All first year students are required to set up a meeting with
their newly assigned faculty advisor in the program sometime during
the Fall semester. At that meeting, the faculty advisor will be
available to discuss issues regarding coursework, sequence of
curriculum, career planning, research opportunities, and so forth.
In addition, the faculty advisor will specifically inform the
student that competency and progress in academic and training areas
is monitored continuously through ongoing and year-end review by
faculty.
The procedures for the handling and remediation of any noted
difficulties in progress will also be communicated directly to the
student as follows: Progress is reviewed annually at a meeting of
the entire program faculty. The faculty review student transcripts,
grades, and supervisor ratings in making a determination regarding
performance and overall progress in the program and document their
findings on the Student Progress Report. A copy of this report and
a letter explaining its significance is then mailed to the
permanent address of each student. Faculty also monitors student
progress in an ongoing manner via performance in coursework or
supervision in practica during each semester.
Ongoing monitoring provides an opportunity to address concerns that
may arise suddenly without having to wait until the annual review.
The manner in which any identified concerns or problems are managed
is as follows: If an annual or ongoing review indicates particular
concerns or unsatisfactory progress in any area, it is required
that the faculty advisors arrange a meeting with the student to
discuss the issues that have been noted. If, in the opinion of the
faculty advisor or faculty as a whole, the concerns warrant formal
action or remediation, a recommended improvement plan will be
developed jointly by the student and faculty advisor and, as
appropriate, in consultation with any faculty members familiar with
the areas in which the difficulties are noted. The plan will be
given to the student in writing by the faculty advisor and offered
as a recommendation for improving performance. In the event that
satisfactory progress is not attained by the next scheduled review
or end of the semester, the faculty will meet and develop jointly a
new recommended improvement plan. The faculty advisor will again
meet with the student and present the plan which may include, but
is not limited to, repeating coursework, delays in starting
intern/externships, extra-curricular training, or termination from
the program.
Exceptions to these procedures are allowed in cases where students
have engaged in particularly egregious conduct, for example ethical
or legal misconduct, actual or threatened physical or verbal
aggression, academic dishonesty, and the like, in which case a
student may be referred by any faculty member directly to the
appropriate administrative level to face disciplinary actions in
accordance with university policies.