Selected Student Policies & Procedures

Grading and Assessment:

The WLU PA Program is a competency-based program. Students are required to complete each component of the program successfully before progressing on to the next phase. The minimum passing score is 70% on all didactic exams and greater than the national EOR exam specific mean minus 1.0 standard deviations for EOR exams and a grade of “satisfactory” on professionalism and all skills and clinical clerkships. The minimum passing grade is a C for each course using a letter system. A “satisfactory” must be obtained in all courses graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. 

Student progress is monitored and documented in a manner that promptly identifies deficiencies in knowledge or skills. Students who are identified through self-referral or through faculty observation as being at risk for failure will be referred for remediation. Remediation may include tutoring, self-study, reading assignments, completion of specific tasks, written response to selected exam items, or referral to the Learning and Student Development Center for counseling.

Guidelines for Remediation and Dismissal:

Remediation is required for any failed written examination or skills assessment. As soon as possible upon grade release, it is the student’s responsibility to approach the respective          instructor after any failure to successfully complete remediation. Written exam or skills assessment written tests, check-offs/lab practical’s, papers, presentations, OSCE’s, and end-of rotation (EOR) exams, SOAP notes, H&P’s.

1.  Remediation of exams and skills assessments must be completed within two weeks during the   didactic phase and as directed in the clinical phase. 

2.  Remediation is for learning, and the student must demonstrate he/she has learned the material    for the areas in which the deficiency was identified.

3.  Successful remediation will allow the student to progress, however, the original assessment score will be recorded and will count toward the final course score.

4.  Remediation may also be required when an academic or professional deficiency is identified by a faculty member in any other activity associated with the PA program. 

5.  Failure to successfully remediate will trigger a comprehensive review of the student’s academic record resulting in administrative action which will include probation, deceleration or dismissal from the program. 

6.  If a student receives a grade of D in a didactic COURSE, he/she will have the opportunity to   meet with the instructor at the end of the term after final examinations. Weak areas will  beidentified.  The student will have an opportunity to do self-study and then take a           comprehensive exam for the course. If a comprehensive final exam was included as part of thecourse, another  comprehensive final exam (not identical to the one already used) will be given.

7. If a student received a gradeof D in a didactic COURSE, the student will have the opportunity to meet with the instructor at the end of the term after the final examinations.  Weak areas will be identified.  The student will have an opportunity to do self’study and then take a comprehansive exam for the course.  If a comprehensice final exam wes included as part of the comprehensive exam for the course, another comprehensive final exam (not identical to the one already used) will be given.

          a.  Passing this comprehensive examination does not guarantee passing of the course.
          b.  In a manner to bedetermined by the instructor, the remediated grade will be averaged 
               with all other course grades to determine the final course grade.
          c.  If a student fails to acheive at least a “C” for the course grade after taking the
               comprrehensive or the remediated comprehensive exam, at the discretion of the PA
               faculty, the student will either:
                    i.    Immediately decelerate (stop progress in the program)
                    ii.   Return at the beginning of the net cohort, take all required courses again, and
                          pay for all required courses again, OR 
                    iii.   Be dismissed from the program.
          d.  The student will not be given a passing grade higher than a C in the remediated
               course.   
          e.  To be eligible for this comprehensive remediation, the student must have taken the final
               exam.

Please note the following:

• Remediation is student and/or situation specific and is determined by the PA faculty and the  course director/instructor/clinical coordinator.
• Arrangements for remediation are made with the course director/instructor/clinical coordinator.
• If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 he/she will be subject to academic discipline that may result in probation or dismissal from the program.

Any student who fails a repeated course or clerkship will be dismissed from the program. A student may not repeat more than two courses total while in the program.

Pattern of Concern

Although a student may have passing grades in all courses, but when viewed as a whole, the record shows a pattern of concern (see below), that student will be given a written warning or be placed on probation with a remediation plan. Failure to successfully complete the terms of the plan will result in academic discipline up to and including dismissal from the program*. Decisions concerning academic issues are made in consultation with the Student Progress Committee and/or Faculty Committee.

Pattern of concern:

• Failure of two (2) or more exams in one course. For courses that include labs/practical        exams, failure of 2 or more exams in either the written or lab/practical
• Failure of three (3) or more exams across all courses in a single term.
• Accumulation of 8 or more remediations total in the entirety of the program.
• Receiving a mark of “unsatisfactory” on a Preceptor Evaluation of a student.
• Failure of an End of Rotation (EOR) examination.
• Consistent marginal passing scores/grades.
• Persistent decline of academic performance within or between terms creating a risk for final grades below benchmark.
• Failure to adhere to professional standards.

*Reasons for dismissal from the program include, but are not limited to:  academic dishonesty, unprofessional conduct, unsatisfactory attendance in classes or clinical assignments, positive drug testing, and inability to pass a background check. Each case will be investigated and will be based on objective findings.

Guidelines for Academic Probation

Placement on Probation

A student may be dismissed or placed on program probation in response to circumstances that include but are not limited to the following:

• Failure at any formal “decision point” (see section entitled Decision Points).
• Failure of a midterm, final exam, or course.
• GPA of less than 3.0 in any term(s)
• Failure to complete written assignments, patient logging, or other clinical assignments by
  scheduled deadlines.
• Unsatisfactory attendance records (including chronic tardiness or leaving early).
• Unsatisfactory progress in professional development, attitudes and/or professional conduct.
• Failure to receive a passing evaluation on a clinical rotation.
• Failure of exam(s) at the completion of a rotation.
• Unprofessional interactions or inappropriate behavior at an academic or clinical site.
• Failure to be present at all scheduled assignments: classes, functions, and didactic or clinical information and learning experiences.
• A pattern of documented evaluator concerns about a student’s performance that indicates
  unsatisfactory progress when the record is viewed as a whole, although passing grades have been            
• Failure to meet professional expectations.
• Continued concerns/lack of improvement after the issuance of a letter of concern.

Status while on Probation:

Program probation refers to student status within the PA Program. It is not forwarded to the University, nor does it appear on official transcripts. If the PA faculty recommends probation, the student will be notified in writing by the Program Director, Academic, or Clinical Coordinator. This letter will also state the minimum length of the probation and the conditions for removal from probationary status, i.e., a remediation plan. This notification is essentially a warning that the student must demonstrate improvement if student is to remain in the program of study.

Removal from Probation

Completion of a remediation plan is required for removal from probation. Failure to complete a remediation plan successfully will disqualify the student from this program. Review of probation status occurs at the end of each quarter.

• In the case of failed exams, the student must complete remediation as approved by the program.
• If a student is on probation for failures in multiple courses, probation may be carried over into the following quarter or until student demonstrates satisfactory progress.
• Probation for professional conduct issues will be reviewed by the program faculty at the end of each quarter, at which time the faculty may recommend continued probationary status or  dismissal from the program.
• Probation during the clinical year is reviewed at the end of each clinical rotation, at which time the program faculty may recommend either continued probationary status or dismissal from this            

When a remediation plan has been completed successfully, the Program Director, Academic, or Clinical Coordinator will notify the student in writing that Students has been removed from probation.