Students in the PA program must achieve a grade of B (>79.5%) in PAS didactic and clinical courses to remain in good academic standing. Students who receive less than a B in one course may be offered the opportunity for course remediation. If course remediation is unsuccessful, deceleration may be offered. A student may only remediate one course per year. Each student will have only one opportunity to decelerate.
Due to course scheduling, remediation of a course may result in delay in the program. In addition, because the courses offered each semester are interrelated, students who decelerate are required to attend all courses in the semester that the failed course is repeated, attend all classes, and pass all evaluation requirements. Failure to achieve a B or better on a second attempt of a course following deceleration will result in recommendation of dismissal from the program. All coursework must be completed within five (5) years of matriculation.
Course Remediation Policy
All student performance will be reviewed each by semester by the Promotions & Remediation Committee. For students who have demonstrated academic deficiency (<79.5%) in a program course, they may be offered a remediation process. Students are only eligible for remediation in one course per year (one didactic course and one clinical course), as long as the remainder of the semester grades are a B (>79.5%) and the student is in good professional standing. Failure of a second course per didactic year will result in deceleration.
Remediation will be offered if the student demonstrated behavior, attitude, and ethics consistent with professional demeanor expected of a physician assistant student as determined by the Promotions and Remediation Committee.
The course coordinator will refer a remediation plan to the Promotions & Remediation Committee. If remediation is approved, students will be assigned an academic remediation plan and assessment by the Director of Didactic Education. The plan outlines the way in which a student will be expected to address any performance issues.
Remediation will include repeating some portion of the module, course or clerkship and reexamination. In all cases, the process of remediation shall be at the discretion of the course coordinator, and the Director of Didactic or Clinical Education.
Course assessment (EOM exam and OSCE) learning interventions are required if a student fails to pass the assessment regardless of course final grade. The learning intervention plan is designed by the course coordinator and referred to the Director of Didactic Education for discussion with the Promotions and Remediation Committee. A learning intervention does not change the original grade on the assessment.
Deceleration Policy
Under extraordinary circumstances students may be allowed additional time to complete the program. Due to the curricular thread, students will decelerate into the following year’s cohort. This request must be made to the program director and will be approved by the Promotions and Remediation Committee. All PA Program course work must be completed within 5 years of matriculation.
In order to be considered for deceleration, the following conditions must exist:
- A grade of at least "B" (>79.5%) in all other program courses.
- Demonstrated behavior, attitude, and ethics consistent with professional demeanor expected of a physician assistant student.
- Deceleration will be offered only once per student.
- Failure to achieve a 3.0 and a grade of B (>79.5%) or better on the 2nd attempt will result in recommendation for dismissal.
Program Dismissal
Students that do not meet the program expectations for deceleration will be recommended for dismissal to the Program Director.
- Students fail to achieve a course grade of B (>79.5%) or better after deceleration.
- Students fail to achieve 3.0 GPA after deceleration.
- Lack of resolution of documented professional behavior issues.
- Failure of 2 clinical courses or failure to pass repeated clinical clerkship.
- Academic Dishonesty.
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