Grading System
Scholastic performance in the didactic and clinical phases will be reported by using the letters A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, and F.
A = Consistent Outstanding Performance
B = Exceeds Expectations for Satisfactory Performance
C = Satisfactory performance
D = Unsatisfactory performance
F = Failure
Scholastic performance in the didactic and clinical phase is evaluated on the following scale:
| 95-100 |
= A |
| 90-94 |
= A- |
| 87-89 |
= B+ |
| 83-86 |
= B |
| 80-82 |
= B- |
| 77-79 |
= C+ |
| 75-76 |
= C |
| 70-74 |
= C- |
| 65-69 |
= D |
| <64 |
= F |
A final course grade below 75 is a failure.
Failure to Maintain Good Academic Standing
In the didactic phase of the PA program:
• If a student has a failing grade in the course prior to the final exam, and it is mathematically impossible to earn a passing grade for the course, the student will be required to meet with the Promotions, Retention, and Disciplinary Committee to discuss their future in the Program.
• If a student fails to earn a final course grade of 75 after the final course exam, they may be offered a comprehensive reassessment exam. The purpose of the comprehensive reassessment exam is to provide the student with an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in the course material and correction of any deficiencies in knowledge and skills.
• There is no guarantee that a comprehensive reassessment exam will be offered to the student. It will be at the discretion of the Promotions, Retention, and Disciplinary Committee to offer a comprehensive reassessment exam to a student after reviewing the student’s overall academic and professional performance in the Program.
• If a comprehensive course reassessment is offered by the Promotions, Retention, and Disciplinary Committee, the student must earn a 75 or above on the comprehensive course reassessment exam in order to successfully complete the course. . The course grade will then be changed to a 75 or C.
• The highest final course grade possible for a student who successfully completes a comprehensive reassessment exam is a C (75).
Failure of two or more courses in the didactic phase will result in dismissal from the PA program.
In the clinical phase of the PA Program:
• Failure of four or more courses in the clinical phase will result in dismissal from the PA program.
Clinical rotations will be graded in the following manner, for all but the elective rotation:
• Clinical Rotation Final Preceptor Evaluation 45%
• EOR Exam 45%
• Professionalism* Grade 10%
• Other Assignments/Assessments Pass/Fail
The elective rotation will be graded in the following manner:
• Clinical Rotation Final Preceptor Evaluation 60%
• Elective-Specific Assignments 30%
• Professionalism* Grade 10%
• Other Assignments/Assessments Pass/Fail
Academic Probation
To remain in good academic standing, students must demonstrate sufficient academic progress and pass all courses. A student who fails a course at the close of a semester will be placed on academic probation by the Promotions, Retention, and Disciplinary Committee for the remainder of his/her time in the didactic phase of the program. Academic probation status is recorded in the student’s permanent file. The PRD Committee will review the student’s progress in the program. Failure of a second course will result in dismissal from the PA Program.
Withdrawal and Dismissal
Withdrawal Policy and Procedure: A student should discuss the withdrawal process with their faculty advisor prior to initiating a written request for withdrawal. Students desiring to withdraw from the program due to compelling reasons must submit a written request for withdrawal to the office of the Program Director. The request for withdrawal must be reviewed by the program’s Promotion, Disciplinary and Retention (PRD) Committee. A student may withdraw from the PA program upon receiving approval of the request for withdrawal from the PRD Committee. Students who receive permission to withdraw from the PA program will receive a grade of “W” for any course not completed. Failure to attend class does not constitute a withdrawal, and students will receive an F if not properly withdrawn.
If a student withdraws for any reason, academic deadlines related to refund of tuition and fees are set forth by the Registrar’s Office of Trevecca Nazarene University. The deadlines related to refund of tuition and fees will be governed by the Refund Policy published in the financial information section of the university’s Graduate Catalog.
A Program reentry request must be submitted in writing to the office of the Program Director and must be reviewed by the program’s PRD Committee for consideration. It is not guaranteed that the student’s request for reentry into the PA program will be granted. If it is not granted, the student must reapply to TNU’s PA program as a new applicant for admission. A PA student who has withdrawn and is either approved for reentry or is selected for readmission into the program will be required to repeat the didactic and clinical year course sequences in effect at the time of reentry or readmission and must comply with all policies and requirements in effect at that time.
Dismissal Policy
The program’s Promotion, Disciplinary and Retention (PRD) Committee has the authority to dismiss a student. Students will be dismissed from the program if the following occur:
• Failure of a second didactic course
• Failure of the didactic summative reassessment
• Failure of any didactic course after return to the program from academic deceleration
• Failure of four (4) clinical rotations
• Failure to notify the Program director of student misdemeanor or felony criminal offense within 72 hours of being charged
Reasons for dismissal may include, but are not limited to, course failures, medical skills deficiencies, professionalism deficiencies, honor code violations and/or ethical violations. Details of all student matters which can lead to dismissal are published in the PA Program Student Handbooks.
Dismissal Procedure:
The student will be notified via email about a meeting date and time with the Promotion, Disciplinary and Retention (PRD) Committee to discuss the matter. The PRD Committee will review the student matter, program policy, and the student’s academic and professional performance. The student will receive written documentation outlining the PRD Committee action to dismiss the student from the program within three (3) business days of the PRD Committee meeting. A student may appeal the dismissal according to the PA Program Student Appeal Policy.
*Trevecca PA Program Academic Probation, Withdrawal and Dismissal policies do not follow the Graduate and Adult Education Academic Probation, Suspension, Reinstatement and Withdrawal policies in this catalog.