PA Academic Progression Policies
Academic Progression Standards
Curriculum Progression and Length:
Students are expected to proceed through the MPAS program in a continuous, uninterrupted fashion on a full-time basis. The curriculum may be extended due to:- Leave of Absence (Voluntary deceleration)
- Academic deceleration (non-voluntary) requiring repetition of coursework
All requirements of the MPAS program must be fulfilled within 51 consecutive months from the date of matriculation.Completing all MPAS program courses is required for graduation. Courses in the PA program are not offered credit by examination, and no advanced placement is awarded. Course Registration:
Students must register for all coursework before the start of classes each semester. Clerkship year students must register for clerkship courses ahead of the clerkship start dates each semester. SHP Enrollment Management will provide registration information before registration opens each semester.Grade Assignment:
Grades are assigned based on the SHP OP: ST.08 Grading Criteria. They are submitted via Banner and posted to the student’s permanent transcript. Students can access grade reports through their eRaider account.
The course syllabus outlines grade assignments for each course, including but not limited to required components, the value of graded items, and methods for calculating those grades. Course instructors and coordinators will establish the procedures for determining grades as detailed in the syllabus. No extra credit is awarded outside of the syllabus policy.
Students in the clinical phase of the curriculum will undergo continuous evaluation following each clerkship course. The method for determining the final clerkship grade is outlined in each course syllabus. Academic Advising:
Upon enrollment, each student is assigned a faculty advisor to guide them through PA program policies, monitor academic progress, and address professional or behavioral concerns. Faculty advisors are available to assist students with counseling and support, ensuring timely access to address any challenges that may arise during the program. Students are encouraged to meet with their assigned advisor at the start of the program to share relevant background information and establish a strong advisory relationship.Students should schedule additional meetings with their advisors to discuss academic or professional concerns. Advising sessions may be recorded in the student file, and students might need to sign the advising notes. They are also encouraged to notify their advisor or program director about any circumstances impacting their academic success to help identify available institutional or program resources. Student Performance and Progression
According to the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Policy and the standards set by the Accreditation Review Commission for the Education of Physician Assistants (ARC-PA), the PA Program identifies didactic coursework and clerkships as essential for achieving competency in clinical practice. Students who fail to complete all the requirements for a didactic course or clinical clerkship outlined in this handbook under Academic Progression Standards may face Academic Dismissal per SHP Policy.
Academic Standing Definition:
To remain in good standing, a student must meet the academic progression requirements of the PA program. If these criteria are not met, the student will be considered “not in good standing” and placed on probation. It is the student's responsibility to know his/her academic status and progression standards.Academic Progression Standards:
To progress in and graduate from the PA Program, a student must successfully:- Maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.7.
- Earn a grade of “C” or higher or “P” in all courses.
- Satisfactorily complete the didactic curriculum coursework to progress to the clinical year.
- Satisfactorily complete all clinical year curriculum coursework requirements.
- Maintain satisfactory Professional Behavior or Conduct and adhere to all program, school, and institutional policies.
The PA Program faculty is responsible for recommending students for promotion and graduation. Students who meet the progression standards will be automatically promoted to the next semester and ultimately to program graduation. This responsibility is managed by the PA Student Progression Committee (SPC). Students who do not satisfactorily meet the preceding standards will be referred to the SPC. The SPC will evaluate each student's academic and professional performance on a case-by-case basis and make recommendations to the Program Director. This may include promotion, academic warning, probation, remediation, or dismissal from the program. Guidelines for actions by the PA SPC are outlined below in Table 1. Definitions:
Cognitive performance: Academic mastery of course material meets expectations based on the program's academic performance and progression standards.Non-cognitive performance: Academic and professional behavior suitable for medicine, including professionalism and conduct as defined by the program professional development evaluation process and TTUHSC Code of Professional Conduct.Academic Warning: This serves as a notice to the student that performance must improve to avoid further academic consequences. It aims to provide early intervention and help students succeed academically to prevent the consequences of continued cognitive or non-cognitive underperformance. Academic warnings will be documented and retained in the student’s academic record.
Mid-semester Warning: See SHP OP: ST.01 Academic Student Advising
Remediation: The process of addressing deficiencies in a student’s knowledge and skills so that correcting these deficiencies is measurable and can be documented. The process will include additional support, resources, and learning plans for students not meeting cognitive or non-cognitive performance standards. The goal of remediation is to help students address specific areas of academic difficulty, improve their performance, and achieve the competencies necessary for success in their program of study. Repetition of a failed course may result in deceleration and late graduation.Course Failure: Earning a grade of “D” or “F” in a course.Academic Probation: The formal status assigned to students whose academic performance falls below the MPAS academic progression standards per SHP OP: ST.04 Academic Probation. Students on academic probation must correct the identified academic deficiencies during the probationary period. A student on probation is considered "not in good standing" per university standards and may have difficulty being placed in clerkship course sites based on clinical site affiliation agreements. This may limit the program's ability to schedule clerkship course sites and delay a student’s graduation.
Dismissal: The formal action following failure to maintain minimum academic standards or failure to meet the provisions of academic probation per SHP OP: ST.02 Academic Dismissal.
Involuntary Deceleration (Recycle): The loss of a student from their current cohort who maintains active status with the university while temporarily pausing academic obligations with the intention of re-enrollment. This may be imposed as part of probation and/or remediation for coursework repetition or allowance for additional time for progression due to cognitive or non-cognitive concerns (see remediation policy and procedure).
Leave of Absence (Voluntary Deceleration): A temporary separation from the institution via an approved leave of absence due to circumstances necessary for a student to be absent from class for an extended time per SHP OP: ST.25 Leave of Absence.Table 1: Guidelines for Actions Based on Student Cognitive or Non-Cognitive Performance in the PA Program
| General Performance Issues |
| Academic Condition | Course of Action |
| Semester GPA <2.7 | Academic Probation |
| Cumulative GPA <2.7 | Academic Probation |
| First Course Failure (D or F grade) | Academic Probation Remediation Repetition of failed course (involuntary deceleration) |
| Second Course Failure (D or F grade) | Dismissal |
| Student does not meet provisions of Academic Probation | Dismissal |
| Student meets criteria for academic probation a second time during the program | Dismissal |
| Student Misconduct | See TTUHSC Student Handbook |
Remediation Policy and Procedure:
Students who exhibit deficiencies in academic performance, clinical skills, or professional behavior, as identified through course assessments, evaluations, or other measures, must complete an individualized remediation plan. This plan addresses and corrects deficiencies, enabling the student to meet the required performance standards through reassessment.The procedure is as follows:- Identification and Notification: The course coordinator will notify the student of a failed assessment either by posting grades on the learning management system or by indicating the course grades on the transcript. Additionally, a student may receive a notification through an academic warning or action. Students who demonstrate deficiencies in non-cognitive areas, such as professionalism, communication, interpersonal skills, time management, or adherence to ethical standards, may be identified through faculty observations, clinical evaluations, or reports of unprofessional behavior.
- Initiation of Remediation Plan: Within one week of notification, the student must initiate a meeting with the course coordinator and academic advisor to collaboratively create an individualized remediation plan. This plan should detail the specific areas of deficiency, establish targeted objectives for improvement, recommend activities or interventions to address the deficiencies, and set a timeline for completion. The advisor, course coordinator, or program director can refer a student at their discretion to the student success coordinator for additional support. For non-cognitive deficiencies, the remediation plan can include targeted activities such as mentoring, professional development workshops, reflective assignments, or advising meetings. To meet the program's professional and behavioral standards, the student must demonstrate measurable improvement in the areas identified on the Professional Development Evaluation. Failure to correct these deficiencies may result in further action, including course failure or academic action. The advisor, course coordinator, or program director can refer a student at their discretion to the student success coordinator for additional support.
- Responsibility: The student must initiate the process and complete a self-assessment form provided by the academic advisor or course coordinator. The student is responsible for actively participating in the remediation process, completing all required activities, and adhering to the agreed timeline. The academic advisor or course coordinator will review the self-assessment form with the student and provide referrals for further resources, including academic support and institutional or community wellness services, as needed.
- Reassessment: The student will undergo reassessment as outlined in the course syllabus policy. The reassessment method may include written exams, practical evaluations, or other course- specific measures. Failure of reassessment may result in course failure.
- Course Repetition and Deceleration: If the student fails to meet performance standards through reassessment and a course repeat is required, they will be allowed to retake the course at the next available offering. This may result in involuntary deceleration, delaying the student’s progression in the program.
- Documentation and Follow-up: All remediation activities, plans, and outcomes will be documented and retained in the student’s academic record. Remediation activities may be reportable for licensure and credentialing.
Dismissal:
A student enrolled in the MPAS Program may be dismissed for any of the following:- Failure to meet academic progression standards
- Failure to meet provisions of academic probation
- Failure of a second course in the program.
- Meeting criteria for academic probation a second time during the program.
- Based upon a complaint of misconduct as set forth in the TTUHSC Student Handbook.
Withdrawal:
A student who wishes to withdraw from the MPAS Program and School of Health Professions must first meet with the program director and then contact the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs at shp.enrollmentmanagement@ttuhsc.edu. Leave of Absence:
A student requesting a leave of absence from the MPAS Program and the School of Health Professions must first meet with the program director. The School of Health Professions may grant the leave with approval from the department chair and the Dean's consent consistent with SHP OP ST.25 Leave of Absence.
