied, and aligned with national nursing education standards and Board of Nursing expectations.
Student Signatures Page
By signing below, I affirm my support for the petition to remove the HESI RN Exit Exam as a graduation and progression requirement in the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry) program when all academic and clinical requirements have been met.
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Petition created on December 25, 2025