Class of 2030

Purpose

The Academic Progression Policy guides decisions of the Student Success and Progression Committee (SSPC) of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, regarding student progression, dismissal, or readmission for the Doctor of Pharmacy professional degree program. 

Standards related to academic progression, academic warning, dismissal, and readmission are subject to revision. Any changes must be approved and published in the Student Handbook prior to the start of the Fall academic session in which they take effect.

DEFINITIONS:

1. Academic Concern - A designation applied when a student’s academic or experiential performance indicates risk to successful progression in the PharmD program.
2. Academic Concern Level - A classification (Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3) assigned based on the severity of the academic concern and used to determine required actions, progression status, or dismissal.
3. Academic Deficiency - Status assigned to a student who fails to meet the academic standards required for continued progression in the PharmD program under this policy. A student is in Academic Deficiency if any of the following apply:
   • The student’s Pharmacy Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) is below 2.00, and/or
   • The student meets criteria for a Level 2 or Level 3 academic concern, as defined in this policy, including academic or experiential performance that requires course repetition, program deceleration, or results in dismissal.
   • Level 1 (At Risk) concerns alone do not constitute Academic Deficiency.

A student remains in Academic Deficiency until all required conditions to resume normal progression— as determined by the SSPC—have been successfully completed.

4. APPE/IPPE - Advanced (A) or Introductory (I) Pharmacy Practice Experience (experiential rotation)
5. Deceleration - A required alteration in a student’s progression timeline resulting from academic or experiential performance, including course repetition, delayed advancement, or extension of time in the program.
6. D Grade - For purposes of this policy, a grade of D includes grades of D-, D, or D+.
7. Low Pass - An APPE final evaluation outcome defined in the Professional Experience Program (PEP) Preceptor Evaluation of Student indicating performance below expected standards.
8. Passing Grade - Minimum score threshold that must be met to receive academic credit for a course, as outlined in the course’s syllabus.
9. Pharmacy Cumulative GPA - GPA calculated from the grades earned in all required pharmacy courses taken to date, including professional electives with a PHAR designation or any course accepted toward professional elective credit.
10. Progression - Advancement through the PharmD curriculum according to the standard sequence and timeline established for the student’s cohort, without required course repetition, deceleration, or delay.
11. Qualifying courses - courses in which performance counts toward concern levels and associated actions, including any PHAR course, or any course taken to meet the professional elective credit requirement.
12. Qualifying semester - the semester in which a student earns one or more final grades of D or F in qualifying courses, as defined in this policy. The qualifying semester is the term in which the triggering final grade is recorded, regardless of the timing of any subsequent academic intervention or course repetition.
13. Second Grade Option (SGO) - A provision that allows a student to repeat a classroom-based course and have the subsequent grade replace the original grade in the calculation of the Pharmacy Cumulative GPA, subject to defined limits and conditions. The original grade remains on the transcript but is excluded from GPA calculations once the SGO is applied. Per this policy, each student is limited to a total of two SGOs. The SGO applies only to didactic coursework; it does not apply to experiential courses (IPPEs or APPEs).

POLICY:

The Academic Progression Standards below define the criteria and appropriate actions governing student progression, deceleration, and dismissal in the PharmD program.

1. Academic Concern Levels and Actions

   Pre-APPE Progression Standards	P1-P3 Years
   Concern Level & Criteria	Action(s)
   Level 1 – At Risk A student is placed in Level 1 Concern upon earning: First D grade in a qualifying course	Progress on schedule with no impact on academic standing.   Must meet with Director of Student Success or designee to create improvement plan and review the Academic Progression Policy.
   Level 2* – At High Risk  Academic Deficiency A student is placed in Level 2 Concern for any ONE of the following: One or more F grades in a single semester in (a) qualifying course(s) Two or more D grades in a single semester in (a) qualifying course(s) Second D grade at any point in the program       * Student may be placed in a Level 2 concern level without previous Level 1 concern.	For D or F in classroom-based courses: May not progress to the next semester Must decelerate to: Repeat the following: 1) Any qualifying course(s) in which a grade of D or F was earned during the Level 2 qualifying semester; and 2) Their most recent pharmacy practice laboratory course. In addition, the student must consult with the Director of Student Success or designee to review the student’s overall academic record and determine whether repetition of additional coursework or targeted academic interventions may be of value to support successful progression. Classroom-based course repetition following deceleration may be eligible for application of the SGO, subject to the limits of this policy.   For IPPE failure: Repeat the IPPE as scheduled by PEP. Students may not progress to the next course in the IPPE sequence before completing the failed course. Repeating an IPPE may delay student progression and graduation from the program.   Must meet with Director of Student Success or designee to create improvement plan and review the Academic Progression Policy.
   Level 3 – Dismissal Academic Deficiency A student meets Level 3 Concern if they earn: Any D or F grade following a previous Level 2 concern	Dismissal from the PharmD program
   APPE Progression Standards	P4 Year*
   Concern Level & Criteria	Actions
   P4 Level 1 – At Risk A student is placed in P4 Level 1 Concern upon earning: First “Low Pass” on an APPE final evaluation.	Progress on schedule. Complete Student Improvement Plan as outlined in PEP Manual and review the Academic Progression Policy with the PEP Director.
   P4 Level 2 – At High Risk Academic Deficiency A student is placed in P4 Level 2 Concern for any ONE of the following: F on a single APPE 2nd “Low Pass” on an APPE Final Evaluation.	Failed APPE: Must repeat the failed APPE as scheduled by the PEP. Student’s anticipated graduation may be delayed.    For 2nd low pass on APPE Final Evaluation: Must complete one additional APPE drawn from the rotation type(s) in which the Low Pass evaluations were received, as scheduled by the PEP. If one of the Low Pass evaluations occurred in a patient‑care rotation, the additional APPE must be a patient‑care experience. Completion of the additional APPE may delay the student’s anticipated graduation. Complete Student Improvement Plan as outlined in PEP Manual and review the Academic Progression Policy with the PEP Director.
   P4 Level 3 – Dismissal Academic Deficiency A student meets Level 3 Concern if they earn:  Low Pass or F grade on an APPE following a previous Level 2 concern	Dismissal from the program

2. Advancement in Program Rank from P1 - Graduation

Advancement in program rank and eligibility for progression and graduation are based on completion of the following requirements, in addition to compliance with the Academic Progression Policy.

• P1 – P3 year Progression Requirements:
  • Earn passing grades in all required coursework and experiential requirements for the applicable professional year.
  • Complete all cohort‑specific programmatic requirements (e.g., APPE readiness assessments and additional required activities or assignments), including any requirements outlined in a student’s specific improvement plan.
• APPEs Eligibility Requirements:
  • Complete professional elective credit requirements for cohort.
  • Attain and maintain a Pharmacy Cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
  • Complete all cohort-specific pre-APPE programmatic requirements or those applicable as outlined in a student’s specific improvement plan.
• Graduation Requirements:
  • Earn passing grades in all APPEs.
  • Attain a Pharmacy Cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
  • Complete all remaining programmatic requirements for their cohort or those applicable as outlined in a student’s specific improvement plan.

3. Authority

• Academic progression decisions under this policy are overseen by the SSPC. The SSPC determines academic concern levels and required actions. When verified performance information indicates a student would not be eligible to progress under this policy once formally recorded, action may occur regardless of the timing of grade posting. If a student raises extenuating circumstances for SSPC consideration, the SSPC may consider the information in its determination of the appropriate academic concern levels.

4. Special Consideration for Patient Safety or Professional Fitness 

This provision applies to situations in which a student’s conduct, performance, or behavior raises concerns regarding the safety of patients or others, professional fitness to practice, or the integrity of the PharmD program. Such concerns may arise in didactic, experiential, cocurricular, or other program‑related settings and may occur independent of a student’s academic concern level as defined elsewhere in this policy.

Concerns subject to Special Consideration include conduct or performance that may indicate a student’s inability to meet the College of Pharmacy Technical Standards or that may constitute a violation of applicable University or College conduct policies, including but not limited to the University Code of Student Life or the College of Pharmacy Student Code of Conduct. Matters addressed under this section are handled through specific case-by-case program analyses and responses demanded by the facts. When such concerns are identified, a student may experience any of the following non-exhaustive actions:

1. The student’s academic progression—including participation in coursework and/or experiential education—may be immediately suspended pending review, regardless of whether an academic deficiency as defined in this policy is present.
2. The matter will undergo prompt review and adjudication by the appropriate College and/or University authority, which may include the SSPC, depending on the nature and severity of the concern.
3. Based on the outcome of the review, actions may include continuation with conditions, implementation of an individualized Student Improvement Plan (which may delay progression or graduation), required leave of absence or withdrawal, or dismissal from the PharmD program. Failure to satisfy conditions of continued enrollment will result in dismissal.

Actions taken under this provision may be coordinated with, or subject to, applicable University policies and procedures.

5. Appeals

Students have the right to appeal decisions of the SSPC to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy. Upon receipt, the Dean will refer the appeal to an ad hoc Appeals Committee for review and recommendation.

A student who wishes to appeal must submit a written Letter of Appeal to the Dean within 10 business days of notification of the SSPC decision. The Letter of Appeal must clearly identify the grounds for appeal. Appeals that do not do so will not be considered for further review.

• Grounds for Appeal:

1. New and relevant information not previously available to or considered by the SSPC
2. Inadequate consideration of specific information by the SSPC
3. Failure of the SSPC to follow established procedures
4. A claim that the SSPC’s action was unduly severe

The Appeals Committee will consist of three faculty members, including at least one clinical‑track faculty member at the rank of associate professor or higher and at least one tenured or tenure‑track faculty member. Members of the SSPC, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the Associate Dean for Student Services may not serve on the Appeals Committee. The Chair of the SSPC will attend the Appeals Committee meeting to present the information reviewed and considered by the SSPC in reaching its decision.

• Scope and Authority of the Appeals Committee:

1. The Appeals Committee will first determine whether the appeal demonstrates valid grounds for review, as defined above. Appeals that do not meet one or more of the stated grounds will be denied, and the SSPC’s original decision will stand.
2. If the Appeals Committee determines that valid grounds for appeal exist, its review is limited to those grounds and does not constitute a de novo review of the student’s academic record.
3. Upon review of a substantiated appeal, the Appeals Committee, within 10 business days of receipt of the Letter of Appeal, may:
   1. Uphold the SSPC’s original decision; or
   2. Remand the matter to the SSPC with written findings and instructions for reconsideration limited to the specific grounds identified by the Appeals Committee and consistent with this policy.
4. If a matter is remanded, the SSPC will reconsider the case considering the Appeals Committee’s findings and issue a revised decision within 10 business days. The SSPC’s decision following remand constitutes the final collegiate decision.

Students who remain dissatisfied following the collegiate appeal process may request a further review by the Office of the Provost, consistent with the Student Complaints Concerning Faculty Action” policy in the Student Bill of Rights.
 

6. Readmission Following Dismissal 

Students who have been dismissed for poor academic performance may apply for readmission to the PharmD program through the normal application process, no earlier than one year following the effective date of dismissal. Applications for readmission are reviewed by the SSPC, rather than the Admissions Committee.

Readmission is not guaranteed. If granted, prior progression status (e.g., academic rank, timeline, or placement within the curriculum) is not automatically restored. Conditions of readmission, including curriculum placement, repetition of any or all coursework, and experiential readiness, will be determined by the SSPC based on program requirements in effect at the time of re‑entry.

7. Application of Progression Policy Following Deceleration or Readmission

Students who decelerate or are readmitted to the PharmD program will be evaluated under the Academic Progression Policy in effect for the cohort in which they are placed. 

• Deceleration for academic reasons does not reset a student’s academic standing. Prior academic performance and any unresolved Academic Deficiency earned under a prior progression policy will be carried forward and considered by the SSPC in determining future progression actions.
• The PharmD program will consider the totality of a student’s academic record during readmission. The program evaluates a student’s individual progression and seeks to ensure equity across students while preserving the integrity of academic standards.  An academic cohort and an academic concern level may be assigned in the SSPC’s discretion. For example:
  • Students readmitted at the P1 year level will generally not return with an assigned academic concern level and will be evaluated prospectively under the progression standards of the new cohort. Eligibility for the SGO will reset for students readmitted at the P1 year level.
  • Students readmitted at the P2–P4 level likewise will generally not return with an assigned academic concern level; however, prior academic performance, including prior dismissal, may be considered in determining future progression actions to ensure equitable application of this policy across students. Prior use of the SGO will carry forward and apply to subsequent coursework.

PROCEDURES:

1. Administrative Review and Early Action:

• Each student’s academic record is reviewed by the Director of Student Success or their designee after final grades are posted.
• Verified performance information may be reviewed and acted upon before grades are formally posted when that information indicates the student would not be eligible to progress under this policy once recorded.

2. SSPC Review:
   • Students identified with an academic concern under this policy (Levels 1, 2, or 3) or otherwise not eligible to progress are considered by the SSPC.
3. Student Meeting (Level 2 or Level 3 only):

• For students with a Level 2 or Level 3 concern (Academic Deficiency), a subset of the SSPC meets with the student to review the circumstances and discuss contributing factors and, if applicable, expectations for improvement.

4. Committee Decision:

• The SSPC reviews available information and determines the appropriate academic concern level and required actions in accordance with the policy.
• Reviews and decisions may occur on a rolling basis or during scheduled meetings, and action may occur before the end of the academic term when Academic Deficiency is identified.

5. Status Changes:
   • A leave of absence does not reset academic standing or progression status. Academic concerns identified before or during a leave remain subject to review and return from leave may require confirmation of readiness to progress.

   • Voluntary withdrawal does not prevent review or action under this policy when an Academic Deficiency has been identified, a progression review is pending, or dismissal criteria have been met.