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Minimum Required Course Grades

Didactic Phase

• All PAS 500 level courses require a grade of “C” or better as outlined in the syllabi
  • PAS 522, PAS 535 and PAS 536 require a “Satisfactory/Pass” as outlined in the syllabi
• PAS 329 and PHI 321 require a grade of “C” or better as outlined in the syllabi

Clinical Phase

• PAS 601-610 (SCPE courses) require a “Satisfactory/Pass” as outlined in the syllabi
  • This requires successful completion of the various components, which may include EOR exams, Clinical Student Faculty Evaluations (“Site Visits”) and Final Preceptor Evaluations.
    • Students are permitted ONE SCPE repeat due to failure of a clerkship over the course of the Clinical Year, regardless of any prior probationary status in the program.
      • This will result in the student being placed on Academic probation for the remainder of their time in the PA program
      • The student will register and pay (tuition and fees) for the repeat clerkship.
• PAS 612-616 require a grade of “B” or better as outlined in the syllabi

There are no grades of “D” in the PA program

Course grades that do not meet the above requirements are not acceptable for academic credit and will result in referral to the Student Progress Committee (SPC) for determination of sanctions, which will in almost all cases, result in dismissal from the program.

Minimum Required GPAs by Semester

In addition to passing each individual course (requirements outlined above), GPA requirements for each semester must also be met for a student to remain in Good Academic Standing in the PA program.

Only specific medical science and clinical preparatory PAS courses are used to calculate the semester GPA for consideration of Good Academic Standing. Grades received in Medical Ethics, Statistics for EBP, electives, or other non-clinical PAS courses (e.g. Research Methods, Professional Issues, Psychosocial and Cultural Dynamics of Health Care) are not used in the calculations, though they must be passed per the course syllabus. 

Didactic Semester 1 (Fall Year 1)

Course Included in GPA Calculation:

• PAS 510/L & PAS 516/L  Advanced Human Anatomy
• PAS 511 Microbiology
• PAS 513 Clinical Lab Medicine
• PAS 514 Pathophysiology

Good Academic Standing: GPA 2.50 or greater
Probation: GPA 2.24 - 2.49
Dismissal from PA Program: GPA < 2.24

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Didactic Semester 2 (Spring Year 1)

Course Included in GPA Calculation:

• PAS 515 Fundamentals of Medicine I
• PAS 517 Physical Diagnosis I
• PAS 517L Physical Diagnosis I Lab
• PAS 518 Pharmacology I

Good Academic Standing: GPA 2.75 or greater
Probation: GPA 2.50 - 2.74
Dismissal from PA Program: GPA < 2.49

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Didactic Semester 3 (Fall Year 2)

Course Included in GPA Calculation:

• PAS 519 Fundamentals of Medicine II
• PAS 520 Physical Diagnosis II
• PAS 520L Physical Diagnosis II Lab
• PAS 521 Pharmacology II
• PAS 538 Orthopedics

Good Academic Standing: GPA 3.0 or greater

Probation: GPA 2.75 - 2.99

Dismissal from PA Program: GPA < 2.75

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Didactic Semester 4 (Spring Year 2)

Course Included in GPA Calculation:

• PAS 524 Pediatrics
• PAS 525 Clinical Problem Solving
• PAS 526 Surgery
• PAS 527 Geriatrics
• PAS 528 Emergency Medicine
• PAS 531 Preventative Medicine

Good Academic Standing: GPA 3.0 or greater

Probation: GPA 2.75 - 2.99

Dismissal from PA Program: GPA < 2.75

For a student to be considered in Good Academic Standing, they must:

• pass each individual course and 
• meet the GPA requirements as outlined for each semester.

Program Completion Requirements

• Passing all PAS 500 and 600 level courses, as well as PHI321 Medical Ethics and PAS 329 Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice.
  • This includes passing the Summative Evaluation (in PAS 616) within 4 months of program completion. This examination includes practical and written components demonstrating clinical and technical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, interpersonal skills, medical knowledge, and professional behaviors required to enter clinical PA practice {B4.03a-e}.
• Completion of at least 40 weeks of supervised clinical practice experiences
• Verification of at least 1,000 patient encounters in EXXAT demonstrating the student has patient care experience in all ARC-PA required settings {B3.04a-d}

Documentation that a student met the requirements for program completion will be placed in the student’s academic record {A3.16f}.

A student who is unable to complete all requirements to graduate with their cohort (May 31 conferral date), but is able to complete them for a September 30 conferral date, will be considered a delayed graduate and not a deceleration.

Eligibility to fully participate in the University's commencement ceremony is determined by the Registrar’s Office. If a student can reasonably complete all requirements for graduation in time for a September 30 conferral date with no more than two outstanding courses at the time of commencement may apply to "walk" on stage in May; however, the degree will be officially conferred at a later time.  

All students must officially submit a request to graduate to the Registrar’s Office during the final semester of the program even if they do not wish to participate in commencement. No degrees will be conferred if any transcripts are outstanding. 

All program requirements must be completed within 60 months of first matriculating in any PAS course. A student unable to successfully complete all program requirements, including supervised clinical practice experiences within 60 months, for any reason, will not be registered for any additional PAS courses and will be ineligible to graduate from the PA program. {A3.14b}

A remediation plan will be initiated by the course instructor for students in the following circumstances:

• Scoring below the minimum passing grade on a practical physical assessment examination (PDI, PDII, CPS, Orthopedics) or Clinical Seminar Assessment
• Scoring 1.5 SD below a written examination’s mean score AND <80%, or exam failure. (excluding PAS 510/516)
• Scoring 1.5 SD below an assessment’s mean score AND <80% in PAS 510/516; exam failures that do not meet criteria for remediation will be required to establish regular coaching sessions through the Learning Center.
• Mid-rotation notification on Preceptor 2-Week Check-In
• Scoring 1.5 SD below the national mean on an End of RotationTM Examination
• Scoring below the minimum passing grade on a Faculty Clinical Assessment
• Failure to demonstrate satisfactory/passing on any component of the Final Preceptor Evaluation
• Failure to demonstrate satisfactory medical knowledge on the End of CurriculumTM Examination
• Failure on a component of the Summative Practical Examination

Procedure

The course instructor or Student Success Coordinator will arrange to meet with the student in a timely manner to address the identified deficiencies in knowledge and/or skills. An individualized remediation plan appropriate to the degree of deficiency will be developed at the discretion of the instructor and consistent with the grading policy published in the course’s syllabus. Some assessments may have an automatic repeat built into the course grading policy. For example, second attempts are automatically permitted for practical physical assessments, End of Rotation™ Examinations, Faculty Clinical Assessments, the End of Curriculum™ Examination, and the Summative Practical Examination.

A Course Remediation Form outlining the measurable requirements for successful remediation will be signed by both parties acknowledging the plan’s expectations. At the agreed upon time, both parties will meet again to measure if the student has successfully corrected the deficiencies. If the remediation plan cannot be completed before grades are due to the Registrar’s Office, the course instructor may at their discretion award an “Incomplete” final course grade in consultation with the Program Director. The course instructor will update the Course Remediation Form noting the outcome of the remediation in the student’s permanent academic file.

> Remediation will not replace any score on an assessment used to calculate a course’s final grade. If the student does not successfully complete the remediation correcting the deficiencies, a further remediation process may be initiated. Students are referred to the published syllabus for each course for more detailed information such as, but not limited to, methods of assessment, grading policies, deadlines, grade appeals, and reviewing of examinations. The learning outcomes and instructional objectives published in each course syllabus should be used by students to guide their acquisition of the required competencies, knowledge, and skills.

Dismissal

The SPC has the authority to impose a sanction of dismissal in the following circumstances, including but not limited to:

• Course failure 
• GPA in the defined dismissal range for any semester
• Failure to meet the requirements for Good Academic Standing”, either while on academic probation, or with a history of academic probation at any other time while in the PA program
• Unprofessional conduct (see section on Professionalism), including Academic Dishonesty

A student dismissed from the PA Program by the SPC is not eligible for readmission.

Deceleration

ARC-PA Definition: The loss of a student from the entering cohort who remains matriculated in the physician assistant program.

• Academic:
  • Deceleration is not automatically offered for failure to meet academic standards. However, in some cases, an appeal of the SPC’s sanction of Dismissal, may result in deceleration.
    • When a student fails a course, has a semester GPA in the dismissal range, or fails to meet the requirements for Good Academic standing, either while on academic probation or with a prior history of academic probation, they are subject to dismissal from the PA program.
      
      Students will be provided the opportunity to appeal a dismissal sanction to the SPC.
      
      The SPC will take a holistic approach to reviewing the global academic record and surrounding factors, including specific course grades and overall semester GPAs, number of completed remediations, and the presence of extenuating circumstances presented in the student’s appeal.  In some cases, an appeal may result in deceleration.  
• Professional/Conduct:
  • After due process, the SPC may impose a sanction of deceleration for those who are failing to adhere to the policies and procedures of the PA Program, including professionalism.
• Extenuating circumstances that resulted in a Leave of Absence (see section on LOA below)

A student who decelerates will transition from their original cohort to the following cohort.  Given the sequential nature of the PAS curriculum and course offerings typically being once yearly, this will lead to a 1-year delay in graduation.

Registration, Tuition and Fees for Decelerated Students

Students who are approved to decelerate from the standard program progression may be required to re-register for previously completed courses and/or audit courses depending on the point in the curriculum at which deceleration occurs, and the reason for deceleration: academic, professional, or non- academic LOA.

The specific financial and registration requirements are determined by the semester in which the student decelerates, as outlined below.

Deceleration After the Fall or Spring Semester of Year 1

Students who decelerate after completing either the Fall Year 1 or Spring Year 1 semester will be required to:

• Re-register for all Fall Year 1 courses and if decelerated after the Spring Year 1 semester, all Fall and Spring Year 1 courses (no audits), with the next cohort
• Pay full tuition and all associated course fees

Deceleration After the Fall Semester of Year 2

Students who decelerate after completing the Fall Year 2 semester will be required to:

• Audit all Year 1 Spring courses, paying all audit and course-related fees, with the next cohort
• Re-register for all Fall Year 2 courses, paying full tuition and course fees

Deceleration After the Spring Semester of Year 2

Students who decelerate after completing the Spring Year 2 semester will be required to:

• Audit Fall Year 2 courses, paying all audit and course-related fees, with the next cohort
• Re-register for all PAS courses in the Spring semester of Year 2, paying full tuition and course fees

Deceleration During the Clinical Year

Deceleration during the clinical year will depend on the point in the clinical phase at which the student is unable to continue. The specific deceleration plan will be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Program Director (PD) and Associate Program Director- Clinical Education (APDCE).

Depending on the the student’s progression, they may:

• Decelerate back into the second didactic year with the next cohort 
• Audit all PAS courses (Fall and Spring or Spring depending on the time in the academic year), paying all applicable audit and course-related fees
• Note, upon restarting the clinical year, the student will re-register and pay full tuition and fees for ALL PAS 600 level courses regardless of what was completed on their first attempt in the clinical year.

Requirements for students decelerating later in the clinical year will be determined by the PD and APDCE, based on the student's progress in the clinical curriculum and program requirements.

While auditing, the student is required to pass all courses and meet the minimum GPA for each semester. Students auditing courses are subject to university, program and lab fees.

A student who decelerates for academic reasons will be placed on academic probation and remain on academic probation for the remainder of their time in the PA program.

A student who decelerates for academic reasons and fails to meet the requirements for Good Academic Standing at any point during the remainder of their time in the PA program will be dismissed.

It is important to recognize that students who decelerate for academic reasons remain at very high risk of future dismissal from the program or NCCPA PANCE failure. 

A student can only decelerate once while enrolled in the ������Ƶ PA Program due to an academic or professionalism sanction. A LOA due to an non-academic/professionalism reason may result in a second deceleration. All program requirements must be completed within 60 months of first matriculating in any PAS course. 

Leave of Absence and Withdrawals

Drop/Add Period

Students who drop any or all PA Program (PAS) courses, for any reason, during the university-defined drop/add period (the first week of the semester) will forfeit their seat in the PA Program. Students who forfeit their seat must reapply through a future application cycle if they wish to be considered for re-entry into the program. Reapplication does not guarantee readmission.

Withdrawals for Academic Reasons

The PA Program does not permit withdrawals from courses for academic reasons. Students experiencing academic difficulty are expected to utilize available academic support resources and comply with the program’s academic progression policies. If a student withdraws from a PAS course due to academic reasons, this will be considered a withdrawal from the program.

Withdrawals/Incompletes for Non-Academic Circumstances

If a student must temporarily step away from their course of study in the PA program, they must work directly with their advisor and the Program Director (PD) or Associate Program Director (APD) to review the situation and determine appropriate academic options. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis and will consider factors such as:

• The timing within the academic semester
• The student’s progress in current coursework and academic standing within each course
• The anticipated length of time the student will be away from the program
• The feasibility of re-entry into the cohort or a future cohort

Based on this review, the PD or APD may determine that the student:

• May be eligible for Incomplete grades in current courses. 
  •  If the timing and circumstances allow completion of the incomplete coursework before the start of the next semester, the student may have the ability to remain with their current cohort
  • If the timing and circumstances do not allow completion of incomplete coursework before the start of the next semester, the student will decelerate into the next cohort. This may or may not lead to a formal leave of absence from the university, depending on the length of time the student may need to be away from the program (See section below of “Leave of Absence”)

or, 

• Must withdraw from current coursework and decelerate into the next cohort.
  • After the last date for drop/add, a student wishing to withdraw from a course must file an official Withdrawal from Courses form (and secure all required signatures) by the last date for authorized withdrawal for the term (approximately two-thirds of the way through the term; the exact date is published in the Academic Calendar published on the ������Ƶ web page).
    • As stated above, in the “Curriculum” section, all PAS courses are corequisites and prerequisites.  Therefore, PA students cannot selectively withdraw from individual courses within the PA program.
  • In exceptional cases, the student may petition the Committee on Academic Standards for an authorized late withdrawal. A written recommendation from the student’s advisor, course instructor(s), and appropriate documentation of the reason for the withdrawal request must be provided to the Committee.
  • Depending on the timing of the semester, students who withdraw may be eligible for a tuition refund, based on the schedule published in the course catalog, as follows for traditional semester courses (note, supervised clinical practice experiences (AKA clinical clerkships) do not follow the traditional semester schedule, the dates for authorized withdrawals published on the University’s academic calendar do not apply. :
    • Add/Drop Period: 0% liability = 100% Refund
    • Week 2: 20% liability = 80% Refund
    • Week 3: 40% liability = 60% Refund
    • Week 4: 60 % liability = 40% Refund
    • Week 5: 100% liability = No Refund

Leave of Absence for Non-Academic Circumstances

Students experiencing extenuating, non-academic circumstances that interfere with their ability to continue coursework may request a Leave of Absence (LOA) from the PA Program.  

According to University policy, a formal leave of absence begins after the end of the semester in progress. Students desiring a leave of absence should complete the Leave of Absence form available online (accessible from the Academic Advisement and Registrar’s offices web pages) and in the Office of Academic Advisement. The student must indicate his/her intended date of return to the University on the form. If the student does not return to the University by the appropriate date, he/she will be considered as having withdrawn from the University and the PA program.. 

Only 1 LOA is permitted during a student’s academic career at ������Ƶ.  

The maximum amount of time permitted for a LOA is 1 year.  Given the sequential nature of the PA program, a student must return, at the latest, to begin the semester they departed from, with the following cohort. For example, if a student takes a LOA in the 2030 spring semester of year 1, they must return to the classroom to restart the 2031 spring semester of year 1.

Returning from LOA

A student returning from a medical (physical or mental health) leave of absence during the didactic or clinical year, must submit medical clearance for full program participation from their personal healthcare provider at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the Spring semester or July 1st for the Fall semester depending on when the student plans to return.  Instructions will be provided to the student regarding the process for submitting documentation, which may include 3rd party review and verification. This will be at the cost of the student.

For a student returning back to the first semester of year 1 after a LOA, they will need to redemonstrate proficiency on the Medical Terminology exam by July 1 by earning at least an 80% on two attempts.

A clinical student who is on a LOA for more than 4 clerkships, will be considered a decelerated student as they will not be able to complete all clerkship/program requirements for a delayed graduation with a September conferral date.  See section on ‘Program Completion Requirements’

A student who has a delay of greater than 4 months when starting clinical rotations after the didactic phase of the program, or returning to clinicals after more than a 4 month leave of absence, will be required to take and pass both the PAS 525 Clinical Problem Solving Skills Practical and Final Exam to begin/restart clinicals. If a returning student is unable to earn a passing grade (72.50%) on both examinations after two attempts, he or she will not be registered for supervised clinical practice experiences and will be dismissed from the PA Program. 

The ������Ƶ PA program adheres to the University Grievance Policies and Procedures as outlined in the ������Ƶ Student Handbook 

The PA Department adheres to the ������Ƶ policy for course grade appeals as set forth in the ������Ƶ Student Handbook.

As described in detail in the ������Ƶ Student Handbook, a course grade appeal begins at the level of the course instructor and must be made within 30 days of when the grade is posted. The PA Department requests that official grade appeals be initiated in writing (email) to the instructor. If the student’s concern remains unresolved, the student can appeal, in writing, to the department chair within 15 days of receiving the instructor’s determination. If the concern still remains unresolved, the appeal may be advanced to an Ad Hoc Committee.  For additional information, please refer to the full written policy in the ������Ƶ Student Handbook, as linked above.

As noted in the above section titled ‘Sanctions and Program Progression ’, if a student is pursuing a grade appeal, academic sanctions from the SPC will be considered “pending” until a grade appeal process is complete.  The PA program requests that a student pursuing a grade appeal with pending SPC sanctions please keep the SPC Chair informed of grade appeal progress and determinations.

While the PA program recognizes and upholds the timeline for appeals as defined in the University policy, these are typically time sensitive matters given the sequential nature of the PA program coursework and students are strongly encouraged to pursue any desired appeals as soon as possible to avoid any unnecessary delays program completion.

Students with outstanding appeals that are not resolved before the end of the University defined “Drop/Add” date of the subsequent semester, will not be permitted to register for courses and by default will join the following cohort, if they are permitted to persist in the PA program with the outcome of their appeal.

Employment while in the PA program is strongly discouraged due to the academic rigor of the curriculum.  However, limited part-time employment may be possible while enrolled in the PA Program.

Students must report their employment and work schedule each semester to the Associate Program Director for Didactic Education (500 level) or the Program Director (600 level). This information will be collected through a required Google Form distributed to students each semester. Failure to submit the form will be considered a professionalism violation.

Employment is not considered a valid reason for excused/approved absences from any program activities.

Students are not required to work for the PA Program {A3.02}. No student, even those with prior degrees or clinical experience may substitute for or serve as instructional faculty {A3.03a}.

Qualified second- and third-year PA students may have opportunities to work as:

• Peer coaches/tutors in the ������Ƶ Student Success  Center
• Anatomy laboratory teaching assistants
• Paid patient models for practical examinations in other PAS courses

Students serving in these roles will not have access to academic records or grades of other PA students {A3.17}.

During supervised clinical practice experiences, students may not replace or perform the duties of clinical or administrative staff {A3.03b}.

Students will complete most of their supervised clinical practice experiences in well-established sites in the greater Buffalo area; however, placements outside of the WNY region may occur based on availability and may be assigned at the discretion of the PA program. All arrangements and costs associated with transportation and housing are the responsibility of the student, regardless of the clinical placement site.  All students should plan to potentially have a clerkship placement outside of the WNY area  {A3.14j)