Delayed Graduation

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the parameters and procedures for students in the clinical phase of the Physician Assistant (PA) program who require additional time to complete their Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs). This policy ensures transparent management of delayed graduation in accordance with accreditation standards, clearly distinguishing it from program attrition or deceleration.

Definitions

• Original Cohort: The specific class of students with whom the individual matriculated into the PA program.

• Delayed Graduate: A student in the clinical phase who remains a member of their original cohort (from both a programmatic and institutional perspective) but has a delayed graduation date. This is not considered program attrition.

• Deceleration: The loss of a student from their original cohort, who remains matriculated in the PA program but joins the subsequent cohort.

• Attrition: A student who permanently leaves the program prior to graduation (e.g., withdrawal, dismissal).

• SCPE: Supervised Clinical Practice Experience.

Statement

Delayed graduation is an academic status strictly limited to students who have successfully entered the clinical phase (SCPE portion) of the program. Students in the didactic phase are not eligible for delayed graduation under this policy.

Criteria for Delayed Graduation:

To be classified as a Delayed Graduate, a clinical-year student must meet one of the following two criteria:

1. Approved Leave of Absence (LOA): The student has an officially approved LOA during their clinical year that prevents the completion of required SCPEs by the original cohort's graduation date.

2. Clinical Remediation: The student has failed to meet progression requirements during the clinical year, necessitating remediatory SCPEs that extend their timeline beyond the original cohort's graduation date.

Time Limits and Deceleration:

A student utilizing the delayed graduation status will remain an active member of their original cohort. However, this delay is time-limited.

• Time Limit: If a student's delay requires them to complete SCPEs or other graduation requirements past the summer term degree conferral date of the ensuing year, their status will be officially reclassified as a Deceleration. Upon deceleration, the student will be removed from their original cohort and placed into the subsequent cohort.

Procedure

1. Identification and Notification 

• The need for a delayed graduation is typically identified by the Director of Clinical Education following a failed program progression requirement or upon the approval of a student's LOA.

2. Academic Review and Plan Development

• The Progression and Accountability Council (PAC) will review the student's clinical progression status.

• The Clinical Coordinator will draft a formal Individualized Clinical Completion Plan. This plan will detail the specific remediatory SCPEs required or the revised rotation schedule upon return from an LOA, including a strict timeline for completion. This plan may be revised as needed pending additional LOA approvals or other such circumstances that require revision.

3. Program Director Approval and Student Agreement

• • The Program Director must review and approve the Individualized Clinical Completion Plan.

  • The student must review, agree to, and sign the plan, acknowledging the summer term conferral deadline and the consequences of exceeding it (Deceleration). A copy will be placed in the student's academic file.

4. Administrative Processing

• • The PA Program will notify the University Registrar of the student's revised graduation timeline to ensure accurate enrollment reporting and to preserve their status within the original cohort.

  • Financial Aid: The student is solely responsible for consulting with the University Financial Aid Office to understand how this delay and the scheduling of remediatory SCPEs impact their financial aid eligibility and enrollment status.

5. Completion and Graduation

• Upon successful completion of the remaining SCPEs and program requirements prior to the summer term conferral date, the student will be awarded their degree and reported as a graduate of their original cohort for accreditation purposes.