Failure of a Course: In the event a student receives a failing (F) grade for a course, they will be placed on Academic Probation by the Student Assessment & Promotions Committee (SAPC) until remediation is completed. Each failed course may be remediated and retaken one time only.
Remediation: Definition: one permitted attempt per failed course. The SAPC reviews the student record and may:
- Enact Remediation with Progression as its own decision or
- Recommend Remediation without Progression or Student Dismissal to the Program Director.
The Program Director makes the final decision on SAPC recommendations for Remediation without Progression or Dismissal.
Remediation with Progression: The SAPC may permit a student to continue into subsequent coursework while completing remediation when the deficits are limited in scope, are unlikely to impair safe participation in upcoming work, and the SAPC judges that remediation can be completed successfully within the timeframe specified by SAPC (typically one semester). This permission is discretionary, must be documented in an individualized remediation plan, and may include conditions (e.g., supervised clinical time, additional assessments).
Examples of when the determination of Remediation with Progression may be made include, but are not limited to:
- Not meeting the expected level of performance in a single competency (e.g., "taking a history" or "performing a physical exam")
- Receiving a failing grade in a single course due to knowledge gaps (e.g., falling below the passing criteria for the course)
Remediation with Progression will require an individualized remediation plan, which may include, but is not limited to:
- Enrollment in an individual study course
- Tuition will be charged for all individual study courses and is the responsibility of the student
- Working with the Student Success Facilitator
- Working one-on-one with a faculty member or Program-approved tutor
- Additional review of course material
- Additional practice with multiple-choice exams via testing software
- Re-testing
- Case discussions
- Simulations
- Additional weeks of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs); and/or
- Any combination of the above-listed items.
Successful completion of Remediation with Progression is necessary for the student's status to return to "good academic standing" and removal from Academic Probation.
Each failed course may be remediated and retaken one time only. A student who is unsuccessful in their remediation and reassessment attempt will be recommended for dismissal.
A student who receives a failing grade in a separate course or competency while remediating will be reviewed by the SAPC to determine their eligibility for continued study, progression, and promotion. This may involve options such as remediation with or without progression or dismissal.
Remediation without Progression (deceleration): A recommendation made to the Program Director when, in the opinion of the SAPC, remediation will place a substantial burden on the student if conducted while the student is attempting new coursework. The student will be decelerated, which may include:
- Taking a leave of absence and re-matriculating into the next cohort, or
- Being removed from the clinic for a month or more to remediate identified deficits.
The student may or may not be refunded any tuition for the current year, following university policies. The student will be placed on Academic Probation as part of this decision.
Examples of when the determination of Remediation without Progression may be made include, but are not limited to:
- Not meeting the expected level of performance in more than one competency (e.g., “taking a history,” “performing a physical examination,” “prioritizing a differential diagnosis,” “developing a plan”)
- Receiving a failing grade in more than one course due to knowledge gaps (e.g., falling below the 70% cut off); and/or
- Demonstrating inappropriate professional behavior for which the student has been notified, but has not been corrected
- Failure of an End of Rotation Exam retake, or accumulation of three failed/outstanding EORs
- Outstanding EORs are defined as EORs that are failed and pending remediation and assessment
- Failure of a clinical rotation will prompt SAPC review and may result in Remediation without Progression or recommendation for dismissal, depending on circumstances and prior performance.
If the Program Director concurs with an SAPC recommendation for Remediation without Progression, or Dismissal, the student will be required to meet with the Chair of the SAPC and the Associate Program Director (APD); outcomes will be documented, and any required “change of status” forms completed as per university policy.
Deceleration with re-matriculation (remediation without progression) into the next cohort: Deceleration with re-matriculation will result in an Official Leave of Absence (LOA) from the Program and institution. In addition, this determination may have a financial impact on the student; therefore, a meeting with the Office of Student Financial Services will be recommended. This determination will result in delayed graduation.
Before re-matriculating, the student must notify the Program, in January, in writing, of his/her/their intent to return and is expected to confirm their intent to return to the program no later than April 1st. A $500 non-refundable deposit to hold a place in the next cohort must be submitted no later than April 1st. The deposit will be applied toward tuition when the student returns from the LOA.
The student will meet with the Director of Curriculum and the students’ advisor to review remediation and re-matriculation requirements before and upon return from the LOA. The student’s status upon re-matriculation will remain “Academic Probation” until the failed courses are successfully remediated.
Deceleration from clinical progression: Deceleration from clinical rotations may result in an official LOA if the deceleration extends beyond 30 days. In the event this occurs, consultation with the Office of Student Financial Services will be recommended. This determination may result in delayed graduation, and the student’s status will be converted to Academic Probation.
Remediation without Progression (whether didactic or clinical) will require an individualized plan, which may include, but is not limited to:
- Enrollment in courses for which the student received a failing grade (F)
- Enrollment in independent study course(s) to cover content areas in which the student demonstrated deficiencies in learning objectives within courses for which the student previously received a passing grade (P)
- Content and assessments associated with these courses will be based on any prior deficits and may include, but are not limited to:
- Attendance in all courses to ensure acquired skills and knowledge are maintained or advanced.
- Assignments or assessments based on prior deficits (e.g., block exam scores with scores in the “at risk” (70-75%) or failed ranges (<70%); assignments with scores below expected levels)
- Complete all Integrated Assignments to ensure a level of competency is maintained or advanced.
- Content and assessments associated with these courses will be based on any prior deficits and may include, but are not limited to:
- Completion of any new or updated pre-matriculation requirements.
- Cost(s) associated with tuition and pre-matriculation requirements are the responsibility of the student.
- Removed from clinical rotations to focus on the identified deficit (pertains to clinical phase students only)
- Meetings with the Student Success Facilitator
- Meetings with individual Course Directors.
Successful completion of Remediation without Progression is necessary for the student's status to return to good academic standing and removal from Academic Probation. Eligibility for continuation in the Program will be determined upon successful completion of remediation in the case of Remediation with or without Progression.
Each failed course may be remediated and retaken only once. A student who is unsuccessful in their remediation and reassessment attempt will be recommended for dismissal.
A student who completes any remediation pathway (with or without progression) and later incurs two additional failing course grades (either within one semester or cumulative thereafter) will be recommended for dismissal.
Regardless of the type of remediation, students in the Physician Assistant Program must meet academic, clinical, and professional milestones to progress through the program toward graduation. The normal timeframe for completing required coursework for the MPAS degree is 27 consecutive months. The student must complete all Program requirements within a maximum of 40.5 months from original matriculation or be dismissed.
Appeals of SAPC or Program Director decisions follow the Student Rights - Rights for Appeals procedures.