Graduate Academic Standing

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Graduate Academic Standing

Satisfactory Academic Progress

In addition to academic expectations regarding Academic Standing, recipients of all forms of financial assistance are expected to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress. Although Franklin Pierce University expects every graduate student to strive for academic excellence, at a minimum, all graduate students must achieve a term grade point average (TGPA) and a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 (B) or higher to remain in good academic standing. Graduate students may have no more than two grades below a B- factored into the calculation of the CGPA at the time of graduation. Only grades of C+ or lower may be repeated.

Grades or credits earned or submitted after the assignment of sanction will not change the academic sanction for that semester but will be included in the review of academic progress at the conclusion of the following semester. Students not meeting this minimum standards policy will be required to establish and sign a Learning Contract with their academic advisor. In cases where programmatic promotion policies are more stringent than these standards, the student will be bound by the programmatic policies. 

A graduate student’s academic record must give evidence that they have reasonable prospects of completing the degree requirements. At the close of each term, academic records will be reviewed by the Academic Director in conjunction with the Dean and if necessary, appropriate sanctions will be applied. 

Warning

Warning letters are issued to students who receive course passing grades (C or greater) but:

  • Earn a single grade below (B-) during the term or • Earn a term GPA below 3.00, when taking a single course.

Probation

If a student fails to achieve a 3.00 term GPA and/or CGPA then that student is deemed to be not in good academic standing. Students on academic probation must improve their academic standing during the next term. 

Students may be placed on Academic Probation if they earn a:

  • Term GPA below 3.00, when taking more than one course that term or
  • Second grade below B- or 
  • CGPA below 3.00 or 
  • Single grade of F in a term (grades of C-, D+, D and D- do not apply to the graduate programs)

Deferred Suspension

Students may be placed on Deferred Suspension if:

  • Their CGPA is below 2.00, or 
  • Earn a third grade below B-, or 
  • Have previously been placed on Academic Probation without demonstrating satisfactory academic progress, and follow-through on their Learning Contract.

Academic Suspension

A temporary separation from the University is required when a student’s academic record does not give evidence of satisfactory progress toward meeting degree requirements. Students may apply for readmission after a suspension by complying with reinstatement criteria (outlined as follows).
Students may be placed on Academic Suspension if:

  • Their CGPA is below 2.00, or 
  • Earn a third grade below B-, or
  • Have previously been placed on Deferred Suspension without demonstrating satisfactory academic progress, and follow-through on their Learning Contract.

Academic Dismissal

Academic dismissal is permanent separation from the University. The student may not apply for reinstatement or readmission to any Franklin Pierce University program. A student may be academically dismissed when that student has been academically suspended from Franklin Pierce University on two or more separate occasions. 

Appeals

Students wishing to appeal an academic suspension or dismissal may do so in writing within the term following the action. The student discusses the suspension or dismissal first with the Program Director. If agreement is not reached at that level the student may appeal to the appropriate Dean to appeal the sanction or for reinstatement into the program. 

The Dean will forward the appeal to the Graduate Academic Standards Committee. The GASC will consider such appeals and make recommendations to the applicable Dean, who will render final decisions. 

A student remains on suspension for at least one term and until the student applies for reinstatement. The timing of the suspension may be longer based on the program requirements. 

Students wishing to apply for appeal of an academic sanction or reinstatement following suspension or dismissal, prepare an appeal. The following must be prepared for this appeal:

  • Graduate Student Appeal Form 
  • A Learning Contract prepared with the Academic Advisor that addresses the reason(s) the student desires to return to Franklin Pierce University, a reflection on why the student did not do well in the past, and the strategies the student plans to employ to bolster future academic success; develop an educational plan of study for the terms of the suspension/dismissal 
  • Submit the Learning Contract to the Program Director
  • Meet with the Program Director to discuss the Learning Contract and the possibility of reinstatement. If there is not agreement reached at this level the student appeals to the Dean.

The Dean forwards this appeal to the Chair of the GASC who will request a letter from the Program Director regarding the situation that has led to this suspension/dismissal. The GASC makes a recommendation to the appropriate Dean. 

The Dean may act on that recommendation or have a follow-up conversation with the student before making a determination. In either case, the Dean's decision is final, and the student will be notified in writing by the Dean's office. The Dean's office will also alert the following: the Academic Advisor, the Program Director, the Registrar, and Student Financial Services. 

If students have an outstanding financial obligation to the University, that account will need to be brought current before the student may return to classes. Reinstatement to the University with a cumulative grade point average less than 3.00 will result in the placement of the student on Academic Probation. 

Disciplinary Suspension or Dismissal

Students who are suspended or dismissed for disciplinary reasons will receive AW grades, reflecting an Administrative Withdrawal, effective on the date of suspension or dismissal. Dismissal is a permanent action. Details are noted in the Student Code of Conduct.

Notification to Student Financial Services

This policy requires notification to the Student Financial Services Office when a student faces academic sanctions and/or dismissal from an academic program.

  1. The Dean or designee will notify the Student Financial Services Office via email osfs@franklinpierce.edu that a student is facing program dismissal no later than the third week prior to the end of the term. The notification must include the following:
    1. Student’s name and ID
    2. Program of Study
    3. Academic term and date of final grades
    4. The term the student would be dismissed and effective date
    5. The Registrar’s Office will be copied (cc’d) on the notification to Student Financial Services for awareness.
  2. The Dean or designee will notify Student Financial Services via email osfs@franklinpierce.edu on the first day of the impacted term of dismissal of the student’s final academic standing and the consequences (e.g., disciplinary sanction, program dismissal).

Upon notification that a student has a potential for program dismissal, OSFS will flag the student’s account to defer disbursement of federal funds and release of refunds until receipt of a final decision at the end of the term. The SFS will contact the student to discuss financial aid implications of the student’s academic status.

A student who appeals an academic dismissal decision is considered “not in good academic standing.” The student is allowed to continue attending classes until the final decision is rendered on the appeal. A ruling against the student will result in immediate enforcement of the program dismissal. The program dean will notify Student Financial Services of the final decision. OSFS will hold the disbursement of all financial aid until notified of an appeal decision.

Physician Assistant Program Academic Standing

The policies below are in addition to the standards noted above as set by the College of Health and Natural Sciences.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

M.P.A.S. students are held to the same graduate academic standards as other programs at Franklin Pierce University, which states that all graduate students must achieve a term grade point average (TGPA) and cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 (B) or higher to remain in good academic standing, a passing grade for courses within the program is a C (73%) or better. Graduate students may have no more than two grades lower than a B- on the academic record at the time of graduation.

Any student not meeting this minimum will be required to meet with their academic advisor to establish and sign a Learning Contract to address academic deficiencies. A student will be considered to have attained satisfactory academic progress when the student receives consistent course grades of B- or better and maintains a cumulative and TGPA of 3.0.

Students with a history of academic probation or deferred suspension will be referred for academic dismissal from the program if they fail to maintain the academic standards of the University. The Student Progress Committee meets throughout the term to review and discuss each individual student’s progress. Concerns regarding student academic performance will be documented and referred to the students’ academic advisor and/or the M.P.A.S. Student Affairs Committee for follow up.

At the close of each term, academic records will be reviewed by the Program Director in conjunction with the Dean if necessary. Appropriate sanctions will be applied. Students on Academic Probation at the end of the didactic year cannot progress to the clinical year. In addition to academic expectations regarding Academic Standing, recipients of all forms of financial assistance are expected to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress

M.P.A.S. Promotion Policy

In addition to the University’s Graduate Academic Standing Policy, as listed in the FPU Academic Catalog, the M.P.A.S. program implements the following Promotion Policy that is more stringent.

Good Academic Standing

The course sequence in the curriculum is designed to provide incremental knowledge and skills necessary for PA practice. The M.P.A.S. program has determined that the sequence must be followed to achieve this goal. A student in good academic standing will progress through the curriculum as designed. Since courses are arranged in a specific sequence, repeating a course will result in delay of the student’s progress through the curriculum, and require a longer period of time to successfully complete the entire curriculum. Good academic standing is obtained by achieving a term grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or greater, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.00or greater, passing all Pass/Fail courses/assignments and maintaining appropriate technical and professional standards.

Disciplinary Sanctions Academic Probation

  • Any student whose term GPA is below 3.00 for a single term, or• Any student whose cumulative GPA is below 3.00, or
  • Any student who receives a final course grade of C or C+ in any course regardless of GPA.

Academic Suspension with Deceleration

  • Any student who has a final course grade of C or C+ in any two courses, or
  • Any student who has been on academic probation without demonstrating satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress means maintaining a term GPA greater than 3.00.
  • Any student on academic probation at the end of term 4 of the M.P.A.S. program (as those students are not eligible to progress to the clinical year).

Program Dismissal

  • Any student who receives a failing final course grade in any course, or
  • Any student who receives three final course grades of C or C+, or
  • Any students whose term GPA is below 3.00 for three terms (need not be consecutive terms), or
  • Any student whose cumulative GPA is below 3.00 for two terms and who has not shown satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress means maintaining a term GPA greater than 3.00.
  • Any student who fails to earn a Pass (for a Pass/Fail course) or a final course grade of B+ or better in any repeated graded course, or
  • Any student who fails to adhere to the technical and/or professional standards of the program, as documented on the M.P.A.S. program’s Technical Standards & Professionalism Assessment Tool, or
  • Students who re-matriculate for academic reasons and fail to maintain a term GPA greater than 3.0.

Notice of a Disciplinary Sanction shall be delivered in writing (electronic or paper format) to the student within five (5) days of the start of the next term and shall take effect immediately upon delivery.

Appeal of the decision may be made to the Dean of CHNS in writing within seventy-two hours of delivery of the decision to the student. Students on Probation at the end of the didactic year will not progress to the clinical year and will be referred to the M.P.A.S. Student Affairs Committee.

Part-time Enrollment and Deceleration

The design of the curriculum within the M.P.A.S. program does not allow for students to attend part-time. Students who cannot continue on a full-time basis or who are on Academic Probation at the end of the didactic year may be decelerated or considered for readmission on a case-by-case basis. Deceleration is defined as movement from the student’s entering cohort to a subsequent cohort. Students maybe required to repeat some or all of the coursework completed at the time of withdrawal or probation.

Summative Evaluation

Students must demonstrate satisfactory performance in the summative evaluation. The summative evaluations are administered during Term 9 prior to graduation. Students may remediate up to two components that do not meet expectations. Each remediation can be performed only once. Successful remediation will result in the original score being raised to a passing score (typically, 83%).

Graduate Academic Policies