Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program: Policy on Grading

Unit Policy

Title

Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program: Policy on Grading

Introduction

Purpose

This Policy establishes the grading structure, along with the grade appeal process, for Physician Assistant (PA) Program (Program) students (Students).

Scope

This Policy applies to all Students who matriculate into the Program.

Policy

Policy Statement

Students’ Final course grades for each Program course will be determined by the weighted average of all of a Student’s graded assignments, assessments and participation (if applicable), as outlined in a course’s syllabus. Course grades will not be rounded.

Grading Structure

Students are evaluated under two (2) distinct grading structures for Preclinical Phase courses and Clinical Phase courses, as shown in the tables below:

Final Course Grades of Low Pass

Students with a final course grade of Low Pass will be referred to the Student Progress Committee for further review and identification of resources. The following thresholds apply to final course grades of Low Pass:

These thresholds are cumulative and apply across all semesters of the Preclinical Phase (i.e., the number of credit hours of Low Pass a Student accrues does not reset at the beginning of each subsequent semester). The Student Progress Committee reviews each case individually and may also determine additional actions, including, but not limited to:

• Remediation; and/or
• Deceleration

Final Course Grades of Fail

A final course grade of Fail (F) is below the minimum standards set by the Program and demonstrates that a Student has not achieved the learning outcomes of their course.

Didactic Courses

Students who receive a final course grade of Fail (F) in any Didactic Course will be referred to the Student Progress Committee for dismissal from the Program.

Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs)

Students may receive a final course grade of Fail (F) in one SCPE and remain eligible for Remediation and continuation in the Program. Students who receive a final course grade of Fail (F) in a SCPE will be:

• placed on Academic Probation; and
• referred to the Student Progress Committee for further academic and professionalism review.

If the Student Progress Committee permits Remediation for a Student who has received a course grade of Fail (F) in an SCPE in the form of the Student repeating an SCPE, the Student will be required to complete all assignments, examinations, and tasks outlined in the syllabus for that SCPE. Students who meet the minimum passing threshold for a remediated SCPE (see Policy on Clinical Rotation Grading) will receive the corresponding grade for the retaken course and their original failing SCPE grade will remain on their transcript.

Students who receive a second final course grade of Fail (F) in a SCPE will be referred to the Student Progress Committee for dismissal from the Program.

Appeal of a Final Course Grade and Dismissal Based on Grades

The Program follows the Department of Health Sciences Grade Appeals Policy. All Students are expected to review and familiarize themselves with the Grade Appeals Policy and present any questions to the Program Director.

Definitions

Academic Probation – A formal status assigned to a Student who fails to meet the Program’s defined academic standards. While on Academic Probation, Students remain enrolled in the Program but are subject to additional oversight and support measures, which may include mandatory meetings with faculty, completion of remediation assignments, and adherence to learning contracts. Academic Probation serves as an opportunity for Students to improve academic performance and return to good academic standing; however, continued deficiencies in academic performance or nonadherence to Program policies and academic standards may result in further actions by the Student Progress Committee, including Deceleration or dismissal from the Program.

Academic Warning – A formal status assigned to a Student who is identified as at-risk for not meeting the Program’s defined academic standards. An Academic Warning serves as an early alert that a Student’s academic performance is below Program expectations and requires improvement. A Student’s continued deficiencies in academic performance or nonadherence to Program policies and academic standards may result in the student being placed on Academic Probation.

Clinical Phase – The second phase of the Program’s curriculum following a Student’s successful completion of the Preclinical Phase. The Clinical Phase consists of supervised clinical rotations in a variety of healthcare settings and emphasizes the application of the medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism and cultural humility, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice, and self-assessment skills acquired during the Preclinical Phase with the overall goal of preparing Students for entry into the PA profession.

Didactic Course – All Preclinical Phase courses and all Clinical Seminar courses in the Clinical Phase.

Deceleration – The removal of a Student from the entering cohort, who remains matriculated in the Program. Deceleration results in a Student taking a leave of absence from the Program and resuming their academic progress with the Program’s next cohort.

Preclinical Phase – The first year of the Program’s curriculum encompassing both didactic and experiential learning. The Preclinical Phase consists of three semesters designed to provide foundational medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism and cultural humility, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice, and self-assessment skills that prepare Students for the Clinical Phase of the curriculum.

Remediation – The Program-defined process for addressing deficiencies in a Student’s knowledge and skills, such that correction of these deficiencies is measurable and can be documented.

Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE) – Supervised Student encounters with patients, either in-person or by telemedicine, that include comprehensive patient assessment, involvement in patient care decision-making, and result in a detailed plan for patient management. The Program also refers to SCPEs as “rotations”.

Related Requirements

External Regulations

• Section A3.01 of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) Accreditation Standards for PA Education
• Section A3.14 of the ARC-PA Accreditation Standards for PA Education

Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures

• Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program Policy on Preclinical Summative Assessment
• Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program Policy on Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Grading
• Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program Policy on End of Curriculum Assessment
• Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program Policy on Student Progress Committee
• Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program Policy on Clinical Rotation Grading

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Name: PA Program Administrative Support Specialist

Telephone: 919-962-8008

Email: paprogram@unc.edu