ARC-PA Standard A3.14d
Academic Deceleration is a loss of a student from their entering cohort (class) due to academic insufficiencies or leave of absence but remains matriculated in a different cohort (class). If a student has a first semester GPA greater than 2.333 and less than 2.667 without any course failures they may be placed on academic warning. The student will have one semester to increase their CUM GPA to a 2.667 or greater. In order for a student to progress from the didactic phase to the clinical phase, the student must have successfully completed all courses and achieved a minimum CUM GPA of 2.667. Failure to achieve this standard may result in either deceleration with the requirement to repeat the didactic phase of the program, remediation, or dismissal from the program. Deceleration will also subject the student to further educational costs.
All decelerated candidates are held to the standards of the cohort they are joining. Academic Deceleration is an option for the Academic Progress Committee (APC) to consider which may include, but is not limited to, retaking the failed course the next time it is offered. A student may be offered an option to decelerate into a different cohort to continue in their PA Educational Program if the APC determines the student’s deficits are remediable (refer to considerations for deceleration).
If it is decided that the student will be decelerated due to a failed course, the grade the student must obtain is an 80% (B-) or higher, unless otherwise stated. Failure to do so, will result in a course failure and dismissal from the program.
As part of deceleration, the student may be required to audit and pass courses which they already passed. In order to retake a failed course, the student will be required to register for the repeat course and this will result in additional student financial obligations. Students may be asked to audit courses that they have received a C+ or lower.
Decelerated students will enter the new cohort on Conditional Academic Standing unless otherwise specified by the APC and/or Program Director. PA Physical Diagnosis I & II will always be audited in their entirety whenever a student is placed on probationary leave or offered deceleration regardless of the previous grade in these courses. The student must demonstrate proficiency in the audited lab and lecture components by passing regularly scheduled exams in both lab & lecture.
