Speech-Language Pathology Academic/Clinical Warning Policy

Students must maintain satisfactory performance in clinical and academic coursework in order to remain in good standing with the University. Students in the Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology program are held to the academic policies and procedures outlined in this Handbook, as well as all relevant University (as outlined in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the Graduate Catalog) and College of Interprofessional Health and Human Services policies to ensure academic progress and academic integrity. In some cases, the standards for grading, academic warning, and/or dismissal are more stringent in this Handbook than those outlined in the University’s catalog, in accordance with program expectations and accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).

Policy: Graduate students are placed on Academic/Clinical Warning when they fail to demonstrate competency with their academic and/or clinical coursework. This can happen for any of the following reasons:

A total of four or more major academic assessments and/or clinical placements require remediation (see remediation descriptions on Academic and Clinical Policies pages)
Cumulative GPA falls below 3.0
Student is unable to carry out the clinical activities or conduct oneself ethically and professionally without ongoing direct supervision.

Student fails to demonstrate an appropriate level of clinical competence and professional growth/development expected at the graduate level, as measured by their clinical educator’s end-of-semester ratings and comments in Calipso
Student commits a serious ethical violation (NOTE: depending on the nature of the violation, the student may be dismissed from the graduate program without going through the Academic/Clinical Warning phase).

Procedure:

Department faculty and/or clinical educators notify the GPD when remediation of a major assessment is required or when a student earns a final grade below a B in a clinical practicum so that the total number of assessments for which the student does not demonstrate competency can be monitored.
- Once a student accrues three remediations on major assessments across the program (including in clinical practicums), they must meet with the Graduate Program Director (GPD). Barriers and strategies to promote success will be discussed and a written plan developed. Documents are maintained by the GPD and a copy shared with the student for their records.
- If a student accrues a fourth remediation on a major assessment across the program (including clinical practicums), they will be placed on Academic/Clinical Warning. The student will receive written notification that lists the major/clinical assessments that required remediation.
The student and GPD are notified by the Academic Standing Committee if a student is placed on Academic Warning at the University level (i.e., cumulative GPA <3.0).
The student and GPD meet to develop a plan for the upcoming semester. During the meeting, the student and GPD work together to complete the Academic Warning/Probation form.
As a result of Academic/Clinical Warning, the student is limited to a maximum of 6 credit hours of coursework in the following term. (Note: The combination of summer sessions is equivalent to one term, therefore students on Academic/Clinical Warning may register for 6 credits over the course of the two summer terms).
The Academic Warning/Probation form is placed on file in the Registrar’s Office and in the student’s file in the GPD’s office.
The GPD and the student meet at least once during the semester of a reduced load to determine if additional supports or strategies are needed. A written summary of the meeting, including student reflection on progress, updates on grades and completion of work for the semester, summary of clinical performance from supervisor (as applicable), and recommendations from the GPD, will be signed by both the student and the GPD and placed in the student’s file.
At the end of the reduced load semester, the student may register for a full load of coursework if their GPA is above a 3.0 and if adequate demonstration of competency of the academic/clinical material/experience taken in that semester is demonstrated. If these conditions are not met, the process of dismissal is started.

Dismissal:

Dismissal occurs when a student has failed to meet academic, clinical, and/or professional competencies for more than one semester, as outlined above and in the Academic and Clinical Policies and Procedures sections of this handbook.
A cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0 for a SECOND semester will result in dismissal from the program.
Earning a final grade below a B in a second clinical practicum (even if there have been no academic remediations) will result in dismissal from the program.
Once a student has been placed on Academic/Clinical Warning, any additional remediation of a major assessment across the program (i.e., a fifth remediation) will result in dismissal.
Students have the right to appeal dismissal decisions as outlined in the Nazareth University Course Catalog.

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