Academic Review.
Student academic performance is reviewed at the end of each academic semester by the Scholastic Standing Committee, which is composed of appointed faculty of the school. The faculty must ratify any recommendations made by the committee before a student's academic status is changed.
Standards. Failure to maintain the school's academic progression standards is grounds for dismissal, suspension, or placement on academic probationary status. A dismissal recommendation also may be based upon poor academic performance during any single semester, regardless of any prior scholastic status, or after a student has spent two prior semesters on probation. The review by the committee will look both at semester, cumulative, and professional GPAs and poor grades. Students
may be dismissed who are meeting the GPA requirement but have accumulated a
significant number of D or F grades.
Satisfactory academic progression is defined as:
1. achieving a minimum 2.8 semester and cumulative grade-point average at the end of each academic semester for the first two years of the preprofessional program;
2. achieving a 2.8 cumulative grade-point average at the end of the second year prior to progressing to the professional portion of the curriculum;
3. maintaining a minimum 2.5 semester, cumulative, and professional grade-point average throughout the professional portion of the program;
4. grades of C or better in the core science courses and labs during the preprofessional years. Core science courses include general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and systems physiology;
5. grades of C or better in Expository Writing I and a second approved writing course.
6. repeating of any grades of D or F in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience coursework with approval of the Scholastic Standing Committee; and
7. not accumulating a significant number of poor grades (D and F).
Entry into the first professional year (third year) of the program requires a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.8 and completion of all coursework from the preprofessional portion of the curriculum, including humanities, social sciences, core mathematics, science, and writing courses. The School of Pharmacy does not allow E prefixing unless a course is
designated as remedial. Thus both original and repeated grades and
credits are included in the GPA for repeated courses. Successful completion of an interview is required for entry into the first professional year.
Students who earn a grade of D or F in a course may be required, at the discretion of the Scholastic Standing Committee, to repeat the course; however, both the original grade and the new grade are included in the grade-point average and degree credit calculations. Grades in any repeated courses must be a C at minimum. Grades of D in any of the core science courses in the preprofessional years or Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences must be repeated for a grade of C at a minimum. Grades higher than a C in repeated courses may be stipulated by the Scholastic Standing Committee or be necessary to achieve the GPA progression standard. Students are generally only allowed to attempt repeating a course once. Accumulation of several grades of D or below may result in any of the actions listed below. Students are expected to meet the above academic progression standards at the end of each academic semester and by the end of the academic year. The above standards are applied to students based on courses completed and the sequence of courses outlined in the doctor of pharmacy curriculum. Students may be allowed to complete coursework in the following Summer Session at the committee's discretion in order to meet the above academic progression standards if equivalent summer courses are available at Rutgers. Students must have prior approval from the chair of the Scholastic Standing Committee before initiating summer coursework related to curricular deficiency (see the section below on Academic Progress). Students pursuing coursework during the summer are expected to meet the above academic progression standards.
Academic Progress.
Students are expected to follow the sequence of courses specified in the doctor of pharmacy curriculum approved by the faculty. Failure to follow the approved curriculum will result in a dismissal or placement on academic probationary status. Students may be allowed to depart from the curriculum based on placement exams, Scholastic Standing Committee actions, disciplinary actions, technical errors, and/or extenuating circumstances. Students must receive prior approval from the academic dean before deviating from the curriculum.
Probation.
Placement on probation means that the student is scholastically deficient and is continuing his or her education with the understanding that he or she must improve the level of work. Students on probation must meet any conditions set by the Scholastic Standing Committee and approved by the school faculty, such as:
1. maintaining a specific semester, cumulative, or professional average for one or more semesters
2. repeating certain courses
3. carrying a reduced load for one or more semesters
4. curtailing certain extracurricular activities
In addition, students on probation must attend all scheduled classes and laboratory sessions (unauthorized absences may lead to immediate dismissal) and carry no more than the normal class and curriculum course load. Students are removed from probation after they have achieved a satisfactory scholastic record.
Students placed on probationary status may appeal to the chair of the of Scholastic Standing Committee. Grounds for appeal include technical error and/or changes in temporary grades. Letters of appeal must state the reasons for appeal and must be written by the student, although advice from others may be sought in formulating the appeal.
Academic Suspension.
A student may be suspended for one or two semesters based upon academic reasons. This action may be used when a semester's academic performance requires that work be repeated before progressing in the program. Remaining out of school for the intervening period may be required either due to the lack of availability of professional courses or simply because it is in the best interest of the student. Through the readmission procedure, this student may return at the end of the designated period of suspension earlier described.
Dismissal.
Students are informed in writing of academic dismissal if they fail to meet the conditions of probation or if they have an exceedingly poor semester record even though they may not have been previously on probation. Dismissed students wishing to pursue a degree in another field at Rutgers may be allowed one "carry" semester during which they may take nonpharmacy courses and must apply to another unit by the School-To-School Transfer process.
Dismissed students who are not accepted by another unit at the end of
the carry semester will be permanently dismissed from the university at
the end of the semester.
Students dismissed may appeal to the chair of the Scholastic Standing Committee. Grounds for appeal include technical error and/or changes in temporary grades. Letters of appeal must state the reasons for appeal and must be written by the student, although advice from others may be sought in formulating the appeal (see below).
Appeal.
Students dismissed from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy by the faculty may appeal within five business days of the date of the dismissal letter. Grounds for appeal include technical error, grade changes, documented extenuating circumstances, and/or additional information not previously available to the committee. Appeal forms are available from the Office of Academic Services. Recommendations to reinstate students require the approval of the faculty of the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. Students are notified of the faculty's decision by mail. Appropriate documentation must be included with the appeal.
