Student Success and Academic Standing

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

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.
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.
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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

The term “student” includes all persons enrolled at the CAHP, including online and non-degree seeking individuals.
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.
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.