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:

The number of times and hours per week the student must meet with the course instructor(s).
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.
A list of assignments and activities the student must complete.
Deadlines for all assignments and assessments.
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:

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.
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.
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.

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Policies for the Fisch College of Pharmacy