Promotion from the academic to the clinical year and graduation from the School of PA Studies is based on the student’s mastery of program-defined competencies, academic performance, and readiness to assume a professional role. While grades are important, the decisions for promotion and graduation are based on the composite picture of academic performance and professional growth and development. Therefore, a student who has failed to demonstrate an attitude of professionalism or is not prepared to assume patient care responsibilities based on faculty and/or Professional Standards and Promotions Committee (PSPC) evaluations may be decelerated, delayed or dismissed from the School of PA Studies at any time prior to promotion or graduation.
Delay is defined as remediation assignments that necessitate a delayed graduation with the graduation date occurring with the student’s original cohort. Deceleration is defined as remediation requiring a student to join another cohort either at the beginning of a curricular year or a cohort in progress.
The following criteria will be used by the Professional Standards and Promotions Committee to promote academic year PA students to the clinical year and recommend clinical PA students for graduation from the School of Physician Assistant Studies. Students who fail to meet all promotion criteria may be either dismissed from the School of Physician Assistant Studies or required to remediate any deficiencies deemed necessary by the Committee.
- Maintain all grades at satisfactory or higher.
- Demonstrates maturity, integrity, and other attitudes and behaviors normally expected of health care professionals as determined by professionalism evaluations and observations by faculty.
A student may be placed on probation at any point if the PSPC determines it is necessary. A student may be placed on probation before final grades are assigned in any class. A student placed on probationary status is deemed to be not in good standing with the University of Florida School of PA Studies. Students will remain on probation until review by the Professional Standards and Promotion Committee determines probationary status is no longer needed based on adequate student performance.