Student Success and Academic Standing

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The College of Allied Health Professions (CAHP) is dedicated to assisting all students in gaining the necessary knowledge, skills and professional behaviors that will allow them to reach their full potential as competent and compassionate health care practitioners. Students enrolled in programs in the CAHP are expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of program requirements, and must meet specific performance standards set by each program. Where appropriate, those standards are established to be congruent with standards set by the specialized accrediting agency for each program. The intent of these CAHP policies is to standardize the terminology used to describe student academic standing, foster sound, learner-centered assessment of student performance, and maximize the likelihood of academic success for every student.

1. Evaluation of Student Performance

1.1. Each program of study in the CAHP uses a system of regular and consistent evaluations, coupled with formative and summative feedback, to assure fair evaluation of student learning and to allow for early detection, notification and remediation of less than satisfactory academic performance. Course grades are based on evaluation of professional behaviors, theoretical and experiential knowledge, and technical competence. The evaluation system includes:

1.1.1. Evaluation of the domains of learning appropriate for the particular course or clinical rotation and consideration for the length of the program include the cognitive (knowledge), affective (professional behavior), and psychomotor (experiential competencies);

1.1.2. A description of the minimal level of performance in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains required to attain a passing grade in each course or clinical rotation;

1.1.3. A description of how the final grade in each course or clinical rotation is derived from the areas evaluated.

1.2. Students will be informed of the learning expectations at the beginning of the program, each course, and clinical rotation.

1.3. The final grade earned in each course or clinical rotation is determined by the course instructor(s). Each academic program will establish criteria for satisfactory completion of each required course as well as criteria for determining the academic standing and progression of a student based on the process outlined in this document.

2. Appeals of Academic Evaluations

Policy Scope

The following guidelines are intended to describe the process by which a student enrolled in a course where the College of Allied Health Professions (CAHP) is granting credit and assigning faculty to teach the course can appeal an academic evaluation. Courses taught outside of the CAHP will be handled in the college that is granting the credit. The student may reach out to the CAHP Conduct Officer, who also serves as the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, with questions about the process or eligibility of the appeal to fall within the CAHP’s appeals of academic evaluations process.

Policy Definitions

Academic Evaluation – An academic evaluation subject to appeal under this policy is defined as any summative or formative assessment or evaluation of a student including but not limited to individual or comprehensive assessments and final course academic evaluations. Receiving an Academic Evaluation Grade – A grade that has been communicated by the instructor through written or electronic means such as posting in the learning management system.

Procedures

Stage I: Informal Appeal

1. Within five business days after receiving an academic evaluation grade which the student believes is prejudiced or capricious, the student should discuss the matter directly with the instructor who conducted the evaluation.
2. If a satisfactory agreement with the instructor cannot be made, the student has five business days to appeal in writing to the program director and/or chair of the department granting credit for the course. The program director and/or chair of the department will forward the appeal in writing to the CAHP Conduct Officer for notification.
3. If a satisfactory agreement with the program director and/or chair of the department granting credit for the course cannot be made, the student may initiate a formal appeal.

Stage II: Formal Appeal

1. The student must submit a formal written appeal to the CAHP Conduct Officer, who also serves as the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, no later than ten business days after the informal appeal process has been concluded. The written appeal should include a detailed account of the informal appeal procedures conducted as well as provide an account of the facts pertinent to the academic evaluation with the reasons why the student believes the academic evaluation is prejudiced or capricious. The formal written appeal should be as specific as possible and should include a request to appear personally before the Faculty-Student Appeals Committee if the student elects to do so.
2. The CAHP Conduct Officer will identify the chairperson and members of the Faculty-Student Appeals Committee within ten business days of receiving the formal written appeal. The CAHP Faculty-Student Appeals Committee will investigate and/or hear appeals involving academic evaluations in which a student can provide evidence that the evaluation was prejudiced or capricious. The Conduct Officer will assist the student in managing the procedural steps of the policy.  
3. During the course of a formal appeal, the student is expected to successfully complete all program requirements and courses with final grades deemed satisfactory as defined by the program standards and course syllabus when relevant.  Additionally, the student is expected to follow all college and program policies and procedures.
4. After receiving the student’s formal written appeal from the Conduct Officer, the chairperson will forward copies to all members of the committee and to any instructor involved. The committee will decide how to best handle the appeal. The committee may grant the student’s request for a hearing or may decide a closed investigation is appropriate. In appeals of evaluations potentially leading to an academic dismissal or suspension, the committee must grant a formal hearing if requested by the student.
5. The chairperson will request the instructor of the course submit the materials used in determining the challenged academic evaluation.  Upon receiving the materials, the chairperson will forward copies to all members of the committee. The instructor will have an opportunity to present evidence and respond to any allegations of a prejudice or capricious assessment of an academic evaluation in writing or by interview as requested by the committee. The committee may also request the student supply additional clarification in writing or by interview.
6. If the committee schedules a formal hearing, any persons required to attend the hearing will be given reasonable notice (a minimum of ten business days) of the time and place. The committee chairperson will oversee the hearing proceedings. They will determine the order of presentation and the relevancy of any evidence submitted, and they will direct the questioning of any witnesses. It is their responsibility to ensure that the hearing is conducted in accordance with due process.
7. It is the student’s responsibility or burden of proof to show by the weight of the evidence that the academic evaluation was prejudiced or capricious. The student may use any evidence deemed proper including affidavits, exhibits, and witness testimonies. It is the student’s responsibility to gather and submit all evidence presented in the investigation. If the student wishes to have witnesses testify on their behalf, it is the student’s responsibility to pay for any fees associated with retaining the witness(es).  At any time during the appeal process, the student will be entitled to examine the materials which were used in determining the challenged academic evaluation.
8. During the hearing, the student may be assisted by an advisor of their choice. The student must inform the committee chairperson of the advisor’s name at least 24 hours before the hearing. The advisor may assist the student in formulating their case, and they may be present at the hearing, but they may not actually participate in the proceedings unless the chairperson specifically permits.  The college is not responsible for any fees that may be associated with retaining an advisor.
9. At the conclusion of its formal investigation and hearing (if one is conducted), the committee will determine from the evidence the propriety of the academic evaluation. The committee will submit its findings in writing to the student, the instructor who issued the academic evaluation, the student’s Program Director, and the CAHP Conduct Officer within five business days of concluding the investigation or hearing.
   1. If the committee finds that the academic evaluation was not prejudice or capricious, the student may face academic implications set forth in the Academic Standing and Progression policy.
   2. If the committee finds that the academic evaluation was prejudice or capricious, the committee in consultation with the student’s Program Director will develop a plan for resolution of the academic evaluation.  In cases where the Program Director is the instructor who issued the prejudice or capricious academic evaluation, the CAHP Conduct Officer and an instructor from the student’s program who is not involved in the case will consult with the committee members to develop the plan for resolution.   
10. Decision of the committee is considered final with no further appeal option.

References

UNMC Policy on the Retention of Materials

University of Nebraska Board of Regents: Student Records Schedule 170-17; Item Numbers: 170-17-33 & 170-17-34, Registration and Academic Progress Records

Effective Date:  2/21/23

Revised Date:  2/8/23

Policy Process Applied: Standard

Policy Review Cycle: Three-Year

Responsible Administrator: CAHP Dean for Academic Affairs

Responsible Office: CAHP Office of Academic Affairs

Policy Contact: Tammy Webster, tammy.webster@unmc.edu

3. Academic Standing of CAHP Students

Within the parameters established below, programs within the College of Allied Health Professions will designate the current Academic Standing of each student. All students will be considered to have an Academic Standing of Satisfactory upon entry into the program, and any changes in Academic Standing will be reported to the student and to the CAHP Director of Enrollment Management, who is responsible for securely maintaining individual and aggregate records of academic status, progression, remediation, and sanctions for all CAHP students.

4. Academic Standing and Progression

Effective August 23, 2021 Students at the University of Nebraska are members of an academic community in which satisfactory academic standing and progression are essential for meeting student learning outcomes and requirements for program completion. To ensure that students know what is expected of them, the College of Allied Health Professions (CAHP, or “the College”) has adopted the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Standing and Progression (“Standards”).

• Section I – Persons Subject to the Standards
• Section II – Standards of Satisfactory Academic Standing and Progression
• Section III – Responses to Violations of the Standards
• Section IV – Enforcement of the Standards
• Section V – Miscellaneous Procedural Matters

Section I – Persons Subject to the Standards

A. Students

1. The term “student” includes all persons enrolled at the CAHP, including online and non-degree seeking individuals.
2. All students are subject to the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Standing and Progression as set forth in this Policy while they are enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student.
3. For purposes of the Standards, a student is considered to be enrolled starting one (1) week before the first day of classes of the first semester or session for which the student has registered for classes, or when the student engages in CAHP sponsored activities whichever occurs first. A student’s enrollment ends when the student graduates, withdraws from the CAHP, or fails to register for classes for three (3) consecutive semesters, with summer term considered to be a semester, or no longer has a continuing student relationship with the CAHP.

B. Effect on Student Code of Conduct

The College may address academic misconduct through proceedings under the Student Code of Conduct as well as through proceedings implemented by an instructor, academic program, or department. Specifically, imposition of academic sanctions on a student by an instructor, academic program, or department does not prevent the College from instituting proceedings against the student under the Student Code of Conduct. In addition, the Student Code of Conduct does not prevent an academic program from imposing academic sanctions on students who engage in unprofessional conduct as defined by program specific policies or professional licensure requirements. Common types of conduct covered by the Student Code of Conduct include: Academic Integrity such as Cheating, Dishonesty or Falsification, Harmful Academic Action Towards Others, Improperly Helping Others, Failing to Follow the Rules and Responsible Conduct. For more details, refer to the Student Code of Conduct.

Section II - Standards of Satisfactory Academic Standing and Progression

Within the parameters established below, programs within the College of Allied Health Professions will designate the current Academic Standing of each student. All students will be considered to have an Academic Standing of Satisfactory upon entry into the program, and any changes in Academic Standing will be reported to the student and to the CAHP Director of Enrollment Management, who is responsible for securely maintaining individual and aggregate records of academic status, progression, remediation, and sanctions for all CAHP students. The Academic Standing Categories refer strictly to Academic Standing and should not be confused with Satisfactory Academic Progress used to determine financial aid status.

A. Categories of Academic Standing and Progression

1. Satisfactory – All students entering a CAHP program are considered to have an Academic Standing of Satisfactory. No transcript notation will be made for this standing; absence of other notation implies satisfactory academic standing. A student’s Academic Standing upon completion of the program must be Satisfactory. Confirmation of Satisfactory Academic Standing must be documented by the CAHP Director of Enrollment Management prior to graduation.
2. Formal Remediation – Formal Remediation is the first documented level of academic performance action, noting that informal remediation or counseling recommendations may proceed formal remediation actions. Notation of Formal Remediation does not appear on the student’s transcript. Formal Remediation may be imposed in any instance in which academic performance and/or professional conduct has been or is unsatisfactory as determined by the Program Director, or program committee, with input from the faculty as appropriate.
3. Academic Probation – Academic Probation is the second level of academic performance action. Notation of Academic Probation does not appear on the student’s transcript. Academic Probation may be imposed in any instance in which academic performance and/or professional conduct is unsatisfactory, as determined by the Academic Success Advisory Board with input from the Program Director, or program committee, as appropriate.

B. Standards of Academic Progression

Students must successfully complete all program requirements and required courses with final grades deemed satisfactory as defined by the program, and as satisfactory completion is defined in the course syllabus when relevant.

A student-initiated disruption in academic progression may result from the following actions:

1. Personal Leave of Absence – A Personal Leave of Absence may be requested in writing from the student to the Program Director. Prior to approval, the program will consult with the Office of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs to evaluate current and future enrollment plans and to review potential financial implications for the student. A request for a Personal Leave of Absence for documented medical or ADA reasons may not be denied. The student is expected to satisfy all academic requirements, program policies and procedures, and professionalism standards while a Leave of Absence request is being reviewed. If the Personal Leave of Absence request not related to a documented medical or ADA reason is likely to be denied, the Program Director will first consult with the CAHP Primary Conduct Officer. If the Personal Leave of Absence is approved, the Program Director, or program committee, must provide a plan of study to be followed on return to the program, including a specified timeline of activities, and a deadline for satisfactory completion of the plan. The Proposal for Return must include any administrative actions that should accompany this change of status, including consultation with financial aid for financial implications of taking a leave of absence; Notice of the date by which the student must provide to the Program Director and the CAHP Director of Enrollment Management written Notice of Intent to Return to the program; and a plan of study to be completed upon the student’s return to the program, noting if the student will be placed on a decelerated plan of study upon return, specifying the student’s academic standing at the time of return. The date by which the student will return to the program must be communicated at least three weeks prior to the start of the agreed upon semester of return.
2. Withdrawal –The student must consult with the Program Director regarding the decision to withdraw prior to submitting a written Request for Withdrawal. The student must request a withdrawal in writing to the Program Director and the CAHP Director of Enrollment Management. Withdrawn is a final status. Notation of Withdrawn will appear on the student’s academic transcript with the date that the withdrawal is effective. In the case of a student-initiated withdrawal, the student is eligible to reapply to the program.

Section III – Responses to Violations of the Standards

A. Student’s Response with Descriptions

1. Appeals of Academic Evaluations – Immediately after receiving a grade which the student believes in unfair, the student may set in motion an informal appeal followed by a formal appeal process. For more details, refer to the Appeals of Academic Evaluations.
2. Personal Leave of Absence – A Personal Leave of Absence may be requested in writing from the student to the Program Director. A request for a Personal Leave of Absence for documented medical or ADA reasons may not be denied. If the Personal Leave of Absence request not related to a documented medical or ADA reason is denied, the Program Director will first consult with the CAHP Primary Conduct Officer. If the Personal Leave of Absence is approved, the Program Director, or program committee, must provide a plan of study to be followed on return to the program, including a specified timeline of activities, and a deadline for satisfactory completion of the plan. The Proposal for Return must include any administrative actions that should accompany this change of status, including consultation with financial aid for financial implications of taking a leave of absence; Notice of the date by which the student must provide to the Program Director and the CAHP Director of Enrollment Management written Notice of Intent to Return to the program; and a plan of study to be completed upon the student’s return to the program, noting if the student will be placed on a decelerated plan of study upon return, specifying the student’s academic standing at the time of return. The date by which the student will return to the program must be communicated at least three weeks prior to the start of the agreed upon semester of return.
3. Withdrawal – The student must consult with the Program Director regarding the decision to withdraw prior to submitting a written Request for Withdrawal. The student must request a withdrawal in writing to the Program Director and the CAHP Director of Enrollment Management. Withdrawn is a final status. Notation of Withdrawn will appear on the student’s academic transcript with the date that the withdrawal is effective. In the case of a response to a violation of academic standards, it is the program’s discretion if the withdrawn student is eligible to reapply to the program.

B. CAHP’s Response with Descriptions

Programmatic accreditation standards may offer unique definitions in which CAHP programs must adhere to. Students should contact the Program Director for any variation in the definition of terms provided below. The CAHP’s response may include one (1) or more of the following:

1. Formal Remediation without Academic Probation – Remediation is the defined and applied process for addressing deficiencies in a student’s knowledge, skills, or behavior such that the correction of these deficiencies is measurable and can be documented. A written remediation plan will be provided by the Program Director, or program committee, for unsatisfactory academic performance and/or professional conduct. The remediation plan will identify the unsatisfactory academic performance and/or professional conduct, provide expectations and activities for improvement, and a deadline for satisfactory completion of the plan. A Formal Remediation cannot be appealed. Notation of Formal Remediation will not appear on the student’s transcript. If the unsatisfactory academic performance or professional conduct is not resolved as defined by the remediation plan, the student will be referred to the Academic Success Advisory Board of the department in which the student is enrolled for consideration of more severe remediation action.
2. Academic Probation – Probation is a period of time in which corrective action through a detailed formal remediation plan is imposed upon a student for not meeting program standards. A written remediation plan will be provided by the Academic Success Advisory Board of the CAHP department with input from the Program, or program committee, as appropriate for unsatisfactory academic performance and/or professional conduct. The remediation plan must identify the unsatisfactory academic performance or professional conduct, provide expectations and activities for improvement, a deadline for satisfactory completion of the plan, and notification of an internal Change of Status notation in the student’s file. An Academic Probation response cannot be appealed. Notation of Academic Probation will not appear on the student’s transcript.
   1. The failure to satisfy a condition of probation may be treated as an independent violation of the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Standing and Progression.
   2. A violation of the Standards while a student is on probation may result in a more severe response to the new academic violation than if the new academic violation was considered in isolation.
3. Required Leave of Absence or Deceleration – A Required Leave of Absence is a period of time in which the student is required to discontinue academic enrollment in a program. Deceleration is a status when a student remains enrolled in a program but follows a modified academic plan of study. A written remediation plan provided by the CAHP department’s Academic Success Advisory Board with input from the Program, or program committee, will be provided upon the student’s return from a leave of absence. The remediation plan must identify the unsatisfactory academic performance and/or professional conduct, provide expectations and activities for improvement, a deadline for satisfactory completion of the plan, and notification of a Change of Status notation in the student’s file with the UNMC Registrar. The remediation plan must include any administrative actions that should accompany the change of status including consultation with financial aid, instructions that include a deadline by which the student must provide a written Notice of Intent to Return and a plan of study to be completed upon the student’s return to the program, specifically noting if the student will be placed on a decelerated plan of study with the student’s academic standing at the time of return. A Required Leave of Absence cannot be appealed. Notation of Required Leave of Absence will appear on the student’s transcript as Leave of Absence. A Required Leave of Absence or Deceleration may be requested by the Program Director, or program committee, to the CAHP department’s Academic Success Advisory Board when:
   1. The student has failed to satisfactorily complete the required course(s) in a single semester;
   2. The student has failed to complete a remediation plan while being on Academic Probation;
   3. As an alternative to Dismissal or Withdrawal.
4. Academic Suspension – Suspension is the temporary removal of a student from academic activities following evidence of a violation of the standards. In situations of compromised safety or privacy in a clinical setting, the Program Director may issue an immediate but temporary Academic Suspension. All clinical activities will be suspended pending a decision on the appropriate action to be taken. If the action taken is more severe than a Formal Remediation or Academic Probation, the CAHP department’s Academic Success Advisory Board will advance the recommendation for remedial action to the Primary Conduct Officer.
5. Academic Dismissal – Dismissal is the official removal of a student from an academic program. Dismissed is a final status mandated by the CAHP Conduct Board for unsatisfactory academic performance and/or professional conduct. Dismissal does not require student assent. A student may appeal this action. Notation of Dismissed will appear on the student’s transcript along with the effective date of the dismissal.

If there is a dispute about whether a student complied with any of the conditions imposed as part of the response to a violation, the dispute must be resolved at a hearing before the Hearing Officer or CAHP Conduct Board.