CMSV 312 Remediation

Policy Name: Remediation

Remediation is an ongoing process that was developed to assist the College’s Master of Science Physician Assistant Program student in overcoming academic difficulties that may be encountered during their didactic and clinical phases of study. Remediation within the program is broad-based in design to meet the specific needs of the student by focusing on academic or professional deficiencies specific to a particular student. These deficiencies may include, but are not limited to, deficiencies of global medical knowledge, professionalism, interprofessional and communication skills, patient care, and system-based practices.

Remediation may also take the form of remediating didactic assignments and examinations (both didactic and clinical), as well as assisting students to overcome time management and organizational difficulties, and deficiencies in study skills along with clinical reasoning and judgement.

I. Remediation of Didactic Year Courses
A student who fails a program level course may be permitted to remediate a maximum of two (2) course failures during the entire duration of the didactic phase of the program. Failure of a third didactic year course at any time during the didactic phase of the program will result in either automatic dismissal or deceleration depending on the recommendation of the Academic Performance Committee (APC). The student will be required to remediate the course by completing a remediation assignment as designated by the course coordinator/instructor. This may take the form of a comprehensive remedial examination, oral examination, or other assignment designed to demonstrate the requisite knowledge and skills required to successfully complete the CMSV-level course.

If a student successfully remediates the didactic year course by receiving a score of “C-” (70%) or higher on the comprehensive examination, his or her grade for the course will be changed to a “C-” (70%) and the original failing grade removed. Nevertheless, even though the student may successfully remediate the course, when determining whether the student qualifies for academic warning/probation or dismissal/deceleration from the program, it will be counted among the courses the student failed and will be placed within the student files.

If, however, the student does not successfully remediate the didactic year course, the original failing grade remains and the student will either be dismissed and/or decelerated from the program dependent upon the recommendation of the APC.

II. Didactic Remediation (Focused Improvement)
This is a process whereby the student remains in their respective cohort. The program will address the deficiencies in a student’s knowledge or skill set. The plan set forth for remediation that will address a student’s deficiency of knowledge and/or skill is determined by the APC along with assigned remediation faculty and is based upon criteria noted below. The overall goal is to identify a struggling student’s weakness, then put together a comprehensive remediation plan tailored to target the student’s weak areas of concern and promote successful progression through the didactic phase of the program.

Didactic Remediation (Focused Improvement) criteria:

  • Course grades with “C-.”
  • Exam and quiz failures.
  • Cumulative GPA below 3.00.
  • Semester GPA below 3.00.
  • Failure of a course with a passed comprehensive make up examination or course related assignments or projects.
  • Returning from a leave of absence.
  • Recommendation of the APC.

III. Pre-Clinical Remediation

This is a process that is instituted at the conclusion of the didactic phase of study. The student is mandated to participate in a six-week remediation program. This will take place at the beginning of their clinical phase of study (first-clinical rotation). If the student designated for pre-clinical remediation does not satisfy the successful completion of this process they will be either dismissed or decelerated from the program.

Please Note: Pre-clinical remediation syllabi is available on Canvas.

The APC in consultation with the assigned remediation faculty will make the final determination as to which students will enter the pre-clinical remediation process.

The following criteria will be considered by the APC as to which student(s) enter the pre-clinical remediation program:

  • Course grades with a “C-.”
  • Multiple exam or quiz failures over different courses.
  • Cumulative GPA less than 3.00 following the completion of the didactic year.
  • Any semester GPA below 3.00.
  • Failure of didactic year course with successful passing of comprehensive make up, course project, or assignment.
  • Failure or poor performance (determined by the APC) on the End of Didactic Year Exam.
  • Leave of absence.
  • Faculty recommendation.

IV. Clinical Year Remediation
This is a process that is instituted at the mid-point (fourth or fifth clinical rotation) of the clinical phase of study. The student is mandated to participate in a six-week (same length as the clinical rotation) remediation program. No student will be allowed to progress to their continued clinical phase of study until the remediation team is satisfied the student has progressed to the point that successful completion of the clinical year is reasonably assured.

The following criteria will be considered by the APC as to which student(s) enter the clinical year remediation program:

  • Failure of an End of Rotation Examination.
  • Poor preceptor clinical evaluations.
  • Failure of an assigned clinical rotation.
  • Poor preceptor professional evaluations.
  • Poor performance of assigned clinical rotation projects include, but not limited to:
    • Journal club
    • History and physical write-ups
    • SOAP notes
    • Presentations
  • Excessive absences to clinical rotations.
  • Excessive lateness to clinical rotations.

Please Note: Being placed within either pre-clinical or clinical year remediation may result in delay of graduation.