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.