5.4. Course-Failure
The PA program requires students to pass all courses. The PA program has established specific definitions and quantitative criteria for course failure. Because these standards are more rigorous than the Institute's general academic standards, they are outlined below.
A course failure is defined as follows:
- Preclinical (didactic) courses: An overall course grade below 77%, a Cumulative Assessment Test (CAT) failure (grade below 77%), or failure to achieve a passing score on the reflexive CAT (see Section 11.2.4, Exam Failures).
- Clinical year clerkships: A score of 1.5 standard deviation (SD) below the national mean on the End of Rotation (EOR) examination, or an Unsatisfactory final clerkship evaluation, or failure to achieve a passing score on the reflexive EOR.
- Clinical year seminar courses: An overall course grade below 77%.
Students may remediate up to two preclinical courses in accordance with Section 5.4.1 during the didactic year of the program. Failure of a third preclinical course will result in referral to the Student Development Committee for academic and performance review and possible dismissal from the program.
Students who fail one clinical year course may be eligible for remediation in accordance with Section 5.4.1. Failure of a second clinical year course will result in referral to the Student Development Committee for academic and performance review and possible dismissal from the program.
Refer to Section 5.4.1 for the program's policy on remediation of course failures.