Purpose
The Student Success and Progression Committee (SSPC) makes decisions regarding academic progression, probation, dismissal, and readmission to and from the College of Pharmacy and pertains to students in the Doctor of Pharmacy Professional (PharmD) program.

Definitions:

• Pharmacy Semester GPA: the grade point average (GPA) calculated from the grades earned in a semester of all the required pharmacy courses with the exception of professional electives and other courses taken outside the college of pharmacy
• Pharmacy Cumulative GPA: the cumulative GPA calculated from the grades earned in all the required pharmacy courses and professional electives
• Passing Grade: any grade higher than an “F”
• Good Academic Standing: designation given to a student who has completed the following criteria:
  • Completed all required and elective courses with a passing grade
  • Maintain a Pharmacy Semester GPA of 2.00 or higher
  • Maintain a Pharmacy Cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher to begin Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiential curriculum
  • Maintain a Pharmacy Cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher to graduate
• Academic Warning: students not meeting academic probation criteria, but are seen at high risk for probation. These students will receive an academic warning letter:
  • Receiving a grade below a C- in any course
  • Earning a pharmacy cumulative below 2.00
• Academic Probation: designation given to a student who has met any of the following criteria:
  • Pharmacy Semester GPA is below a 2.00
  • Failing grade in any college of pharmacy course (i.e., courses with PHAR designation)
• Extremely Poor Semester: defined as a Pharmacy Semester GPA below 1.50

Process Regarding Academic Probation

The grade report of each student in the College is evaluated after each course has ended.  Students who are not in good academic standing (i.e., students on academic probation or academic warning) are reviewed by the SSPC Committee. All students on academic probation will be required to meet with a subset of the SSPC Committee. Discussion will include:

• Student reflection on reason for poor academic performance
• Strategies to improve academic performance

After the individual student meetings, the SSPC committee will convene and will make one of the following decisions based on review of the student’s record for each student on academic probation.

1. Continue in the program
   1. For a student who has been placed on academic probation for the first time while enrolled in the College of Pharmacy with no failing grades
   2. Students should step down from leadership positions; some organizations may require resignation from leadership positions
2. Continue and remediate one course
   1. For a student to remediate one course provided they meet eligibility based on the PharmD Remediation Policy
   2. If the course that is remediated is not passed, the student will decelerate progression
   3. Students should step down from leadership positions; some organizations may require resignation from leadership positions
3. Deceleration of Progression
   1. For a student with any of the following:
      1. Failing more than one course in an academic year
      2. Failing one course and multiple grades below C-in the previous semester
      3. Two consecutive semesters on academic probation
   2. Courses with non-passing grades will be retaken during the next scheduled offering
   3. This may result in repeating all courses in the semester and will be determined on a case-by-case basis
   4. Deceleration will delay expected graduation date
   5. Students must step down from leadership positions
   6. If the course that is retaken for a second time is not passed, the student will be dismissed
4. Dismissal
   1. For a student who has had any of the following:
      1. Three consecutive or non-consecutive semesters on academic probation
      2. Failing a repeated course  
      3. An extremely poor semester as a P1, P2, or P3 student (i.e., Pharmacy Semester GPA below 1.50) with one previous consecutive or nonconsecutive probation
      4. Failing a third APPE (Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience)
   2. Students who have been dismissed for poor academic performance may be considered for readmission to the SSPC committee after 1 year

Appeal Procedure:

Students have the right to appeal the decisions made by the Student Success and Progression Committee (SSPC) directly to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy who will form the ad hoc Appeals Committee. If a student wishes to appeal, they must submit a Letter of Appeal within 10 business days of their notification of the decision. Appeals must be in writing and must be based on any of the following reasons below. The Letter of Appeal must clearly state which reason(s) form the basis for the appeal and provide rationale for each identified reason.

Reasons for appeals:

1. new relevant facts
2. a claim of inadequate consideration of specific information by the committee
3. a claim that the committee did not follow appropriate procedures
4. a claim that the committee’s action was unduly severe

The Appeals committee will be an ad hoc committee appointed by the Dean to review and render a binding decision on the student’s appeal. The committee will meet and deliberate for this specific purpose and make a final decision within 10 business days from the receipt of the Letter of Appeal. The committee will be comprised of three faculty members, with at least one member from the clinical-track at the rank of associate professor or higher and at least one member a tenured, tenure track faculty member. The committee may not include anyone on the SSPC, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, or Associate Dean of Student Affairs. The Chair of the SSPC will attend the Appeals Committee meeting and present the information used by the SSPC in making their recommendation. The Appeals Committee’s decision is final.

Students dissatisfied with the outcome of the collegiate appeal process may ask the Office of the Provost to review the matter.  Please review “Student Complaints Concerning Faculty Action” policy in the Student Bill of Rights.