Academic Expectations, Academic Advancement and Promotion

These academic standards concur with the Policy and Procedures of the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. They apply to both the theoretical and experiential learning activities in the School of Rehabilitation Science (SRS): that is, they apply equally to theoretical, laboratory, and clinical components of the programs.

Definitions:

Designate for Director is Program Chair or equivalent

For the purpose of this document, a graduate “course” refers to ALL of the following:

• Any course with assigned credit units, regardless of the number of credit units assigned

• Any single clinical placement

• The passing mark for a graduate course, as per CGPS policy is 60% (CGPS P&P 5.8), unless there is an approved Pass or Fail grading system.
  • In addition to achieving an overall course grade of 60% or a Pass. SRS courses may have mandatory components (e.g. assignments, written exams, lab exams/ OSCE or competency checklists) requiring 60% or higher.
  • Mandatory components must be identified in the Course Outline. 
  • Course outlines are approved in advance of the commencement of the course by the Director or Designate (MPT Program Chair or equivalent).
• There are 3 promotion points across each respective program [1]. A cumulative weighted average [2] (CWA) of 70% is a requirement at each promotion point. Additionally, a CWA of 70% is required to meet the convocation requirements for the graduate programs in the SRS. Students may be required to re-enter the program, take remedial courses or be required to discontinue the program if their CWA falls below 70% at any of the promotion points.

[1] Promotion Points typically occur following completion of academic modules and prior to advancement to clinical placements Typically, promotion points occur in April/May of first year, December/January of second year, and June/July of second year.

[2] The Cumulative Weighted Average is calculated by dividing the sum of each course’s grade multiplied by its credit unit value by the total number of credit units taken.

• Course instructors (including for Clinical Practice Courses) will notify the Chair of the School of Rehabilitation Science (SRS) Academic Affairs Committee and/or the Director or Designate, regarding academic performance that does not meet minimum standard expectations (e.g., failure of a course, clinical placement or mandatory component within a course)
• The Academic Affairs Committee monitors and reviews all student academic advancement. Granting of and processes to follow for supplemental examinations &/or supplemental clinical placements is considered based on SRS Examination Regulations  and related Clinical Practice Course procedures
• The Academic Affairs committee, admin support or designate will update the student record at the end of each module.
• SRS Academic Affairs Committee will review CWA at 3 Promotion Points (See [1] and [2] above). Students with CWA <75% will be notified by the Academic Affairs committee and may be offered one-one-one tutoring or support as available.

Unsatisfactory academic performance pertains to failure to meet established standards. The SRS follows the literal descriptors for Academic Standards for interpretation of performance in graduate coursework as per the CGPS policies. Situations where students do not meet expectations regarding professional behavior and ethical conduct may also result in unsatisfactory academic performance. Refer to the Standard Operating Procedures for Procedure for Concerns with School of Rehabilitation Science Student Professional Behaviour.

For the purpose of this policy, unsatisfactory academic performance includes:

• Failure to achieve a Pass on a Pass/Fail Course (which includes any single clinical placement)

• Failure to achieve a mark of 60% in a graded course

• Failure to successfully meet minimum requirements for any mandatory components of a course 

• Failure to maintain a CWA of 70% at each promotion point.
• Note: The requirements for successful completion of the five clinical practice courses must be fulfilled in correct sequence: Please see https://rehabscience.usask.ca/clinical-ed/clinical-ed-students.php#OverviewofClinicalEducation

In determining the consequences for unsatisfactory academic performance, the SRS Academic Affairs Committee will deliberately utilize one or more of the following resources and information: 1) the student’s academic and professional behaviour record, 2) provision of accommodations in the case where a student is registered with AES, 3) written submission from the student to the Academic Affairs Committee, 4) discussion and decision from the Clinical Practice Courses Subcommittee in determination of a pass/fail (if applicable), 5) information regarding significant patient safety or professionalism concerns in a clinical placement or clinical practical examination (e.g. OSCE), 6) other relevant information from course instructors, 7) consultation with the Student Affairs Coordinator, and/or 8) consultation with the Associate Dean of CGPS

Upon the first incidence of unsatisfactory academic performance (as noted above),  the typical course of action would include one or more of the following:

• Supplemental examination or supplementary clinical placement,

• Remediation as determined by SRS Academic Affairs Committee, in consultation with the course instructor(s),

• Delayed Clinical Placement or Course
  • The program schedule may not allow sufficient time to prepare for a supplemental exam or take a remedial course, as such delays and disruptions to the normal timeline for completion of the program may be required.

Upon the second incidence of unsatisfactory academic performance and/or two instances of unsatisfactory academic performance within the same academic module, the typical course of action may involve one or more of the following:

• Stopping any further advancement in the program

• Re-entry into the program at a specific time point which typically involves repeating previously completed courses. This is to ensure adequate remediation, bringing performance to a level where the chances for successful re-entry are optimized.*
• A recommendation for Requirement to Discontinue (CGPS 15.1) sent to the Associate Dean of CGPS.**

The student would be provided the opportunity to submit in writing any extenuating circumstances or rationale for not meeting academic expectations to the Director or Designate.
The SRS Academic Affairs Committee will review all evidence including course marks, pass/fail of courses and clinical placements, professional behaviour, CWA, and any other performance indicators documented by Academic Affairs Committee
* This decision normally would be made in situations where:

1. The student has consistently demonstrated satisfactory academic and professional performance in other courses; and/or
2. There are legitimate extenuating circumstances that may have impacted performance that could not have feasibly been identified or reported prior to the evaluation.

**A requirement to discontinue would normally be the course of action when:

1. All other options as described above have been exhausted,
2. The student does not meet the criteria for consideration of re-entry in the program or
3. In the case where the student has re-entered the program due to previous unsatisfactory academic performance, the student subsequently does not attain the minimum academic requirements for ANY subsequent mandatory course component, course mark or clinical placement after re-entry.

When the Academic Affairs Committee recommends to the Associate Dean andCGPS, that a student is required to discontinue, the committee must also inform the student in writing by providing a copy of the recommendation. Refer to the CGPS policy and procedures link above for more information.

• Approval of meeting academic requirements for convocation will be reviewed prior to the end each respective program and a motion will be forwarded to the SRS Faculty Council for approval of graduates and recommend graduates for convocation.
• Faculty Council of the SRS will review and approve recommendations for convocation to the CGPS.
• Graduate Council of the CGPS Convocation recommends candidates for the granting of degrees (CGPS P&P – 9.1)

The SRS will apply the appeals procedures of the U of S and the CGPS. Important documents outlining these procedures are:

University of Saskatchewan
Appeals in Academic Matters

CGPS Policy and Procedures Manual Section 16 of CGPS Policy and Procedures Manual at https://cgps.usask.ca/policy-and-procedure/index.php.