Policies for the Fisch College of Pharmacy

Admission Standards for the Pharm.D. Program

The Pharm.D. program begins each fall semester and continues for a total of four academic years. Students with current or previous coursework completed at an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy and who wish to be admitted as a transfer should refer to the Transfer Student Admissions section.

The admission standards for the Pharm.D. program differ from those for other graduate programs. The FCOP Admissions Committee uses a holistic review process when making admissions decisions. The review primarily focuses on whether a student is a good fit for the profession, the FCOP, and the University. This evaluation includes, but is not limited to: past academic record, prior experience in pharmacy or other healthcare fields, volunteer activities, letters of recommendation, writing skills, math skills, and admission interviews assessments. Residency status (e.g. in-state vs. out-of-state applicants) is not considered in admissions decisions.

All application materials must be submitted through PharmCAS or as directed by the FCOP Office of Student Affairs. Letters of recommendations or other materials received outside of the official application process (e.g. unsolicited letters of recommendations) will be kept in a separate file and not considered in the application process. The Associate Dean of Student Affairs may, when needed, contact the applicant regarding the information received outside of the formal application process.

The submission of documents in support of applications for admission and fellowships such as transcripts, diplomas, test scores, references, essays, or the applications themselves, that are forged, fraudulent, altered from the original, plagiarized, materially incomplete, obtained under false pretenses, or otherwise deceptive (collectively referred to as fraudulent documents) is prohibited by UT Tyler and may be punishable by: a bar on applying for admission, fellowships, suspension, and/or expulsion. Students who submit fraudulent documents are not eligible to reapply.

Application Process

Students may begin applying for admissions to the Pharm.D. program starting in the summer one year before their anticipated year of entry, e.g. for fall 2019, a student can apply starting as soon as summer 2018. To apply for the program, the following requirements must be met by the published deadline:

1. Satisfy the minimum requirements to apply;
2. Complete the PharmCAS application;
3. Submit three letters of recommendation; and
4. Submit official copies of all transcripts.

To be considered for admission, all of the above requirements and an admission interview must be completed. Prerequisite coursework must be able to be completed by the May 31 immediately preceding entry into the program or the date designated by the FCOP Office of Student Affairs.

Applicants to the FCOP must be eligible for admission to UT Tyler. For example, students barred from applying to UT Tyler or who are ineligible for readmission to UT Tyler will not be considered for admission to the FCOP.

PharmCAS Application: Applicants must apply through PharmCAS at www.pharmcas.org. Applicants should review the FCOP PharmCAS profile and the FCOP website for specific instructions on completing this application. 

Letters of Recommendation: Letters should be requested from individuals who know the applicant professionally or academically such as employers, faculty advisors, health care professionals, pharmacists, pre-health advisors, professors (math or science), and/or supervisors. Letters from pharmacists or supervisors are strongly encouraged. Letters from family and/or friends are not accepted. Committee letters and composite letters of reference are also not accepted. 

Transcripts: Applicants should submit official transcripts through PharmCAS or as directed by the FCOP Office of Student Affairs. Applicants completing coursework at a foreign institution (including Canada) are required to submit a Foreign Transcript Evaluation Report (FTER) as part of their application. A list of approved FTER providers is available on the FCOP website. The FTER may be submitted through PharmCAS or directly to the FCOP. All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved FTER service provider regardless of date completed or if coursework is being used to satisfy prerequisites. Students with foreign transcripts are encouraged to submit their FTERs well ahead of the posted deadline to allow for the additional time needed to review the FTER.

Transcripts from unaccredited colleges and/or universities will not be considered in the admissions process.

Minimum Requirements to Apply

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements in order to apply to the Pharm.D. program. Exemptions to these requirements are not available.

• GPA (total) = 2.0 or above.
• GPA (prerequisite) = 2.0 or above
  • All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of 'C' or higher.
  • All prerequisite coursework must be completed by the published deadline or as designated by the FCOP Office of Student Affairs.
• Meet the Professional Technical Standards for Admission, Matriculation, and Graduation.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculations: In the FCOP, all college coursework, including courses completed at foreign institutions and dual credit will be included in the GPA calculations. Cumulative, prerequisite, and science/math GPA are calculated using a four-point scale (e.g. A: 4 points per semester hour). Grades with pluses or minuses are converted to the corresponding A, B, C or D letter grades. Failing course grades, e.g. 'F', withdraw failing (WF), and no credit (NC), will be calculated as an 'F'. For repeated courses, both the original grade(s) and repeated grade(s) are included. Coursework from unaccredited colleges and/or universities within the US will not be included in GPA calculations. All other GPA calculations follow the rules outlined by PharmCAS.

Academic Fresh Start: If a candidate has been granted an “Academic Fresh Start” (Texas Education Code, §51.931), those credits and related grades will not be included in the GPA calculations. Please note that courses included in the Academic Fresh Start cannot be used to satisfy program prerequisites.

Prerequisites and Texas Core Curriculum

Students entering the Fisch College of Pharmacy must complete at least two years of pre-pharmacy coursework which includes prerequisite courses and the Texas Core Curriculum. A bachelors degree is not required for entry into the program.

Prerequisite Coursework: Prerequisite or pre-pharmacy coursework provides a solid foundation for the Pharm.D. curriculum and a well-rounded general education. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education recommends chemistry, biology, mathematics, information and communication technologies, physical sciences, and general education courses as a foundation for the Pharm.D. curriculum (ACPE 2016, Standard 16). 

Prerequisite courses include:

• General Chemistry I & Lab (4SCH)
• General Chemistry II & Lab (4 SCH)
• Organic Chemistry I & Lab (4 SCH)
• Organic Chemistry II & Lab (4 SCH)
• Biology I & Lab (4 SCH)
• Biology II & Lab (4 SCH)
• Microbiology & Lab (4 SCH)
• Anatomy/Physiology I & Lab* (4 SCH)
• Anatomy/Physiology II & Lab* (4 SCH)
  • *In lieu of the combination of Anatomy and Physiology I and II, separate Anatomy & Lab (4 SCH) and Physiology & Lab (4 SCH) courses may be taken.
• Speech (3 SCH)
• Calculus I (3-4 SCH)

All prerequisite courses are required to be completed at a grade of 'C' or higher. If a lower grade is achieved and the course is retaken the prerequisite is considered complete if the subsequent grade is a 'C' or higher.

Prerequisites may be completed by Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and the International Baccalaureate Program (IB). A specific score is required to receive credit; exam options and required scores are provided by the UT Tyler Office of the Registrar.

Several prerequisite courses (organic chemistry, biology, microbiology, anatomy & physiology, and all accompanying labs) must be completed within seven years of entering the Pharm.D. program. 

If a prerequisite is being repeated to satisfy admission requirements, e.g. retaking a course to obtain a 'C' grade or higher or repeating a course taken more than seven years ago, the applicant should check with their college and/or university to review any restrictions regarding enrollment and/or financial aid. If documentation that retaking a course is required as part of the admission requirements, applicants should contact the FCOP Student Affairs Office.

Prerequisites must be completed by May 31 immediately preceding entry into the program; e.g. for fall 2019, prerequisites must be completed by May 31, 2019. Students may petition the FCOP Office of Student Affairs to take prerequisites in the summer. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the prerequisite can be feasibly completed within the timeframe specified.

Texas Core Curriculum: The Texas Core Curriculum describes the 42-credit hours of general education requirements required of all students receiving a bachelor’s degree at a public university in Texas. The Texas Core Curriculum includes courses such as history, government, fine arts, the sciences, communication, and mathematics. Many of the pharmacy prerequisite courses will also satisfy the math and science requirements, including Communication (3 hours), Mathematics (3 hours), Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours), and the Component Area Option STEM (3 hour). Therefore, the typical student may have up to 27 hours of the Core Curriculum left to complete before entering the program. 

Applicants who have/will have a bachelor’s degree before entering the program are exempt from this requirement. The Texas Core Curriculum is required for both in-state and out-of-state residents.

The FCOP recommends the Texas Core Curriculum be completed prior to starting the program. However, students may take up to 12 semester credit hours during the first two years of the program. These courses are restricted to the following categories: (40) Language, Philosophy, and Culture, (50) Creative Arts, (60) American History, and (70) Government/Political Science. If courses for the Texas Core Curriculum need to be taken during the Pharm.D. program, it is recommended that these classes be completed during the first and/or second summer semester. This will allow students to concentrate on the Pharm.D. curriculum during the fall and spring semesters. All other Texas Core Curriculum courses must be completed prior to entering the Pharm.D. program.

All applicants who are required to complete the Texas Core Curriculum must either (1) complete the Texas Core Curriculum prior to entering the program or (2) complete the Texas Core Curriculum at another college (e.g. during the summer) and submit those transcripts to UT Tyler. Once a student has started the Pharm.D. program, they must meet the UT Tyler-specific Texas Core Curriculum. All pharmacy students must be core complete by the start of the third professional year. For those students completing their Texas Core Curriculum at another institution, UT Tyler will only consider this complete if documented on the official transcript.

Students are responsible for tuition and fees associated with the Texas Core Curriculum courses.

Exemption Requests: Applicants requesting an exemption to the prerequisites or other requirements must submit an Exemption Request form that is available through the FCOP Office of Student Affairs.

Professional Technical Standards for Admission, Matriculation, and Graduation: The standards are established by the FCOP and are based on the physical and mental attributes required of students to function competently as a pharmacist upon graduation.

Pharmacy or Healthcare Experience: Experience in a healthcare-related or pharmacy setting is not required to apply to the Pharm.D. program. However, some pharmacy or healthcare experience is strongly encouraged. 

Professional Technical Standards for Admission, Matriculation, and Graduation

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE 2011) recommends that the "Professional Technical Standards for Admissions are established by the university, college, or school based on the physical and mental attributes required of students to be able to function competently as a pharmacist upon graduation."

Therefore, the FCOP at UT Tyler has established the following attributes for admission, matriculation, and graduation:

Observation: The student needs to be able to use their sense of vision to observe 1) demonstrations and experiments in both large and small group settings, 2) a patient accurately at a distance and at close range. Sight may be combined with other senses such as hearing, smell, and touch during the observation process.

Communication: The student needs adequate verbal communication (e.g. voice or adaptive voice equipment), reading, writing, and computer abilities to communicate 1) individually and in groups, 2) with patients and caregivers, 3) with other healthcare professionals, 4) with peers and instructors.

Motor skills: The student needs the physical ability and coordination to 1) participate in individual, small, and large group discussions, 2) perform basic physical and health assessment skills, and 3) perform pharmacy-related functions in the classroom, experiential, and service-learning settings.

Intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities: The student needs the ability to 1) think quickly and in an organized manner, 2) be alert and attentive to surroundings, 3) measure, analyze, and interpret data, 4) process information and apply learned information to new situations, and 5) exhibit reasonable judgment and ethical and professional decision making when in the classroom, experiential, and extracurricular settings.

Behavioral and social attributes: Students need the emotional, mental, and physical health to 1) demonstrate the attributes listed above, 2) adequately function during times of fluctuating workloads and stress, 3) adapt to different learning and healthcare environments, and 4) demonstrate compassion, integrity, and motivation required in the practice of pharmacy.

Students are required to affirm that they meet the Professional Technical Standards prior to matriculation into the program. Students with disabilities should possess these attributes either directly or through fair and reasonable accommodations. The UT Tyler Student Accessibility and Resources Office and the FCOP Office of Student Affairs can assist candidates who have questions or concerns regarding meeting these requirements.

Students enrolled in the Pharm.D. program are required to possess these attributes through all portions of the curriculum. Should a student's ability to demonstrate these attributes change, they should contact the FCOP Office of Student Affairs.

Applicants with Accommodations or Disabilities

The UT Tyler Office of Student Accessibility and Resources assists students in reaching their educational, co-curricular, and social goals. Applicants for admission are welcome to contact their office and/or the FCOP regarding accommodations.

International Applicants

International applicants are considered candidates who are not US citizens and not lawful permanent residents. International applicants may be considered for admission and may have additional requirements:

Social Security Number (SSN): The Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) requires all pharmacy students to submit an SSN when applying for their pharmacy intern license. SSNs are available to all US citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and aliens who are authorized to work in the US. 

Additional information on obtaining an SSN as an international student is available through the Social Security Administration website (www.socialsecurity.gov) or by contacting the local Social Security Office. Since admitted students are required to obtain a pharmacy intern license before week 8 of the program, international applicants should begin the process of obtaining an SSN prior to being admitted into the program. 

US Work Authorization: In order to obtain an SSN, the international applicant must be able to work within the US when the first professional year starts.

F and J Visas: Applicants with an F or J visa may be considered for admission to the Pharm.D. program. Applicants must also be eligible to work within the US and obtain an SSN. Applicants with other types of visas should contact the FCOP Office of Student Affairs for additional information.

English Proficiency Testing: International applicants may be required to submit an English proficiency assessment. If required, applicants may take the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE exams. The FCOP follows the UT Tyler Graduate International Student Admissions requirements for English proficiency assessments, the minimum scores required, and the list of exemptions for testing. English proficiency scores may be reported to PharmCAS, UT Tyler (TOEFL Code 6850), or to the FCOP directly. To be considered, scores must be within 2 years of entry into the program.

Admission Interviews

The FCOP schedules interview dates throughout the year. This means that as applications are received, the Admissions Committee reviews application files on a rolling basis and invites candidates to an interview. Interviews may be virtual or on-site.

The FCOP interviews include Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs), a math and writing assessment, a tour of campus and W.T. Brookshire Hall, and question/answer sessions with current students, current faculty, and the Office of Student Affairs. Applicants are required to provide photo identification (such as a driver's license or university ID) at the interview session.

A Pre-Interview Open House is held the evening before on-site interviews. The evening is designed for candidates and their families to meet FCOP students, faculty, staff, and pharmacists from the community in an informal setting.

Transfer Student Admissions

Students with advanced standing in a Pharm.D. program at an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy, may apply to transfer into the FCOP Pharm.D. program. When applying for a transfer, students must submit the following:

• Completed transfer student application; 
• A personal statement detailing the reason for applying to transfer into our program;
• Official transcripts from current college of pharmacy; 
• Official transcripts from institutions where pre-pharmacy coursework was completed;
• Letter of good academic and professional standing from the Dean or Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the college of pharmacy currently/previously enrolled; and
• Three letters of recommendation including two letters from faculty members of the college of pharmacy currently/previously enrolled and one letter from a pharmacist, work supervisor or preceptor.

Submission Deadlines: The transfer application and supporting documentation must be submitted and postmarked by May 1 (fall start) or September 1 (spring start) of the year the students wishes to transfer. The transfer application and supporting documentation should be mailed to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs.

Important Information Regarding Transfers:

• Transfers are considered on a case-by-case basis, contingent on whether a seat is available. 
• Applications will be reviewed by the Assistant/Associate Deans from the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Experiential Education, and the Curriculum Committee Chair to decide if the applicant will be invited to interview for the program. 
  • Once the transfer applicant has interviewed, the Admissions Committee will determine whether to extend an offer for admission.
• Students may only transfer into the didactic curriculum and are required to be enrolled for a minimum of three years as a full-time student at the FCOP to earn a Pharm.D. degree.
  • Due to differences in pharmacy programs, there is no guarantee a transfer student will enter the PharmD program with the same class standing. 
  • Transfer applicants will be informed of advanced standing before invited to interview with the college.
• The FCOP may request a syllabus for each pharmacy course completed at the current/previous college of pharmacy. Applicants should not submit course syllabi unless requested.
• Students applying for a transfer are required to interview and should plan to travel to the Fisch College of Pharmacy at their own expense for an onsite interview.

Program Admission

The FCOP uses a rolling admissions process. After completing an interview session, the FCOP Admissions Committee determines the initial admission status for individual candidates. The most common type of admission is Provisional Admission which indicates that the candidate must still complete several requirements including, but not limited to:

1. completion of all remaining prerequisites at grade of 'C' or higher;
2. successful submission and review of urine drug test and criminal background check; and
3. submission of official transcripts. Applicants offered admission are required to accept or decline the offer within two (2) weeks or by the deadline established by the Office of Student Affairs. A seat deposit of $200 is required to hold the applicant’s place in the class. The seat deposit is not refundable; however, it will be applied to the first tuition bill for those students starting the program.

All applicants are required to complete a criminal background check and urine drug screen prior to being granted Full Admission Status. For additional information, refer to the Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening requirements.

All applicants accepting admission are recommended to attend the JumpStart program in the summer before the fall semester, and must attend the week-long orientation held immediately prior to the start of the fall semester. The dates for JumpStart and orientation will be posted on the FCOP website annually.

The FCOP recognizes three categories of admission to the doctor of pharmacy program: Full Admission, Provisional Admission, and Deferred Admission.

Full Admission

Full Admission status indicates that the candidate has fulfilled all of the following requirements:

• Met the admission standards established for the degree program.
• Submitted official transcripts or foreign transcript evaluation reports for all colleges or universities attended.
• Completed all prerequisite courses at grade of 'C' or higher.
• Submitted acceptable urine drug test and criminal background check.

Provisional Admission

Provisional Admission may be granted to applicants who have submitted all required materials but who do not yet meet the standards for Full Admission. Candidates accepted for admission will typically be offered Provisional Admission and then move to full admission.

International applicants on an F-1 or J-1 visa may be offered Provisional Admission status only if the applicant meets all of the requirements for full admission with the exception of submitting final transcripts. 

Deferred Admission

Deferred Admission describes the process when an applicant has been offered admission but needs to delay starting the program until the next academic year. Requests for Deferred Admission are only considered for significant extenuating circumstances and are submitted to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs.

Revoking Admission

An offer of admission may be revoked for reasons that include, but are not limited to: 1) failure to respond to an admission offer or submit the seat deposit within the time frame specified; 2) failure to satisfy criminal background check and/or urine drug screening requirements; 3) failure to maintain Minimum Requirements to Apply to the FCOP including GPA/grade requirements and the ability to meet the Professional Technical Standards for Admission, Matriculation and Graduation; 4) falsification and misrepresentation of admissions related requirements; or 5) ineligible for admittance to UT Tyler.

Questions regarding the admissions process and admission decisions should be directed to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs. This office can provide information to the applicants regarding the admission decision and when possible, areas to strengthen if the student desires to reapply to the program. Please note, due to the competitive nature of the admissions process, qualified applications may not be offered admission due to space limitations within the program.

Admission Denial Appeal Process

Applicants denied admission may appeal the decision in writing to the FCOP Dean within 14 calendar days of the date on the denial letter. The FCOP Dean, or designee, shall have 30 calendar days to respond in writing to the appeal. Since professional programs are capacity limited, further appeals are not available.

Appeals must be received prior to the term for which the applicant is seeking admission. If there is insufficient time to complete the appeal process before the beginning of the term for which the applicant seeks admission, the admission year may be moved to the next academic year so the case may be reviewed.

Readmission

Students dismissed from the Pharm.D. program must reapply to the program and resubmit all required application materials.

Academic Progression Standards for the Fisch College of Pharmacy

Grading in the Fisch College of Pharmacy

A letter grade equal to or greater than a 'C' is considered satisfactory performance (passing) for completion of a course. The breakdown for assignment of letter grades and grade points for each letter grade are as follows:

Grade	Percent Grade	Grade Points
A	90.0 to 100%	4
B	80.0 to 89.999%	3
C	70.0 to 79.999%	2
D	65 to 69.999%	1
F	Below 64.999%	0

A ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade indicates unsatisfactory progress and must be successfully repeated with a grade of ‘C’ or higher.

Most courses use the traditional grading system, providing grades of A through F. However, grading may take other forms, including:

P/F	Pass/Fail – Passing work is a letter grade of ’C’ and above. The FCOP P/F standard differs from the University’s standard for passing (i.e., letter grade of ‘D’ or higher).
CR	Credit with semester credit hours awarded (See Credit/No Credit option policy)
NC	No-credit with no semester credit hours awarded (See Credit/No Credit option policy)
I	Indicates incomplete coursework (See incomplete policy)
W	Indicates withdrawal (See withdrawal policies)
AU	Audit
IP	Indicates In Progress; grade is changed only when coursework sequence is completed

Course components, weighing of assignments used to calculate course grades are outlined in each course syllabus.

Incomplete Grade

Please see the Incomplete Policy in the Graduate Policies Section of this catalog.

Grade Point Average Calculations

Students receiving a 'D' or 'F' grade in a course and who have successfully repeated the same course with a grade of 'C' or higher will have the repeated course grade used in their GPA calculation. The original course grade will appear on the student’s transcript but will not be included in the GPA calculations. 

Courses transferred in for elective credit (i.e. approved electives from external institutions) are not included in GPA calculations.

Academic Alerts

An academic alert describes a situation wherein a student’s academic performance within a course falls below a certain minimum level. An alert may be issued based on a quantifiable assessment (e.g., exam grade, cumulative iRAT score, or total course grade) or be based on observation of behavior, such as concerns about a student’s participation in the team environment or absenteeism in excess of the FCOP or course policy.

The purpose of the academic alert is to serve as an “early warning system” and to support the student’s success. The alert is designed to allow a student to reflect on their performance and be referred for academic support at any point during the semester. Students on academic alert are notified and must improve their grades or performance during the course. If they do not improve their grades by the end of the semester, they are at risk for being placed on FCOP Academic Probation or Dismissal.

When an academic alert is issued, the following procedure is followed:

• Academic performance is reviewed routinely by Course Coordinators and the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs.
• Students, along with their academic advisor, will be notified of an Academic Alert by the Office of FCOP Academic Affairs when academic performance in a required course falls below 75%.

Students receiving an Academic Alert will be required to:

• Meet with their faculty advisor and Assistant/Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to discuss the reasons for the student’s unsatisfactory academic performance
• Develop an action plan for improvement.
• Attend weekly in-course remediation as outlined in the Course Remediation Policy.

Course Remediation Policy

Purpose

The FCOP is dedicated to achieving academic excellence. Students underperforming in a course will be required to participate in an in-course remedial process designed to bring them to the level of competency expected by the end of a course. The primary goal of the remediation process is to assist the student in demonstrating minimum competency by correcting deficits in knowledge, skills, or attitudes through self-directed learning and additional purposeful interactions with course instructors and peer tutors. Remediation is a privilege available for students who meet the qualification criteria outlined below. This remediation policy is intended for the required didactic and laboratory courses in the Pharm.D. curriculum and does not apply to elective, interprofessional education (IPE), experiential (IPPEs or APPEs) courses, or courses taught outside the FCOP.

Course Remediation Policy for Students Entering Prior to Fall 2021: 

Criteria: Remediation is available for eligible students who have received a ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade in up to two required courses during the didactic curriculum. Students who remediate must have demonstrated regular attendance and fulfilled the terms of all academic alerts and academic watches. It is the sole responsibility of the student to demonstrate participation in these activities to the FCOP Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Course Coordinator to qualify for course remediation.

Exclusions: All elective, interprofessional education (IPE), experiential (IPPEs or APPEs) courses, and courses taught outside the FCOP are excluded from this policy. Only one remediation is allowed per individual course. To qualify for remediation students cannot be on academic probation. Students are not eligible for course remediation if they have violated UT Tyler Honor Code or FCOP Academic Dishonesty Policy in that course.

Process: Remediation will be provided in the form of self-directed, faculty-supervised, independent study followed by a comprehensive reassessment of the course content. The independent study format will be outlined by the student and the course coordinator. The remediation and subsequent reassessment are not mandates placed on the student but may be utilized by students who meet the aforementioned criteria for remediation of a course.

The Course Coordinator will notify the student and the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs when a student’s final course grade is a 'D' or 'F'. Notification will occur within 24 hours of the grades being posted to the learning management system. Students must request intent to employ the remediation policy within 7 calendar days following grade notification.

• Students will be required to take the remediation and a cumulative course assessment the summer semester immediately following the course. The remediation should be completed within a 6-week period. A course grade of “I” will be entered on the transcript for courses undergoing remediation. Students who do not complete remediation as planned within the 6-week period will receive the original course grade.
• Students electing to remediate a fall course grade will be allowed to progress to the spring semester. Permission is required from the course coordinator to complete any spring course that has the course to be remediated as a prerequisite.
• If the student originally earned a 'D' in the course and passes the reassessment with ≥70%, then a grade of 70% (C) shall replace the summative course grade and will serve as the final grade for the course.
• If the student originally earned an 'F' in the course and passes the reassessment with ≥70%, then a grade of 65% (D) shall replace the summative course grade and will serve as the final grade for the course.
• If the student fails the reassessment with <70%, then the original summative course grade stands, and the student will follow the progression policy.

Course Remediation Policy for Students Entering Fall 2021 and Fall 2022: 

Criteria: Students who receive a ‘D’ grade in up to two different courses during the didactic curriculum are required to remediate or retake the course(s). Students who remediate must have demonstrated regular attendance and fulfilled the terms of all academic alerts. It is the sole responsibility of the student to demonstrate participation in these activities to the FCOP Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Course Coordinator to qualify for course remediation.

Exclusions: Students who receive an ‘F’ grade in the course in which remediation is desired, students on academic probation, all elective, interprofessional education (IPE), experiential (IPPEs or APPEs) courses, and courses taught outside the FCOP are excluded from this policy. Only one remediation is allowed per individual course. No more than two remediations will be granted during the didactic curriculum, with no more than two remediations granted per semester. Students are not eligible for course remediation if they have violated UT Tyler Honor Code or FCOP Academic Dishonesty Policy in that course.

Process: Remediation will be provided in the form of self-directed, faculty-supervised, independent study followed by a comprehensive reassessment of the course content. The independent study format will be outlined by the student and the course coordinator. The remediation and subsequent reassessment (or retaking the course) are required for students who meet the aforementioned criteria.

The Course Coordinator will notify the student and the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs when a student’s final course grade is a D. Notification will occur within 24 hours of the grades being posted to the learning management system. 

• Students will be required to take the remediation and a cumulative course assessment the summer semester immediately following the course. The remediation should be completed within a 6-week period. 
• The original course grade will remain on the student’s transcript until remediation is complete. This means that if a student is planning on remediating two courses with a ‘D’ grade and receives a third 'D', all of these grades will be used to determine Academic Probation and Academic Dismissal. Students who do not complete remediation as planned within the 6-week period will receive the original course grade.
• Students remediating a fall course grade will be allowed to progress to the spring semester. Permission is required from the course coordinator to complete any spring course that has the course to be remediated as a prerequisite. The spring course coordinator will consult with the fall course coordinator, Assistant/Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and/or faculty advisor in determining if completing the spring course is appropriate for the student. The spring course coordinator will provide a summary of the reason(s) for approving or denying the request to complete the spring course to the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs.
• If the student passes remediation with ≥70%, then a grade of 70% (C) shall replace the summative course grade of ‘D’ and will serve as the final grade for the course.
• If the student fails the reassessment with <70%, then the original course grade stands.

Course Remediation Policy for Students Entering Fall 2023 and Beyond: 

Definitions:

Summative Assessment: A high-stakes assessment designed to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing the student’s knowledge, skills, or attitudes to an established standard or benchmark that represents competency as specified by the course coordinator and instructors.

Reassessment: The process of repeating an assessment to demonstrate minimum competency as defined by the initial assessment established by the course coordinator and instructors. Reassessment will occur within two weeks from the final course grade posting. A student will only be offered reassessment in up to two courses during the entire Pharm.D. program.

Criteria: Students who obtain less than 75% on any summative assessment or a total course grade of less than 75% during a particular semester will be notified by the course coordinator and the Office of Academic Affairs of their requirement for weekly in-course remediation. Notifications will occur after the first summative assessment OR after enough coursework has been completed as determined by the course coordinator and the Office of Academic Affairs. 

Exclusions: Students are not eligible for course remediation if they have violated UT Tyler Honor Code or FCOP Academic Dishonesty Policy in that course.

Process: Students and faculty (i.e., course coordinators and instructors) should actively participate in the remediation process. If a student meets the qualification criteria for remediation, the course coordinator, in conjunction with course instructors, will intervene by developing and communicating an individualized supplemental instruction plan to the student that details the following:

1. The number of times and hours per week the student must meet with the course instructor(s).
2. The number of times and hours per week the student must meet with peer tutor(s).
   Note: Meeting solely with the peer tutors is not a substitute for meeting with the course instructors. Peer tutors are intended to be adjuncts to interactions with the course instructors. 
3. A list of assignments and activities the student must complete.
4. Deadlines for all assignments and assessments.
5. The course coordinator and the student must complete and sign a form to indicate their agreement with the proposed remediation plan for the student.

Remediation Outcomes on Progression and Academic Standing

In-course remediation aims to ensure that the student has demonstrated minimum competency by the end of a course. The following outcomes, which include participation in the remediation process and performance in the course, will determine the student's progression and academic standing.

Outcome 1: The student obtains a final course grade of 70% or higher (letter grade of ‘C’).

Impact on Progression and Academic Standing: The student has demonstrated minimum competency. The student retains the final course grade they earned.

Outcome 2: The student obtains a final course grade of 65% to less than 70% (letter grade of ‘D’), AND the student has demonstrated active attendance and participation in the weekly remediation sessions as outlined by the course coordinator and instructors and fulfilled the terms of all academic alerts.

Impact on Progression and Academic Standing: The student is eligible for reassessment. A student will only be offered reassessment in up to two courses during the entire Pharm.D. program. If the student obtains 70% or higher on the reassessment, a final course letter grade of ‘C’ will replace the initial course letter grade of ‘D’. Otherwise, the student will retain the final course grade they initially earned, which will be used to determine progression and academic standing.

Outcome 3: The student obtains a final course grade of 65 to less than 70% (letter grade of ‘D’), AND the student HAS NOT demonstrated active attendance and participation in the weekly remediation sessions as determined by the course coordinator and instructors or fulfilled the terms of all academic alerts.

Impact on Progression and Academic Standing: The student is not eligible for reassessment and must retake the course at the next offering.  The student will retain the final course letter grade they initially earned, which will be used to determine progression and academic standing.

Outcome 4: The student obtains a final course grade of less than 65% (letter grade of ‘F’).

Impact on Progression and Academic Standing: The student must retake the course at the next offering.  The student will retain the final course letter grade they initially earned, which will be used to determine progression and academic standing.

Academic Standing

Academic Standing for Students Entering Prior to Fall 2021: 

Good Academic Standing: The student has completed all courses in the curriculum up to that point with no more than one letter grade of ‘D’ and a cumulative professional GPA of 2.0 or higher;

Academic Watch: The student has earned one letter grade of ‘D’ but does not have a cumulative professional GPA of 2.0 or higher. A student on Academic Watch may continue taking courses necessary to progress normally through the college’s professional curriculum. A student on Academic Watch cannot begin Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).

Academic Probation: The student has multiple grades of less than ‘C’ which indicates a lack of understanding of fundamental concepts and indicates inadequate academic progression. Students who have earned (a) two ‘D’ grades; (b) one ‘F’ grade; or (c) one ‘D’ plus one ‘F’ grade will be placed on Academic Probation.

Dismissed or Dismissal: A student has not met the College’s progression or professional behavior standards and is no longer matriculated. Students who have accumulation of three ‘D’ grades or lower; or two ‘F’ grades are subject to Academic Dismissal.

Effect of Repeated Course Grades on Academic Standing: All 'D' or 'F' course grades, regardless of whether those courses have been retaken, will be used when determining if the student meets the criteria for Academic Probation or Academic Dismissal.

Unsatisfactory Academic Standing: Unsatisfactory Academic Standing includes, but is not limited to:

• Academic Watch;
• Academic Probation; and 
• Academic Dismissal.

Implications of Unsatisfactory Academic Standing: Students with unsatisfactory academic standing will have specific course and graduation restrictions. Students must be in good academic standing before beginning Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). A student who has completed the professional curriculum, but who does not attain a minimum 2.00 cumulative professional GPA in required and selective pharmacy courses while enrolled in the FCOP, shall not be considered for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

A student who is placed on either Academic Watch or Academic Probation is not permitted to withdraw or drop pharmacy classes unless approved to do so by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC) in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs and the student’s academic advisor.

Returning to Good Academic Standing: A student who is on Academic Watch or Academic Probation returns to Good Academic Standing when:

• Cumulative GPA returns to 2.0 or higher (Academic Watch) or
• Previous ‘D’ and ‘F’ coursework is successfully repeated at a grade of ‘C’ or higher (Academic Probation). 

Students receiving additional ‘D’ or ‘F’ grades after returning to Good Academic Standing, may be placed back on Academic Probation or subject to Academic Dismissal based upon the total number and type of D/F grades. 

Academic Standing for Students Entering Fall 2021 and Beyond:

Good Academic Standing: The student has completed all courses in the curriculum up to that point with no unresolved ‘D’ or ‘F’ grades. Resolving ‘D’ grades requires remediation or retaking the course and earning a grade of ‘C’ or higher. Resolving ‘F’ grades requires retaking the course and earning a grade of ‘C’ or higher.

Academic Probation: The student has one or more grades of ‘D’ or 'F' which indicates a lack of understanding of fundamental concepts and indicates inadequate academic progression. Students who have earned one ‘D’ grade or lower will be placed on Academic Probation. Course grades of ‘D’ or ‘F’ must be resolved for the student to advance to the next professional year. 

Dismissed or Dismissal: The student has not met the College’s progression or professional behavior standards and is no longer matriculated is subject to Academic Dismissal. Students who have not successfully earned a minimum grade of at ‘C’ upon repeating a course are subject to Academic Dismissal. Students who accumulate three ‘D’ grades or lower; or two ‘F’ grades are subject to Academic Dismissal.

Effect of Repeated Course Grades on Academic Standing: All ‘D’ or ‘F’ course grades, regardless of whether those courses have been successfully remediated, reassessed, or retaken, will be used when determining if the student meets the criteria for Academic Probation or Academic Dismissal. 

Unsatisfactory Academic Standing: Unsatisfactory Academic Standing includes, but is not limited to:

• Academic Probation; and
• Academic Dismissal.

Implications of Unsatisfactory Academic Standing: Students with unsatisfactory academic standing will have specific course and graduation restrictions. Students must be in good academic standing before beginning Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). A student cannot progress to APPEs until all courses are successfully passed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher. A student who has completed the professional curriculum, but who does not attain at least a ‘C’ grade in required and elective pharmacy courses while enrolled in the FCOP, shall not be considered for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

A student who is placed on Academic Probation is not permitted to withdraw or drop pharmacy classes unless approved to do so by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC) in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs and the student’s academic advisor.

Returning to Good Academic Standing: A student who is on Academic Probation returns to Good Academic Standing when previous 'D' and 'F' coursework is successfully repeated at a grade of ‘C’ or higher through remediation or by retaking the course.

Students receiving additional ‘D’ or ‘F’ grades after returning to Good Academic Standing, may be placed back on Academic Probation or subject to Academic Dismissal based on the total number and type of 'D' and/or 'F' grades.  

Academic Probation

Academic Probation from the FCOP places the student on a five-year schedule to complete the program. The program must be completed within five consecutive years of the date of the first day the student begins the program, excluding approved leaves of absence and extensions approved by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC). Students unable to complete the program in five years or less because of inadequate academic progression or any other reason shall be dismissed.

A student on Academic Probation will:

• be limited only to the necessary minimum number of course hours required for that session;
• not be permitted to withdraw or drop pharmacy classes unless approved to do so by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC) in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs and the student’s academic advisor.
• not be permitted to seek or hold office(s) in any student organization;
• not be permitted to serve as a student member on any standing committee within the college;
• be subject to policies, procedures, and regulations of the University and FCOP Student Handbooks in place at the time of the reinstatement;
• remediate (if applicable) or repeat all courses where a letter grade of ‘D’ or less was earned, including the first occurrence. 

Students may repeat a course only one time. Students placed on Academic Probation must earn a letter grade of ‘C’ or higher the next time a course is offered to be eligible for reinstatement to Good Academic Standing status. Failure to earn a letter grade of ‘C’ or higher on a repeated course shall result in Dismissal from the program.

Academic Dismissal

A student will be dismissed from the FCOP if any of the following conditions exist and the PASC determines that dismissal is warranted:

• Failure to meet the terms of Academic Probation;
• Conduct subject to dismissal as described in the University and/or College Academic Honesty/Honor Code section(s) of the Student Handbook; and/or
• Failure to complete the degree requirements in five (5) consecutive academic years from the date of the first day the student begins the program, excluding approved leaves of absence and extensions approved by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC).

Students dismissed from the FCOP will have their intern license withdrawn from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.

Progression Policy Appeal Process

Professional and Academic Standards Committee 

The FCOP Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC) acts on all petitions concerning internal matters within the FCOP regarding academic matters, including, but not limited to: academic probation, academic dismissal, and retroactive course withdrawals. Students may submit a PASC appeal within 14 calendar days of receiving an academic notification. Student appeals of PASC decisions may be submitted in writing to the Dean within 14 calendar days of the date of the PASC notification to the student. A formal response to the appeal will be sent within 30 calendar days of receiving the appeal.

All petitions and appeals to the FCOP's progression policies must be submitted in writing to the PASC. Each student is responsible for submitting his/her own petition. In many instances, the petition must be accompanied by written documentation (e.g., a letter from a physician documenting chronic illness, copy of a court order, etc.). Failure to provide such documentation may constitute grounds for denial of a petition. Students must consult with their faculty advisors regarding the proper procedure before submitting the initial appeal. Failure to consult the faculty advisor may be sufficient reason to deny convening the committee to hear the appeal.

Any subsequent appeal of a PASC decision shall be treated as a new petition. In the subsequent appeal, the student must submit further evidence of increased hardship or changed conditions for it to be considered.

Appeal of Academic Probation: There is no appeal process for to be removed from Academic Probation. The student may appeal to the PASC regarding the terms of the Academic Probation. All PASC appeals must be submitted within 14 calendar days of notification of academic status.  The PASC will render a decision within 30 calendar days of receiving the appeal.

Appeal of Dismissal: Students dismissed from the Pharm.D. program may appeal the decision to dismiss to the PASC.  Appeals must be submitted within 14 calendar days of dismissal. The PASC will render a decision within 30 calendar days of receiving the appeal.

Following a PASC decision, the student can appeal that decision to the FCOP Dean. The appeal must be in writing and submitted within 14 calendar days. The Dean will render a decision in writing within 30 calendar days of receipt of the formal written appeal. The Dean’s decision is final.

Comprehensive Assessments Policy

At the end of the first, second, and third professional years, FCOP administers a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the student’s knowledge, skills, or attitudes in the pharmacy program.

• P1 comprehensive assessment is given after the first professional year (P1)
• P2 comprehensive assessment is given after the second professional year (P2)
• P3 comprehensive assessment is given after the third professional year (P3)

The FCOP Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) will determine the timeline in which P1, P2, and P3 comprehensive assessments, remediation, and retakes occur and the required minimum competency for a given comprehensive assessment. Students will be notified of their performance within ten business days of receiving the results.

Implications of Unsatisfactory Performance: Unsatisfactory performance on a comprehensive assessment means that a student’s score falls below the minimum score set forth by the FCOP Assessment Committee and Office of Academic Affairs. Students must receive a passing score on their P1 and P2 comprehensive assessments or retakes to advance to the P2 and P3 years, respectively. Students must receive a passing score on their P3 comprehensive assessment or retake to progress to their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).  

Comprehensive Assessment Remediation: Students with unsatisfactory performance on the P1, P2, or P3 comprehensive assessments must: 1) follow a remediation plan developed by the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs in coordination with the faculty and 2) retake and achieve a passing score on the comprehensive assessment before advancing further in the program. The primary goal of remediation is to assist the student in correcting deficits in knowledge in preparation for subsequent academic years, APPEs, and the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®). Comprehensive assessment remediation is used exclusively with the comprehensive assessments referred to in this policy; therefore, no other remediation/reassessment policies apply. 

Process:

1. P1 students will take the P1 comprehensive assessment after the final exams of the P1 spring semester.
   1. Students passing the P1 comprehensive assessment may continue their coursework as scheduled.
   2. Students with unsatisfactory performance on the P1 comprehensive assessment must:
      1. Take the Pharmacy Foundations I elective course in the summer, and 
      2. Achieve a passing score on the P1 comprehensive assessment retake, which will serve as the final exam for the course, before advancing to the P2 year.
   3. Students with unsatisfactory performance on the P1 comprehensive assessment retake cannot continue in the program and will be dismissed from the FCOP.
2. P2 students will take the P2 comprehensive assessment after the final exams of the P2 spring semester. 
   1. Students passing the P2 comprehensive assessment may continue their coursework as scheduled.
   2. Students with unsatisfactory performance on the P2 comprehensive assessment must: 
      1. Take the Pharmacy Foundations II elective course in the summer, and 
      2.  Achieve a passing score on the P2 comprehensive assessment retake, which will serve as the final exam for the course, before advancing to the P3 year.
   3. Students with unsatisfactory performance on the P2 comprehensive assessment retake cannot continue in the program and will be dismissed from the FCOP.
3. P3 students will take the P3 comprehensive assessment after the final exams of the P3 year spring semester. 
   1. Students passing the P3 comprehensive assessment may continue their coursework as scheduled.
   2. Students with unsatisfactory performance on the P3 comprehensive assessment must:
      1. Take Pharmacy Foundations III elective course in the summer, and 
      2. Achieve a passing score on the P3 comprehensive assessment retake, which will serve as the final exam for the course, before advancing to APPEs (APPE scheduling is determined by the FCOP Office of Experiential Education and is highly dependent upon preceptor and site availability).
   3. Students with unsatisfactory performance on the P3 comprehensive assessment retake cannot continue in the program and will be dismissed from the FCOP.

Course Policies for the Fisch College of Pharmacy

Cancellation of Courses

The FCOP reserves the right to cancel a scheduled course upon evidence of inadequate enrollment.

Adding/Dropping Courses

The FCOP follows the UT Tyler requirements for adding and dropping courses. Students are encouraged to talk with their faculty advisor prior to adding or dropping coursework. 

A student who is placed on either Academic Watch or Academic Probation is not permitted to withdraw or drop pharmacy classes unless approved to do so by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC) in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs and the student’s academic advisor.

Auditing Courses

FCOP students may audit other pharmacy courses if approved by the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs. The process for Pharm.D. students to audit courses follows the same procedures and carries the same audit fees described in the Graduate School Policies. Students are financially responsible for any audit fees associated with these courses.

UT Tyler undergraduates and graduate students may not audit courses offered within the FCOP.

General Attendance and Availability

FCOP students must reserve 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday during the academic year for courses and FCOP events. Comprehensive Assessments may require additional availability. Experiential coursework may require additional availability (see the FCOP Experiential Education Manual). Specific courses and FCOP events may be scheduled in the evenings and on weekends. These events will be communicated to FCOP students and/or posted in the course syllabi.

Course Attendance

Given the importance of classroom discussion to successful learning in the class, classroom absences will only be excused under exceptional circumstances. In such cases, students are required to make every reasonable effort to notify the course coordinator in advance. Of note: The attendance policy for the pharmacy practice experiences is outlined in the FCOP Experiential Education Manual.

In-Person vs. Virtual Class Attendance

It is expected that all students attend courses in-person unless the course has specific allowances for online attendance (i.e. hybrid classes or fully online classes). The FCOP Office of Academic Affairs may approved a short period (e.g. 2 weeks) of virtual attendance in non-experiential courses on a case-by-case basis.

Course Attendance for Didactic Courses

Late Arrival:  Students who enter the class late may receive a score of zero (0) in assignments and/or participation points. A student may be given credit for classroom participation and contribution if they arrive late and the late arrival was due to circumstances beyond the student’s control. In all cases, the decision of the course coordinator with input from the instructor for the day is final.

Known Excused Absence: A student may request an excused absence from class/pharmacy practice experiences for known personal, compassionate, professional, or health-related reasons. Known excused absence requests are initiated in writing to the course coordinator. Students will be required to present appropriate documentation to support a request for a known excused absence. The decision to grant a known excused absence is at the discretion of the course coordinator and is final.

Unexpected Excused Absence: In the event of unexpected circumstances, students are responsible for submitting a request to the course coordinator requesting the unexpected absence be considered excused within three (3) days of the absence. Students will be required to present appropriate documentation to support a request for an unexpected excused absence. The decision to grant an unexpected excused absence is at the discretion of the course coordinator and is final.

Unexcused Absence: Students will receive a score of zero (0) for all missed assignments or projects.

For all types of absences: The course coordinator(s) in conjunction with instructors will determine if a student’s absence results in the need for the completion of additional/supplemental work to satisfy course requirements. No make-up assignments or exams will be given outside the attendance and make-up policy outlined in the syllabus. Students will receive a score of zero (0) for assignments not completed within the time frame established by the course coordinator, generally not more than five (5) days, including weekends.

In the event that a student’s total number of contact hours missed from class due to known excused absences, unexpected excused absences, and unexcused absences (combined) exceeds 20% of the total course contact hours, the student will be withdrawn from the course, and the student will receive a final course grade of “W”. Application of this policy will be done in consideration with other UT Tyler policies and procedures. Withdrawal from classes may affect student’s financial aid eligibility, veteran's benefits, athletic eligibility, housing, or international student status. If a student is withdrawn from the course, he/she should consult with the respective department regarding his/her eligibility for those benefits or status.  NOTE: 1 credit hour = 15 contact hours

Course Attendance for Experiential Courses

Attendance requirements for pharmacy practice experiences are outlined in the FCOP Experiential Education Manual.

Excused Absence for Religious Holy Days

Please see the Excused Absence for Religious Holy Days in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Excused Absence for Active Military Service

Please see the Excused Absence for Active Military Service in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Inclement Weather

University closure due to Inclement Weather will be posted on the main UT Tyler web page. The FCOP IPPE and APPE experiential sites may or may not be closed, therefore the university inclement weather closures do not apply to experiential rotations. Additional information on inclement weather and experiential courses is provided in the FCOP Experiential Education Manual.

Course and Instructor Evaluations

As a component institution of The University of Texas System, UT Tyler is committed to maintaining a standard of excellence in all its programs, departments and colleges. A program for course and instructor evaluation is integral to the assessment and improvement of the college’s educational function.

Student course and instructor evaluations are conducted online every session and/or semester as required by the policies and procedures of UT Tyler. The Office of the Director of Institutional Analysis coordinates course and instructor evaluations conducted through myUTTyler. The University has a required set of questions that are asked about every class at the University. Faculty have the right to ask additional questions separate from the University’s required questions that may provide additional information the instructor finds more useful for improvement of their own course.

Graduation Guidelines and Procedures

Catalogue Year

To graduate, a student must fulfill catalog requirements in effect at the time of admission; however, all candidates must complete the curriculum in its entirety.

Time Limitations

Degree requirements for the Pharm.D. degree must be completed within a five-year period, excluding any approved leave(s) of absence and extensions approved by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC).

Graduation Requirements

Students are recommended and approved for the Pharm.D. degree by the UT Tyler FCOP Faculty. Approval is awarded provided that the student:

1. Has conducted oneself in an ethical, moral, professional, and lawful manner;
2. Has satisfactorily completed all of the FCOP curricular requirements (including comprehensive assessments) in a timely fashion [i.e., not to exceed five (5) years from the date of initial enrollment, excluding any approved leave(s) of absence and extensions approved by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC)];
3. Has fulfilled all tuition and financial requirements and completed all necessary paperwork for FCOP; 
4. Has a cumulative GPA in all professional courses of at least a 2.00 or higher; and
5. Follows the steps to apply for graduation on the Registrar’s Office website: https://www.uttyler.edu/registrar/graduation/applying-for-graduation/.

Other Policies and Information for the Fisch College of Pharmacy

Accommodations

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) the University offers accommodations to students with qualifying disabilities. Students with a disability, including non-visible disabilities such as a learning disorder, chronic illness, TBI, PTSD, ADHD, or a history of modifications or accommodations in a previous educational environment, are encouraged to visit https://hood.accessiblelearning.com/UTTyler to fill out the New Student Application and submit supporting documentation. The Student Accessibility and Resources (SAR) office will contact the student after their application and supporting documentation have been reviewed by the SAR Accommodation Review Committee. For more information about the SAR registration process, please visit the SAR webpage at https://www.uttyler.edu/disability-services/, email the SAR office at saroffice@uttyler.edu, or call 903.566.7079.

Please note: Students with disabilities must register with the SAR office to receive accommodations under ADA(AA) provisions. Students are encouraged to submit application for services at least 30 days prior to need so that eligibility determinations, notifications to instructors, possible exam scheduling, and other accommodations can be effectively coordinated. Once exam accommodations are approved, exams should be scheduled no less than four (4) business days prior to test date.

Students receiving accommodations through the SAR office are required to notify each course coordinator/instructor every semester. Accommodations do not automatically transfer between course coordinators/instructors or between semesters. Pharmacy courses may have assessments (iRATs) scheduled on the first day of the course, therefore, students are recommended to start the accommodation process well in advance of the start of the semester or session.

Change of Program

If a student desires to change from the Pharm.D. program to another undergraduate or graduate program, the student should consult with the UT Tyler Undergraduate Admissions and/or the Graduate Admissions Office. 

Complaints and Judicial Process

Discrimination Complaints

Please see the Complaints and Grievances Process in the Student Success section of this catalog.

Accreditation-Related Complaints

Complaints regarding the FCOP, as it relates to the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards, policies, or procedures, may be reported to ACPE at www.acpe-accredit.org/complaints/. 

Fisch College of Pharmacy-Related Complaints

For complaints unrelated to the ACPE standards, policies, or procedures, the FCOP’s administration encourages communication of these concerns to the FCOP. If the concern involves a pharmacy course, the student is encouraged to discuss the concern and/or resolve the issue with the following individuals, in order:

• Instructor
• Course Coordinator
• Department Chair (for that course coordinator)
• Assistant/Associate Dean for Experiential Education (for IPPE, APPE) or Assistant/Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

If the concern does not involve a course, the student is encouraged to bring concerns to the appropriate FCOP Assistant or Associate Dean:

• Assistant/Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
• Assistant/Associate Dean for Experiential Education
• Assistant/Associate Dean for Student Affairs

If the above communications do not resolve the student’s concern, the student may contact the FCOP Dean.

FCOP students are also encouraged to seek guidance from their faculty advisor regarding concerns and for questions regarding the complaint process.

Office of Judicial Affairs

The University’s Office of Judicial Affairs manages violations of the student Code of Conduct policies, violations of Residence Life policies, and scholastic dishonesty. Students are encouraged to seek guidance from the FCOP Office for Academic Affairs in all matters concerning University petitions.

Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening

A criminal background check and drug screen is required of all students offered admission to the FCOP. Admission to the FCOP is contingent upon results of these evaluations. When applicable, an international background check may be required. A committee comprised of the FCOP Assistant/Associate Deans of Academic Affairs, Experiential Education and Student Affairs reviews positive results from criminal background checks and/or drug screens for students with provisional admission status and make determinations on a case-by-case basis.

During the Pharm.D. curriculum, background checks and drug screens will be repeated annually. Background checks and/or drug screens may be required randomly at any time during the program. The committee of FCOP Assistant/Associate Deans will review positive results from criminal background check and/or drug screens and make a determination on a case-by-case basis.

Enrolled students, as part of the obligations of being a licensed pharmacist intern, are required to disclose any criminal convictions and deferred adjudication community supervisions or deferred dispositions to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. Matriculated students are also required to report these events and arrests that may affect licensure to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs and FCOP Office of Experiential Education within 10 calendar days (misdemeanors) and 2 calendar days (felonies) of the event. Traffic violations do not need to be reported unless related to criminal behavior, substance use, and/or alcohol use.

Admission to the FCOP may be denied and matriculated students may receive sanctions (up to and including dismissal from the program) based on the results of the criminal background checks and/or drug screen. Examples of reasons for denial, sanctions, and/or dismissal include, but are not limited to: 1) positive criminal background check that would affect the ability to become licensed and/or assigned at experiential sites, 2) failure to report criminal convictions/deferred adjudication/deferred dispositions to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy or the FCOP Office of Student Affairs and Office of Experiential Education, or 3) positive drug screen. Failure to disclose a criminal offense or failure to disclose an offense in the timeframe indicated may be considered an Honor Code Violation and/or may delay or prevent participation in the experiential curriculum. Experiential sites retain the right to deny placement of students at their site based on criminal background checks and/or drug screen results.

The Texas State Board of Pharmacy provides further information on criminal background checks and substance use. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) provides information regarding felony convictions and the ability to become licenses in a specific state.

Email

The FCOP follows the UT Tyler Email Policy stating the official email communication method for students is their UT Tyler Patriot Email address. 

FCOP students are strongly encouraged to check email twice a day and respond to emails within 24 business hours. Failure to check email cannot be the basis for missing deadlines or used as rationale for being unaware of information or official notifications.

Health and Safety Requirements

Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification

Students must maintain basic life support (BLS) certification to participate in experiential coursework.

Concealed Handguns on Campus

Please see the Concealed Handguns on Campus Policy in the Undergraduate Policies Section of this catalog.  FCOP students participating in experiential courses, service learning, and community outreach programs should also review and adhere to the regulations and policies for the partnering institution.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan: The FCOP follows the UT Tyler Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Control Plan. Students who are not employees are not covered by the exposure control plan but receive training on BBP prevention and control methods annually. In the event of a BBP exposure, students should notify their preceptor or faculty member immediately. Post-exposure follow up will normally be provided by the University Health Clinic. Costs for post-exposure follow up is ultimately the responsibility of the student and should usually be covered under their health insurance. The FCOP offers coverage for the cost associated with testing the source individual.

Health Insurance

The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System mandates health insurance for all health-related students enrolled in their respective programs.  As a condition of enrollment and participation in all experiential coursework and patient care activities, all Pharm.D. students must submit and maintain proof of personal health insurance coverage that includes effective date and renewal date. Personal health insurance covers illness and injury in classroom, laboratory situations, and experiential courses as well as any illness or injury that occurs while not on the UT Tyler campus or affiliated with a FCOP activity.

Every Pharm.D. student must complete the health insurance certification process each term they are enrolled. Students must either confirm their participation in UT Tyler Student Health Plan (UTSHP), Academic Health Plans (AHP) or submit an AHP waiver. To be considered for a waiver, students must provide documentation of their own coverage to AHP that demonstrates that their health insurance meets specific coverage criteria.  Charges will show up on student bills until the AHP waiver has been completed and approved. Students who do not meet the deadline to submit proof of health insurance may have delays in starting their semester coursework and/or experiential activities. This may affect the student’s ability to successfully complete the curriculum and delay on-time graduation.

Immunization and Health Screening

Students are required to present evidence of tuberculosis screening and proof of immunizations by week 6 of their first semester enrollment in the FCOP. For those vaccines that involve more than one injection, the series must be started by week 6 in their first semester at the FCOP. In accordance with state law (e.g. Meningitis Policy SB 1107) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov), the following immunizations/health screening are required for all students enrolled in health-related courses that will involve direct patient contact in medical facilities:

• Influenza: proof of influenza vaccination is required annually in the fall (any type of influenza vaccine for the current flu season). 
• Tetanus/diphtheria: proof of one Tdap "booster" with a Td following at least every 10 years. 
• Varicella: proof of completing the 2-dose immunization series, serological immunity (blood test), or documentation of disease or diagnosis of either varicella or herpes zoster by a healthcare provider.
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR): proof of completing the 2-dose MMR series or serological immunity (blood test). 
• Hepatitis B: proof of completing the 3-dose immunization series or serologic immunity (blood test). 
• Tuberculin (TB) Screening: The frequency and type of tuberculin screening depends upon if this is initial testing and the duration of time between tests:
  • students receiving their first tuberculin screening or having their last tuberculin skin test (TST) more than 2 years ago, proof of a 2-step TST or a single blood assay (IGRA) test followed by an annual TST is required; 
  • students with a TST within the previous 12 months, a single TST is required followed by an annual TST; 
  • for students with a positive TST, IGRA, or prior treatment for TB, proof of a negative chest x-ray is required (repeat x-rays are not required unless recommended by a healthcare provider);
  • additional testing and/or documentation may be required in certain situations; and
  • experiential sites may have different requirements for documentation and/or screening for TB.
    
     
• Meningitis Vaccine: Students younger than 22 years are required to present documentation of meningitis vaccination prior to being enrolled in Pharm.D. courses.
• Additional immunizations and/or screenings may be required by experiential sites.

Students are responsible for maintaining all immunization and health screening requirements. Vaccinations and screenings are obtained at the student’s expense. A student’s health insurance may cover these services. Students who do not maintain immunization and health screening requirements, and submit proof thereof, will not be permitted to participate in experiential coursework or the direct patient care components of the Pharm.D. program. 

Exclusions may be allowable on an individual basis for medical contraindications and pregnancy.

• Students with medical contraindications must submit written verification from a primary care provider that the immunization required would be injurious to the health and well-being of the student or any member of the student’s family or household. Unless a lifelong condition is specified, the verification is valid for only one year from the date signed by the healthcare professional. 
• Pregnant females may be exempt from select immunizations. Students must present written documentation of a positive pregnancy test and written verification of immunizations that the student is exempt due to pregnancy. 

Experiential sites retain the right to deny placement of students at their site based on immunization and health screening status.

Mandatory Reporting

Students are required to report any condition and/or diagnosis that may compromise the health and well-being of patients, preceptors, and/or employees at experiential sites. The following must be reported to the Office of Experiential Education within 24 hours or immediately upon discovery: 

• TB test conversion (test results changed from a negative TB test to either a borderline or a positive TB test) and/or
• Diagnosis of a personal infection with Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Tuberculosis, Meningitis, COVID, and/or other contagious conditions.

The Office of Experiential Education may add additional mandatory reporting requirements based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommendations from Public Health Officials, and/or from our partnering healthcare institutions. Students who fail to report such conditions may have delays in experiential coursework and/or incur academic penalties. This may affect the student’s ability to successfully complete the curriculum and delay on-time graduation. Non-academic penalties, such as honor code violations, may also apply. 

Leave of Absence

A student may request a Leave of Absence for academic and/or non-academic reasons. Examples of non-academic reasons include but are not limited to: childbearing or adoption; personal illness; critical care of a family member; financial or job-related interruption; and military service. The Leave of Absence is approved for a specific time period (not to exceed 12 consecutive months and thereafter must be renewed) and allows the student to return to the college without formally reapplying for admission to the College. 

A condition of the Leave of Absence is that the student must complete their course of study in 5 years of less from the original date of matriculation into the program, excluding on an approved leave of absence and extensions approved by the Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC). Failure to successfully complete conditions listed within the Leave of Absence within the agreed upon timeframe will result in the student being placed on Academic Dismissal from the FCOP. Students requesting a Leave of Absence who are failing one or more course(s) need to obtain approval for the leave from the Professional and academic Standards Committee (PASC). Students who request a leave of absence after the last day to withdraw from a course, will receive a 'W' on their transcript unless a retroactive withdrawal has been approved by the PASC.

Leaves of absences will result in withdrawal of pharmacist intern licenses from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. Students must contact the FCOP Office of Experiential Education at the beginning of their Leave and at least 30 days prior to returning from a Leave to facilitate the process for re-licensure.

Multi-Media Recordings and Photography

Photography and Video Recording Consent

The FCOP requests use of student-related photographs and/or video-recordings for external use, e.g. distribution of class composite photos, posting on the internet, publications, social media, etc. Permission for use can only be given by the student and the initial request occurs during the orientation process and remains into effect until the student is no longer enrolled in the Pharm.D. program or the permission is revoked by the student. Students can grant permission or revoke permission for photography and/or video-recordings at any time by contacting the FCOP Office of Student Affairs.

Recording of Class Sessions

Class sessions may be recorded, if the student receives written permission from the course coordinator. This includes, but is not limited to, photographing or recording of material placed on white boards or overhead projections. Because of the interactive nature of team-based learning, class periods may not be recorded in lieu of attending class, unless specifically authorized by the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs (e.g., approved absence for professional meetings). The term recording includes all forms of multi-media recording on the University campus or affiliate locations and includes all classroom sessions.

Reproduction of Class Sessions

Reproduction and/or distribution of class sessions by any means such as YouTube, podcasts, etc. of any class session presentations or material created for the purpose of class preparation or for class review are forbidden unless written authorization from the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs and the creator is obtained at least seven (7) calendar days in advance.

Professionalism (Non-Academic) Alerts

Student conduct that does not violate the honor code, but is of concern may be reported through the Non-Academic Alert form available at www.uttyler.edu/pharmacy/student-handbook/. Examples of non-academic concerns include: dress code, professionalism, classroom behavior, absenteeism, tardiness, and ethical concerns.  Non-Academic Alerts are submitted to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs. The alert should be copied to the FCOP Office of Experiential Education if the concern arose during or may affect experiential coursework.

Sanctions for Professionalism Alert includes, but is not limited to:

• Informal warning, e.g. verbal or written informal warning;
• Informal assignment, e.g. ethical decision-making seminar and/or reflection paper assigned;
• Formal warning, i.e. a copy of the report will be sent to the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs and may be forwarded to the FCOP Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC), and/or the UT Tyler Judicial Affairs Office;
• Formal academic penalty, e.g. additional assignment, assignment grade change or grade deduction;
• Internal referral, i.e., a copy of the report will be sent to the FCOP Professional and Academic Standards Committee (PASC), and/or the UT Tyler Judicial Affairs Office for investigation and/or sanctions; and
• External referral to the appropriate legal (e.g., courts), regulatory (e.g., state boards of pharmacy) or professional authorities (e.g., counseling, Behavioral Intervention Team). 

Students receiving a Professionalism Alert may request a formal hearing with the PASC regarding proposed sanctions and/or request a formal hearing with the PASC or UT Tyler Office of Judicial Affairs regarding the actions described within the alert.

Pharmacy and Patient Care Experiences

The Pharm.D. curriculum includes pharmacy practice or patient care experiences starting in the first semester of the program. In addition to the FCOP policies and procedures, all students engaging in patient care must meet and maintain the following requirements:

1. Pharmacist Intern Licensure;
2. Respect and Protection of Protected Health Information;
3. Professional Liability Insurance Coverage; 
4. Standards for Professional Dress for Experiential Learning; and
5. Screenings, trainings, certifications, and immunizations as outlined in the FCOP Experiential Education Manual

Pharmacist Internship Requirements 

All students are required to be licensed with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) as an intern during their first year of the program. Students are responsible for applying for and maintaining an active intern license in Texas, which is a requirement for participation in experiential coursework. If assigned to experiential coursework outside of Texas, students must apply for an intern license for that state and maintain active licensure while completing experiential coursework in that state. Students are required to follow all Board of Pharmacy rules and regulations during their experiential learning experiences. Failure to obtain licensure may delay on time graduation.

Students must communicate any and all criminal offenses to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy as part of their pharmacy intern licensure. Failure to disclose offenses to the board may result in licensing delays and/or ability to become licensed. Criminal offenses must also be reported to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs and Office of Experiential Education. Additional information, reporting, and reporting timelines are provided under Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screens.

Protected Health Information (Patient Privacy)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 protects the privacy of an individual’s identifiable health information called Protected Health Information (PHI). Students may encounter patient- and caregiver-related information during classroom, laboratory, experiential, and extracurricular activities. Students, as healthcare professionals, are obligated to respect any and all confidences revealed during any FCOP educational experiences including but not limited to, patient conditions, medical and pharmacy records, economic information and professional policies. 

No information should be circulated or discussed outside the clinical realms of the learning experience or in any inappropriate manner during the experience. Records containing PHI must not be removed from experiential sites. Any and all patient records must be destroyed according to the sites policies no later than the last day of rotation. Disclosure of information or inappropriate discussion of information is also a violation of the patient’s or preceptor’s trust and can cause harmful consequences for the patient, their caregivers, or the experiential site. Situations involving breach of HIPAA and disclosure of PHI is illegal and any student who chooses to violate this policy will undergo severe consequences.

HIPAA Training: The FCOP will provide initial and annual HIPAA training as part of the curriculum for the pharmacy students. Students should maintain a copy of their HIPAA certification within their portfolio. Students may need to complete a clinical site-specific HIPAA training in addition to the FCOP course.

Access to Confidential Information: Students may have access to privileged information about a patient/caregiver’s health and financial information, practice site information, and other information that is considered to be personal. Access to confidential subject information is permitted only on a need-to-know basis. Additionally, students are to keep all user log-in and passwords confidential when using any electronic device as well.

Disclosure of Confidential Information: HIPAA violations include, but are not limited to: disclosing patient information verbally or in writing (including email), unauthorized viewing of patient health information, talking about patient’s private health information in a public venue, posting of protected health information on social media, and posting photographs of patients without their permission. HIPAA violations are reportable to the healthcare institution, the FCOP (as a violation of the FCOP Honor Code), and for potential legal action. Consequences for violations include, but are not limited to, failure of a course or course assignment, removal from a clinical practice site, expulsion from the FCOP, and/or legal penalties.

Professional Liability Insurance Requirements

All FCOP students are covered by a medical professional liability insurance policy, offered for all medical profession students in the UT System. The insurance premium for this coverage is included as part of the tuition of all Pharm.D. students and is renewed annually. The insurance policy covers students and faculty during all FCOP organized experiential, professional student organization, and service-learning activities while in the Pharm.D. program. The policy requires appropriate student supervision while providing patient care. Students can request verification of insurance from the FCOP Dean’s Office. The insurance policy does not cover students at their place of employment. It is recommended that each pharmacy student maintain private professional liability insurance to cover their activities outside of the FCOP (e.g. employment).

Student Experiential Placements

The FCOP Office of Experiential Education coordinates and assigns all experiential placement for students throughout the curriculum (professional years 1-4). While individual student preferences are considered for experiential placement, there are NO guarantees that a student will be assigned at a certain experiential site or within a specific region.  Site placement depends on many factors including but not limited to: site/preceptor selection criteria, site affiliation agreements, site offerings, licensure, number of student requests, preceptor and site availability, etc. Students need to be aware that they may be asked to drive up to 2 hours for a practice experience, which is considered a reasonable and appropriate commute. Students are responsible for maintaining reliable transportation throughout introductory and advanced practice experiences. Students are responsible for their own housing arrangements and expenses during practice experiences.  Please refer to the FCOP Experiential Education Manual for additional information on experiential student placement.

Standards for Professional Dress for Experiential Learning

All FCOP students are expected to adhere to the highest professional standards as outlined by the FCOP Student Handbook and Experiential Education Manual. Student pharmacists are representing themselves, their peers, and the FCOP. All students must demonstrate professional communication, dress, and demeanor at all times. The dress code outlined in the FCOP Experiential Education Manual applies to all students enrolled in experiential coursework. Exceptions to the dress code may be directed by site-specific dress code requirements. Students are responsible for checking with each experiential site ahead of their rotation start date. For a complete description of the professional dress for rotations, please refer to the FCOP Experiential Education Manual. 

Scholastic Load

The minimum credit hour load to be considered a full-time professional student in the FCOP is 12 semester hours in any semesters. The maximum credit hour load permitted is 21 semester hours during the fall and spring semesters unless approved by the FCOP. The maximum summer semester credit hour load permitted is 12 credit hours.

Enrollment Status per Financial Aid regulations (minimum credits required):

Standards for Professional Dress and Classroom Behavior

FCOP student pharmacists are expected to adhere to a professional dress code while at the FCOP and attending patient care events. Student pharmacists are representing themselves, their peers, the FCOP, and the profession of pharmacy and should behave appropriately and dress in a professional manner at all times. Students reporting to the classroom or FCOP related activities in violation of established dress codes should expect to receive a verbal and/or written warning or asked to change clothes at the discretion of the faculty member. The student will not receive credit for classroom activities that occur during their absence. Violations will be reported to the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs.

Failure to comply with the Professional Dress and Classroom Behavior rules will be considered a violation Honor Code Policy and may result in disciplinary action. Students with concerns relating to the professional dress policy for cultural and/or religious reasons should contact the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs for guidance.

The general requirements are outlined below for classroom (including exams/assessments) and FCOP activities.

1. The general dress code for classroom activities is business casual. Examples include: collared shirts, blouses, sweaters, slacks, khaki/chino pants, cropped/Capri length pants, or skirts/dresses. Clothing that is not allowed includes: jeans (any color), shorts, athletic wear, pajama wear/sweatpants, flip-flops, shoes with visible sections for each toe (e.g. Vibrams), athletic shoes, and hospital scrubs (unless required by the current IPPE/APPE). No bare midriffs are allowed. Undergarments should be adequately covered by outer clothing and should not be visible through clothing. Clothing should not be provocative or contain obscene or offensive language/pictures. Hats and caps are not allowed during classroom activities. Clothing should be clean and neat in appearance (no torn or excessively wrinkled clothing and shoes maintained in good repair, for example.)

   Alternate dress, i.e. official FCOP scrubs may be worn for approved activities. Several FCOP courses/activities, such as the compounding class sessions, physical assessment class sessions, and research lab experiences may have specific dress requirements. These requirements will be described in the course syllabi. For these situations, students may wear classroom dress or the official FCOP scrubs with closed-toed shoes; appropriate athletic shoes may be worn with scrubs. Students may maintain that level of dress for other classroom activities that day.

   The FCOP may approve casual dress days: On specific dates, students may be allowed to wear jeans and t-shirts. However, clothing should not be provocative, ripped, contain obscene/offensive language, and should adequately cover and conceal the midriff and undergarments. 

2. All students must maintain good personal hygiene (cleanliness, body odor, etc.) at all times: Nails should be kept clean and well-manicured and at a length not to interfere with duties of a pharmacist. Facial hair, hair color, and style should be kept conservative and in a manner that presents a professional image. Cologne and perfume should be kept to a minimum or not used at all. Earrings and jewelry should be worn in a professional manner. In the classroom, body art and tattoos that may be considered offensive should be covered. Other body modifications (piercings and gauges) may be allowed if they are not distracting.
3. Classroom demeanor should be respectful of the learning environment: Students should limit activities that are distracting to others and potential inhibit their learning. Students disrupting the learning environment may be asked to leave the classroom. The use of the technology in the classroom is designed to facilitate learning and not for personal use. Cellular phones should be silenced (or on vibrate), unless permitted by the instructor, so they do not disturb others in the classroom and interfere with learning. Use of approved electronic devices should be limited to classroom-related activities. Students who are disrupting the learning environment may be asked to leave the classroom. Repeated violations may result in FCOP disciplinary action. The use of headphones, ear buds, noise cancelling headsets, and programmable calculators are prohibited. Exceptions to the use of these devices may be authorized by the course coordinator/instructor.
4. Students participating in patient care related extracurricular activities that involve patient care should consider the venue and the purpose of the event when deciding on clothing. For example, a health-screening event held at a hospital would lend itself to dress described in Standards for Professional Dress for Experiential Learning. For students educating elementary students at an asthma camp, more casual clothing such as a FCOP or UT Tyler T-shirt may be appropriate. Your faculty advisor can help determine the appropriate dress for an event. For events involving immunizations and/or blood, a white lab coat is required to be consistent with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. FCOP nametags should be worn at all patient care events and university related extracurricular events/activities.
5. Professional Dress in Experiential Learning: Please see the FCOP Experiential Education Manual. 

Student Records

Please see the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy in the Undergraduate Policies Section of this catalog.

Scholarships

Pharm.D. students may be eligible for UT Tyler scholarships and FCOP scholarships. Each scholarship varies with regard to selection criteria, requirements and amounts. Veterans and military personnel may also be candidates for Veteran scholarships.

Incoming Pharm.D. students are considered for the 100% Tuition and Fees Reduction Scholarship, the Horizons Award, and the UT Tyler Legacy Award. Current students who have completed at least one semester of the curriculum can be considered for returning student scholarships and the 100% Tuition and Fees Reduction Scholarship. 

Pharm.D. students are not eligible for the UT Tyler Staff, Spouse, and Dependent Scholarships, UT Tyler Graduate Scholarship for Returning Students, UT Tyler New Graduate Fellowship, UT Tyler New Freshman Scholarship, and UT Tyler Scholarships for Transfer Students.

Transfer of Credit

Transfer of credit hours from another accredited institution may be allowed if the course is being used to satisfy the Texas Core Curriculum or if the course is approved for credit within the Pharm.D. curriculum. Transfer credit is not included in FCOP GPA calculations.

Tuition, Fees, Financial Aid

Tuition includes fees and other academic expenses associated with the Pharm.D. program include: 

• Courses taken at UT Tyler as part of the Pharm.D. curriculum;
• UT Tyler required student fees such as student services fees, instructional support fee, intercollegiate athletics fee, medical service fee, recreational facility fee, student union fee, etc.;
• Electronic texts for required Pharm.D. courses; and
• Access to physical textbooks for required Pharm.D. courses when electronic texts are not available. 

The tuition does not cover:

• UT Tyler courses taken to satisfy the Texas Core Curriculum or another degree program;
• Elective courses that are not approved as part of the Pharm.D. curriculum; 
• Course audit fees for courses at UT Tyler and/or FCOP.
• Books & supplies for elective Pharm.D. coursework, non-Pharm.D. approved coursework, or Texas Core Curriculum courses; 
• Costs associated with on campus housing, meal plans, and parking; and
• Late fees for registration, payment installment fees and emergency loan origination fees for the cashier’s office, parking tickets, etc. 

All tuition and fee charges are billed according to the Texas Education Code Chapter 54 and the University of Texas Board of Regents. Students may not enter a class or laboratory until payment of tuition and fees has been arranged. Payment due dates and times are published by the UT Tyler Cashiers Office. Students will be dropped from all classes for nonpayment after the published deadline.

Tuition Rates

The Pharm.D. program is designed to be completed full-time. Students may, on occasion, take coursework during the summer (year 1 and 2) or a reduced academic load in the fall and/or spring. The tuition rates for both full-time and part-time enrollment is available at https://www.uttyler.edu/pharmacy/admissions/tuition-fees-scholarships/. There is no part-time enrollment for students on their APPEs. The tuition for academic years beyond those posted on the website have not yet been finalized.

Cost of Attendance Guide

There are anticipated expenses that are associated with attending the FCOP. Some of these expenses will occur in specific years of the program, while others occur annually. These expenses are not included in the Pharm.D. tuition and include direct and in-direct costs such as tuition/feeds, room/board, books/supplies, transportation, personal, loan fees, etc. The cost of attendance guide is available at https://www.uttyler.edu/pharmacy/admissions/tuition-fees-scholarships/.

Financial Aid 

Students enrolled into the Pharm.D. program are recognized by UT Tyler as graduate/professional students whether or not the student has completed a bachelor’s degree. Candidates applying to the Pharm.D. program or who are enrolled in the program, can request graduate/professional level financial aid when submitting their FAFSA and indicating UT Tyler on the application (FAFSA Code 011163). Typically, students will apply for more than one financial aid program. Financial aid options include, but are not limited to Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, and Private Loans.

Financial aid is typically requested each spring for the next fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students requesting financial aid for summer coursework may request aid for those courses along at the same time as the preceding fall and spring semesters. Additional information on financial aid options is available through UT Tyler Financial Aid and Scholarship Office. 

Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TAFSA) is currently not available for FCOP students.

Payment Plans

FCOP students may enroll in a five (5)-installment payment plan or an Emergency Loan each fall and spring semester. The installments plan and the Emergency Loan covers the expenses for tuition and fees as well as housing, meal plans and textbooks paid to UT Tyler for the semester. Tests, off campus textbook purchases, supplies, insurance or other expenses are not covered by payment plans. The five (5)-installment plan is not available for the summer semesters.

Tuition Exemptions and Waivers

Pharm.D. students are typically not eligible for tuition exemptions or waivers. For example, students are not eligible for state supported tuition exemptions such as the Hazelwood Exemption. Students may be eligible for federally sponsored exemption. Pharm.D. students are not eligible for tuition waivers since the tuition rate is the same for both in-state and out-of-state residents. 

Tuition Repayment Programs

Several national organizations and corporations may have tuition assistance or loan repayment programs available for their student members and/or employees. The FCOP Office of Student Affairs keeps a limited list of organizations providing tuition repayment programs.

Undergraduate and Graduate Level Coursework

Students completing the Pharm.D. program are considered graduate professional students at UT Tyler. Tuition for coursework taken at UT Tyler is assessed at the Pharm.D. tuition rate regardless of course level (undergraduate, professional, graduate) or purpose. Undergraduate and graduate level courses approved as a pharmacy elective may be taken in the fall, spring, and summer. Tuition and fees associated with these courses are included in the credit hour calculations for the Pharm.D. tuition rate.

The student is responsible for all tuition and fees associated with courses taken to fulfill the Texas Core Curriculum. Students interested in completing core curriculum courses at UT Tyler should consult with the Office of Financial Aid regarding any restrictions and/or availability of financial aid for these courses.

Technology

All students are required to have a working mobile device that has internet access, word processing capabilities, and access to the UT Tyler course management system and FCOP exam system. A list of device specifications and requirements is available on the FCOP website.

All students are required to have privacy filters for mobile devices during exams and quizzes. Removable filters are acceptable.

Travel

Student organizations and individual students may request travel to FCOP sponsored/approved activities such as national pharmacy organization meetings, state, or regional organization meetings, and legislative days. Students enrolled in experiential coursework will be required to obtain approval for travel from their preceptors. Requests for funding are also considered for student organization members and individual students.

Requests to fund school-related travel should be submitted to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs. Funding must be approved prior to travel and cannot be retroactively approved. If approved, reimbursement is requested through the FCOP Office of Student Affairs.

Withdrawals

The last day to withdraw from a course is posted on the FCOP academic calendar. Students may withdraw from a course after the last date if the student is being granted an approved Leave of Absence or a PASC-approved retroactive withdrawal.

Verification of Degree

Please see the Verification of Degree in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Veterans Benefits

Students receiving Veterans Benefits are recommended to contact the UT Tyler Veterans Resource Center for resources available to pharmacy students. Resources may include the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Veterans Scholarships (i.e. Only in America Scholarship). Students who are uncertain if they are eligible for benefits should contact the VA Office. Pharm.D. students are not eligible for the Hazelwood Exemption Act.

Honor Code

All FCOP students are bound by two honor codes: the Honor Code for the University of Texas at Tyler and the Honor Code for the FCOP.

Fisch College of Pharmacy Honor Code

The FCOP Honor Code is a formal code of conduct that emphasizes the four core principles of respect, honesty and integrity, legal and professional codes and standards, and professionalism and ethical behavior. All students, faculty, and staff are held responsible for behavior compliant with the Honor Code.

1. Respect: The FCOP is dedicated to teaching, scholarly activity, research, and service in a respectful manner. We display respectful attitudes, values, and behaviors in the classroom, at preceptor sites, and in the community. We encourage teamwork and respect for differing points of views of team members. We respect one another, our supporters, our colleagues, and our patients. We extend this respect to all persons, regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. We promote good will amongst our diverse population and uphold the autonomy, dignity, and moral integrity of all persons. We respect the abilities, customs, beliefs, values, and opinions of others. As members of the pharmacy community, we promote the good of every patient in a caring, compassionate, and confidential manner, with respect to their right to privacy.

   The following examples include, but are not limited to, acts that violate the respect principle of the Honor Code and will be subject to non-academic disciplinary action: slander, libel, or defamation (slander, libel, and defamation all involve lying) against the FCOP or a member of its community; a hate crime against any person; violations of patient or individual privacy; behaviors disruptive to the learning environment and/or disrespectful toward other students and faculty, including but not limited to classes begin on time and end at the scheduled time; arriving late or leaving early without prior permission from the instructor; arriving late or leaving early for breaks; unnecessary discussions with fellow students during classroom instruction that is disrespectful to the instructor whose purpose is to lead the learning environment and to other students who attend class to learn; unauthorized or unnecessary use of cell phones or beepers during class; performing activities which divert a student’s attention from the class discussions or lecture, such as reading newspapers or magazines; using electronic devices for non-classroom related purposes, such as playing games, surfing the Internet, reading email, or working on another class’ homework; failure to allow or to discourage another student to fully express his or her opinion during class discussion; inadequate preparation for class or excessive class absences; making harassing or obscene comments or gestures, email or voice messages to other students, faculty, or staff members. Acts that violate the respect principle will be subject to non-academic disciplinary action if they occur on campus or are directed against the FCOP or a member of its community while off campus on a FCOP related matter.

2. Honesty and Integrity: The FCOP is dedicated to teaching, scholarly activity, research, and service with honesty and integrity. Pharmacists and pharmacy students have a duty to be truthful in professional and professional-patient relationships. We are committed to teaching, scholarly activity, and professional preparation in a team-based learning environment, in which all individuals are personally accountable and adhere to the tenets of honesty and integrity in the classroom and in the community. Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty are not tolerated. Individual work is to be based solely on the effort of the individual. Teamwork and professional relationships are to be based on the collaboration of all team members. All examinations, projects, and in or out of classroom assignments, whether individual or team-based, are expected to be performed and completed with the utmost degree of honesty and integrity.

   The following examples include, but are not limited to, acts that violate the honesty and integrity principle of the Honor Code and will be subject to academic disciplinary action: cheating; plagiarism; claiming authorship of written material not so authored; claiming credit for research not so performed; claiming participation on a team project while not participating in the project; handing in work as one’s own that was completed as part of a team, any other form of academic dishonesty. Acts in violation of the honesty and integrity principle will be subject to academic or non-academic disciplinary action whether they occur on or off campus, depending upon the circumstances.

3. Legal and Professional Standards: The FCOP is dedicated to behavior that follows legal and professional standards in teaching, scholarly activity, research, and service. We comply with and adhere to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations and professional practice standards. Whenever appropriate, we seek advice and counsel to determine the right course of action and make the best decision on behalf of those who depend on us to do so.

   The following examples include, but are not limited to, acts that violate the legal and professional codes and standards principles of the Honor Code and will be subject to academic or non-academic disciplinary action as appropriate: any behavior that violates federal, state or local laws such as assault, battery, stalking or other act of physical or non-physical violence against another person; lewd, obscene or indecent conduct on any College owned or controlled building or property; unauthorized manufacture, sale, possession or use of any substance that causes chemical dependence or impairment; hazing, harassment or retaliation; possession of a deadly weapon in violation of federal, state or local laws or university or college policies; theft or destruction of intellectual or physical property owned by or in the possession or control of the FCOP or a member of the its community; behavior that violates any College or formal affiliate policy or rule; pharmacy and health care related laws and regulations of the United States of America, State of Texas and the Texas Board of Pharmacy; violation of the written standards of practice of the preceptors and practice sites participating in the FCOP experiential education program. Acts in violation of the legal and professional codes and standards principle will be subject to non-academic disciplinary action whether they occur on or off campus.

4. Professionalism and Ethical Behavior: The FCOP is committed to providing teaching, scholarly activity, research and service in a professional manner. We display professional attitudes, values, and behaviors in the classroom, at preceptor sites, and in the community. We expect individual competence, performance, and accountability in a professional manner. We serve as positive advocates for our profession by striving for excellence in the performance of our duties. The core principles of professionalism require that we protect the health and autonomy of our patients and serve patient, community, and societal needs before our own. We encourage all to act ethically in developing and advocating a culture of consideration for codes of ethics, values, and moral convictions of those who could be affected by our decisions.

   The following examples include, but are not limited to, acts that violate the professionalism principle of the Honor Code and will be subject to academic or non-academic disciplinary action as appropriate: any behavior which violates the APhA Code of Ethics (http://www.pharmacist.com/code-ethics) whether in a student-student, student-faculty, student pharmacist-patient, or student pharmacist-colleague relationship on campus or a practice environment. Acts in violation of the professionalism principle will be subject to non-academic disciplinary action whether they occur on or off campus.

5. Non-Retaliation: FCOP does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report hateful, dishonest, illegal, unethical, unprofessional, or otherwise inappropriate acts. Anyone who retaliates against these individuals is in violation of the Honor Code and is subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the College.

UT Tyler Honor Code Violations

Please see the Student Responsibilities Section in Student Success Section of this catalog.

Student conduct that violates both the UT Tyler Honor Code and the FCOP Honor Code may be assessed and managed simultaneously and/or additional sanctions may be imposed through the FCOP Honor Code Violation assessment process. 

Fisch College of Pharmacy Honor Code Violations

Suspected academic violations of the honor code are communicated to the FCOP by submitting a copy of the Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form and, if applicable, the Scholastic Dishonesty Report to the FCOP Office of Academic Affairs.

Non-academic violations of the honor code (e.g. respect; honesty and integrity; legal and professional standards; and professionalism and ethical behavior) may be resolved between the faculty member and the student. A copy of the non-academic honor code violation should be submitted to the FCOP Office of Student Affairs. The FCOP Office of Experiential Education should be included on this submission for any violation that involves experiential coursework.  

When appropriate, information will be forwarded to the UT Tyler Office of Judicial Affairs and/or the college’s PASC for adjudication.

Sanctions: The Manual of Policies and Procedures for Student Success Subchapter 8-500 includes a list of possible sanctions that may be imposed as part of the UT Tyler Judicial Process. 

The PASC may impose sanctions or require additional sanctions following a violation of the college’s honor code. These include, but are not limited to:

• additional course or non-course assignments (e.g. reflection paper, community service);
• admonition and/or restitution;
• informal and formal warnings;
• probation, suspension, or dismissal from the college;
• recommended probation, suspension, or dismissal from the university (requires a referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs);
• referral to appropriate outside legal (e.g., courts), regulatory (e.g., state boards of pharmacy) or professional authorities (e.g., counseling, Behavioral Intervention Team); and/or
• direct referral to the UT Tyler Office of Judicial Affairs.

A copy of all PASC sanctions will be sent to the Office of Judicial Affairs. For those students suspended or dismissed from the college or those referred to outside agencies, the violation will also be automatically referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs adjudications.

Appeals: Please see the Professional and Academic Standards Committee Section in the FCOP Section of this catalog.