Performance and Remediation Policies

Program Performance Policy

A program average is a cumulative program course average combining all courses a student has taken thus far in the program. The cumulative program average is calculated by the course averages multiplied by semester hours per course, divided by the total program semester hours. Any concerns or poor performances will be reviewed at the end of the semester Academic Progression Committee meeting.

  • Students with a cumulative program average below 80% and above 75% or a final course average below 80% and greater than 75% will be placed on academic probation, which will remain in effect for the duration of the subsequent semester.
  • If the student on academic probation improves their cumulative program average equal to or above 80% by the end of the subsequent semester, they will return to good academic standing.
  • If the student on academic probation for a course average below 80% and > 75% maintains 80% or higher course averages in all subsequent semester courses, the student will return to good academic standing.
  • Please see Section 5 Academic Standing Policy should a student meet academic probation criteria three (3) times.

MPAS654 Summative Evaluation

ARC-PA 5th ed Standard B4.03

To fulfill the accreditation requirements, students will return to campus for one week within the final four months of the program for Summative Evaluation. The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate that each student meets the program competencies, including:

  1. Clinical and technical skills
  2. Clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities
  3. Interpersonal skills
  4. Medical knowledge
  5. Professional behaviors

Activities utilized to assess mastery of competencies include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) testing.
  2. Skills competencies testing.
  3. Standardized multiple-choice exam.
  4. Professionalism assessment.
  5. Case presentations.

The culmination of the summative assessment will:

  1. Provide the student with a time of self-assessment.
  2. Evaluate the students’ knowledge, skills, and attitude.
  3. Identify the level of preparedness for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

A student MUST SUCCESSFULLY PASS MPAS 654 to graduate from the GWU PA Studies Program.

Remediation Policy

ARC-PA 5th ed Standards A3.15c, A3.17

Student progress is monitored and documented in a manner that promptly identifies deficiencies in knowledge or skills
and establishes a means for remediation, as described herein.

Remediation is required for the following:

  1. Any exam score below 75%.
  2. Failure to meet minimum competencies during a skills exam.
  3. Unprofessional Conduct or professionalism violation(s) when warranted (see below)

Steps of Remediation

  • The course director or a designee of their selection will be responsible for coordinating the remediation assessment.
  • The course director or designee will meet with the student and offer a remediation assessment plan within one (1) week of identifying a deficiency during the didactic phase of the program.
  • Failing the first remediation with a score below 75% will result in an additional opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the material for a second remediation assessment. If the student fails the second remediation, the student will be referred to the Academic Progression Committee.
  • The responsible course director or faculty member will complete the Unsatisfactory Academic Performance Form and Remediation Form documenting remediation efforts and outcomes. The completed forms will then be returned to the PA office for placement in the student’s official file.
  • Professionalism is a core tenant of the Standards of Conduct below. The Department of Physician Assistant Studies has zero-tolerance for violations of professionalism. Failure to adhere to the professionalism policy will result in a professionalism violation. Should a student be placed on academic warning or probation due to professionalism violation(s), remediation of professionalism is mandatory and will be based upon the egregious nature of the violation of professionalism.