Academic & Grading Policies for SCPEs

The following grading scale will be used by the Lipscomb University School of Physician

Assistant Studies for all assignments and courses:

Grading Scale

• A = 90 to 100%

• B = 80 to < 90%

• C = 70 to < 80%

• F = < 70%

SCPE grades are based on preceptor evaluations, end-of-rotation exams (EOR) or Grand Rounds presentations for Elective SCPEs, and completion of professionalism assessment. The EOR exam/Elective Grand Rounds Presentation and SCPE Preceptor Evaluation of students are designed to be conjunctive assessments required for passing the SCPE. Both evaluation methods must exceed the minimum passing score requirements as defined in the corresponding SCPE syllabus to pass the rotation and progress. Failure of either of the conjunctive assessments will result in remediation and reassessment of one or both components, which may result in the loss of the elective SCPE and/or delay of graduation.

Failure of the EOR Exam

Failure of the EOR Exam will result in the need for remediation and reassessment. The student will be required to undergo a focused remediation assignment, followed by a retake of the EOR Exam. If the student successfully navigates the reassessment, their score can only be improved to a maximum calculated grade of 70%. Failure of the re-examination will result in an overt failure of the rotation, subsequently requiring the student to repeat the rotation. Repeating of a rotation may result in either a  loss of elective rotation or subsequent delay in graduation. 

Three (3) total EOR exam failures (regardless of within a single SCPE or across multiple SCPEs) will result in loss of the elective rotation (if available) or require a ninth remedial SCPE of the program’s choosing, subsequently delaying graduation. Whereas, four (4) total EOR exam failures will automatically result in dismissal from the program.

Failure of the Grand Rounds Presentation

Failure of the Grand Rounds Presentation will result in the need for remediation and reassessment. The student will be required to undergo a focused remediation assignment, followed by a repeat presentation to a  faculty member. If the student successfully navigates the reassessment, their score can only be improved to a maximum calculated grade of 70%. Failure of the re-examination will result in an overt failure of the rotation, subsequently requiring the student to repeat the rotation. A required repeat of a rotation may result in loss of elective rotation or subsequent delay in graduation.

Failure of the Preceptor Evaluation

Failure of the Preceptor Evaluation of Student will require the student to repeat the rotation, subsequently losing their elective rotation or possibly delaying graduation. Furthermore, students who receive a score of “unsatisfactory” for any learning outcome will require focused remediation and reassessment for each critical score.

Professionalism, in general, calls for strict adherence to professional standards and ethical behaviors which may or may not be related directly to the actual practice of medicine. Often, professionalism also invokes a commitment to the administrative and regulatory functions of a practicing healthcare provider. These tasks serve as a reflection of a student's dedication to the professional calling as a PA. As such the program endeavors to assess the professionalism of each student through compliance with prescribed regulatory standards.  

Students will be assessed on five categories of compliance as an index of the propensity for professionalism.  Each of the four following tasks will compose 2.5% of the student’s total SCPE grade.

• Attendance: Attendance is mandatory on SCPEs. Please refer to the Student Handbook for details regarding attendance during the clinical year. 

• Hours Logging: PA students are required to log hours worked each day in our clinical management system. Students should log a minimum of 180 hours per SCPE.  However, the focus of the rotation will remain on the achievement of competency as indicated by exceeding threshold scoring on preceptor evaluations and EOR testing.

• Patient & Procedure Logging: PA students are required to log all patient encounters in our clinical management system. Such logging allows the program to ensure that you are being exposed to the types of patient encounters and populations necessary to meet the learning outcomes for each rotation. Additionally, the student should log all procedures completed to allow the program to monitor exposure to procedural patient care, correlating to the strengths and opportunities for improvement. 

• Submission of Evaluations: Students are required to submit two evaluations per SCPE as follows:

  • Mid-Rotation Self Evaluation: Each student will be required to complete a self-evaluation at the mid-point of each SCPE. This evaluation must be reviewed with the preceptor as an opportunity to identify weaknesses early and plan course corrections before the end of the SCPE. This evaluation is due by the end of week three of the rotation

  • Evaluation of Preceptor & Site: Each student will be required to complete an evaluation of the assigned preceptor/site. These evaluations are expected to be done in a constructive manner to allow the program to assess the preceptor and site adequately.  This evaluation is due during the last week of the SCPE prior to returning for EOR activities.