Academic Standards and Grading

The Student Progress Committee will review each student’s scholastic achievement record, clinical learning progress, and professional behavior at the end of each quarter.

The academic and clinical standards that must be met by each student are outlined in the Graduation Requirements from the Physician Assistant Program section. The professional standards that must be met by each student are also outlined in the Evaluation of Professional Conduct section.

The evaluation process by the Student Progress Committee includes first a review by each Course Director or Clinical Preceptor, followed by review by the Faculty Advisor, the Director of Academic or Clinical Services, and finally by the Program Director. The findings of these reviews are then presented to the Student Progress Committee by the Director of Academic or Clinical Services. If a student fails to meet academic, clinical, and/or professional standards, the Committee will meet with the student in question.

Depending on the nature of the academic, clinical, and/or professional deficiency, the Committee will determine the status of the student’s academic/clinical standing, which may include warning, probation, or dismissal from the program.

A student in good academic standing with the program has met the minimum required academic and professional standards outlined by the program:

A student who receives a grade of less than 70% on any quiz, exam, or other individual assessment tool (or who fails any pass/fail exercise) in a didactic course or clinical rotation will receive a warning and must meet with the Course Director (didactic or clinical) for remediation. No remediation will be offered for final exams or final projects. A student may also receive a warning for questionable professional behavior.

A student will be placed on Probation if: (1) his/her cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or (2) he/she fails to exhibit appropriate professional behavior.

Students will be dismissed for failure to comply with academic, clinical, or professional standards. Students will be dismissed from the Physician Assistant Studies Program when:

Course Directors (in concert with the Course Instructors and Clinical Preceptors) will determine the means by which the final grade will be computed, which may include exam scores, oral presentations, written assignments, laboratory exercises, practical examinations, class participation, clinical participation, clinical performance, and other means of evaluation. Except in the case of an error on the part of faculty, preceptors, or administration, no grade changes will be honored after the end of the course. All didactic courses and clinical rotations will be graded with a letter grade of A, B, C, or F. All didactic courses and clinical rotations will be assigned appropriate credit hours. One credit hour is equal to approximately 10 hours of lectures, small group conferences, and required practice sessions per quarter. One credit hour for laboratory sessions is equal to approximately 20 contact hours per quarter. One credit hour of clinical is equal to approximately 30 contact hours per clinical rotation. Course Directors also determine grade adjustments for the purpose of standardization with the A-F scale. Where objective testing is used, scores and grades will be correlated as follows:

Students enrolled in the Master of Health Science, Physician Assistant Studies Program at South College must successfully complete all didactic courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in order to proceed to the clinical learning phase of the program. In addition, in order to graduate and be awarded a Master of Health Science degree, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of the clinical learning phase. Successful completion of the program is defined as having a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for the entire program.

The Physician Assistant curriculum requires students to master a large amount of information and skills in a very short period of time. Excused absences must be obtained from the course instructor or course director, in person, by phone, or by e-mail. The Physician Assistant program utilizes the following attendance and testing policies:

For every course and clinical learning rotation, students will be provided with a complete syllabus, which includes specific, measurable, course goals and learning objectives, outlining the intended scope of the course. Course descriptions and course schedules will also be included. Students will be expected to learn all information identified in the course goals and learning objectives, and should expect to be tested on such material.

Each instructor in concert with the course director reserves the right to alter the syllabus as time, teaching materials, new clinical and scientific information or the necessity of a sequenced integrated Physician Assistant curriculum dictate. Any altered materials will be made available to the student at lecture time. If there are questions regarding course goals, course objectives, learning objectives, or expected course outcomes the student is expected to direct their questions first to the course instructor then the course director and if needed to the Director of Academic Services.

Eating and drinking are prohibited in all areas of the college except in the student center. The student center, located on the first floor, has a refrigerator for storage of food and drinks, microwave ovens, vending machines, and ample seating. It is permissible to have a bottle of water with a secured screw-on top in the classroom, but it must be stored out-of-sight (in backpacks, purses, briefcases, and other appropriate carry-in bags) and must not be left on desktops, tabletops, counters, floors, or any location where it is visible.

The following standards of dress and appearance are to be observed by students at all times:

The following general standards are to be observed when performing student activities within any clinical settings and community service activities. Throughout the program students will be assigned clinical duties and responsibilities at affiliated hospitals or clinical settings. During all of these clinical learning experiences the student will be expected to present himself or herself as a future health care professional and to dress as follows:

While present in any clinical setting or facility, students will be subject to rules and regulations established by that facility and South College concerning professional behavior. Since these clinical opportunities are a privilege extended to the PA Program, students are reminded of their responsibility to dress and conduct themselves in a courteous and professional manner when dealing with patients, staff, faculty, and peers in those sites. When and if the student is in doubt about the appropriate dress, he or she should address questions to either the Director of Didactic Education and/or the Director of Clinical Education.

In concert with the core competencies for the Physician Assistant profession, the faculty of the Masters of Health Science, Physician Assistant Studies Program at South College has established standards for evaluating the professional conduct of all students. This evaluation of professional conduct is in direct compliance with the core competency of professionalism that is required of practicing Physician Assistants in their daily clinical life. At the end of every quarter, the principal faculty will conduct a professional review of students.

Professional conduct evaluations will include the components of the Physician Assistant Studies Program Honor Code, the South College Code of Conduct, and the following considerations:

The following general standards are to be observed when performing student activities within any clinical settings and community service activities.  Throughout the program students will be assigned clinical duties and responsibilities at affiliated hospitals or clinical settings.  During all of these clinical learning experiences the student will be expected to present himself or herself as a future health care professional and to dress as follows:

When a student has a complaint about a grade, remediation plan, or other issues directly related to a course, he/she may first appeal to the instructor of the course, then to the Course Director, then to the Director of Academic Curriculum (or the Director of Clinical Education during the clinical learning year), then to the Student Progress Committee, then to the Program Director, then to the Dean of Academic and Student Services, then to the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement and Effectiveness. The Vice Chancellor reserves the right to refer any appeal to the South College Academic and Conduct Appeals Committee. Every attempt will be made to resolve concerns at the lowest level possible in the chain of command. However, in instances where this is not possible, and the concern cannot be satisfactorily resolved through the normal procedures, the grievant may appeal in writing to the Chancellor of the college. The appeal should be communicated within five days after the action of which the student complains, or unsatisfactory resolution was reached at the lower level. The Chancellor’s decision is final so far as institutional grievance procedures are concerned. Should there be grievance that cannot be satisfactorily resolved at the institutional level, a student may contact the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, 404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1900, Nashville, TN 37243-3605; (615) 741-3605.

When a student has an appeal regarding a decision rendered by the Student Progress Committee regarding dismissal, he or she may first appeal to the Program Director, then to the Dean of Academic and Student Services, and finally to the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement and Effectiveness of South College. The Vice Chancellor reserves the right to refer any appeal to the South College Academic and Conduct Appeals Committee. Every attempt will be made to resolve concerns at the lowest level possible in the chain of command.

Any grievance or appeal process not outlined here will utilize the procedure found in the South College Student Handbook.