Doctoral Academic Standing

Doctor of Physical Therapy Promotion Policy

In addition to the University’s Graduate Academic Standing Policy, as listed in the current Catalog, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program implements the following Promotion Policy that is more stringent.

Promotion

Students must satisfactorily complete all courses maintaining a 3.00 term GPA and CGPA and must have successfully completed a learning contract before proceeding to the full-time clinical experiences.

Students must pass the comprehensive practical examination in the last didactic term in order to participate in the full-time terminal clinical experiences.

Students must pass all full-time clinical education experiences in order to graduate. Only one repeat of a full-time clinical experience is allowed.

Good Academic Standing

The course sequence in the curriculum is designed to provide incremental knowledge and skills necessary for PT practice. In general, 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 deceleration 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 (CGPA) of 3.00 or greater, passing all Pass/Fail courses, earning course grades of B- or greater and maintaining appropriate standards of professional behavior.

Doctoral Academic Sanctions

Academic Probation

• A final Course grade of C or below in two courses or
• Term or Cumulative GPA below a 3.0 in any term

Academic Suspension

An Academic suspension requires a student to step out of the lock-step curriculum to repeat a course when it is offered in the next year. The following circumstances may result in an Academic Suspension:

• A student receives a final course grade of C or below in any course or
• A student receives a Fail grade in a P/F course
• The student who is repeating a course and earns a B- or lower grade, may not progress until this course is successfully completed
• The student must complete a Learning Contract and may be encouraged to audit other courses they have already completed in order to engage and remain up-to-date with the other didactic coursework.

Program Dismissal

Program dismissal may result from the following circumstances:

• Any student whose term GPA is below 3.00 for two terms, or
• Any students whose CGPA is below 3.00 for two terms, or
• Any student who receives a final course grade of C or below in two courses, or
• Any student who receives a Fail grade in any two Pass/Fail courses, or
• Any student who receives a final course grade of C or below in one course and a Fail grade in any Pass/Fail course, or
• Any student who fails to earn a Pass or a final course grade of B or better in any repeated course. or
• Any student who fails to adhere to the professional standards of the program.

Academic Status Letter

At the completion of each term, if academic performance is consistent with the criteria set forth for academic probation, suspension or program dismissal, the Dean will issue a letter notifying the student of their academic status.

Learning Contract

A student who is placed on academic probation, academic suspension or program dismissal will be required to proceed under a Learning Contract. The Learning Contract will identify the academic criteria necessary to return to academic good standing.

Appeals

Final Course Grade appeal - A student may appeal a final course grade decision from a faculty member to the Program Director. Grade appeals may be taken to the Department chair as the final appeal.

Program Dismissal Appeals

If a student wishes to appeal the Program dismissal decision If a student wishes to appeal, the student must contact his/her advisor immediately upon receiving formal notice of unsatisfactory performance and file the appeal to the director of the DPT program within three days of receipt of the Academic Sanction Letter. The advisor will assist the student in developing an appeal describing the unusual circumstances leading to the unsatisfactory performance and actions the student has undertaken/ or plans to strengthen their academic performance. A student may appeal to the Departmental Chair. If a student is not satisfied with the Department Chair a student my appeal the decision to the Dean of the School and the Graduate Academic Standing Committee.