ACADEMIC POLICY

Student Evaluation

A variety of mechanisms are used to evaluate course work, including tests, written and oral presentations, discussion boards, simulation exercises, and group projects. All examinations are the property of the Program. The type of evaluation used in each course is outlined in the course syllabus. All course work is evaluated by a final letter grade. These letter grades are converted to a Quality Point Index as follows:

Grade Calculations

Each grade entered into the gradebook is rounded to the 100th (i.e., 92.60). The final calculation for the course is rounded to the whole number (i.e., 93) and then converted to the letter grade (i.e., A).

The grade point average (GPA) is obtained by multiplying the university points by the number of credits for each course (quality points). The total quality points are added up for all the courses and then divided by the total number of course credits completed. For direct-entry, dual-degree students, the PA program GPA is calculated using only the grade points earned in professional phase curriculum.

Examination Policy

Students are expected to arrive to all exams/practical examinations 15-30 minutes prior to the scheduled time. . If a student anticipates being late for an on campus exam, they must email the ACs or research coordinators if during the research semester immediately. If a student is going to arrive less than 15 minutes late, they can proceed to the classroom to take the exam, however no additional time will be granted to complete the exam. If a student is going to arrive more than 15 minutes late, they should report to the main office or to one of the ACs/research coordinators, as they will not be permitted to take the exam with the rest of the class. At that time the ACs/research coordinators will determine when the student is eligible to take the exam. All students who are more than 15 minutes late to an exam may be subject to a 5-point deduction.

In the event of a lateness to a CLI encounter, if a student anticipates being late, they must email the ACs/research coordinators immediately. If a student is going to arrive less than 15 minutes late, they can proceed to the student ready room where they will be directed to the CSC for the encounter, but no additional time will be granted to complete the practical. If a student is going to arrive more than 15 minutes late, they should report to the student ready room and alert faculty/staff that they have arrived. The student will not be permitted to take the practical at this time. The ACs/research coordinators will determine when the student is eligible to take the practical. All students who are more than 15 minutes late to an exam may be subject to a 5point deduction.

Should an unexcused absence occur for an exam or the day before an exam, the student will meet with the Academic Standing Committee. If the opportunity to take the exam at a later time is granted by the ASC, the highest possible grade the student can receive is 70%, regardless of the score. If an exam must be taken on a different date, the ACs/research coordinators will determine exam date; however, the date will not be before the rest of the cohort takes the exam. Additionally, any student who must take the exam at a later date due to an excused absence may be subject to a 5-point deduction. All students are expected to have a laptop to take their exams. If a student forgets their laptop, the program will provide a loaner laptop so the student may take their exam. If a student forgets their laptop on more than one exam, they will be subject to a five-point deduction in their final exam grade.

EXAMINATION PROCEDURES / RESPONDUS

All students must load Exammaster Respondus software on their laptops and have a working webcam on their device.

Since most exams in PA school are meant to simulate the PANCE, students must follow the procedures below:

• For all students (on or off campus) o Students must arrive 15 minutes before the examination start time, log onto the computer, and be prepared to begin the exam at the posted time. o Close all browsers on your laptop. o Ensure that Exammaster Respondus is downloaded and updated on your laptop. o No student will be permitted to wear a coat/jacket, zip-up shirt/sweatshirt, brimmed hat, hood, electronic device, or watch. o Students may use a white board for scrap during examinations. White board must wiped clean and shown to classroom proctor prior to leaving the room after an exam. o If a student needs to wear earplugs, they must remain in place for the entirety of the exam. o Students may not ask questions during the exam. Questions or comments about the examination can be submitted using the “feedback” function in exammaster. o No student will be allowed to leave the room until they have completed their exam; students should go to the restroom before the examination begins. o All students must use a privacy screen during computerized exam. o Students are not permitted to talk or use electronic devices during the examination. o Students are not permitted to take pictures or screenshots of examinations. o Students are not permitted to write down any exam content during or after the examination. o Respondus cameras will be used throughout the entirety of the exam to monitor for suspicious activity, including cheating or other forms of academic dishonesty. o If suspicious activity is suspected, faculty will evaluate the situation including asking relevant questions, and may document suspicious activity, including taking photographs. o Upon completion of the exam, all students must submit their exam in Exammaster.

• Belongings: o If on campus, leave belongings in your car if possible. Upon entering the room, students must place all belongings in the front of the room but away from other student belongings or on the hooks. This includes, but is not limited to backpacks, cellphones, all electronic devices, beverages, snacks, chewing gum, coats, and brimmed hats. Before stowing, all electronics must be placed in the off position. Examinations will not begin until all items are placed at the front of the room.

• Difficulty logging on or other technological issue: o If on campus, students MUST contact the designated exam proctor IMMEDIATELY.

• Students must leave the building/floor after completing their exam. Students are to return to the classroom at the next scheduled class time.

Remote Exam Policy

All examinations will take place in the designated room on Hofstra’s campus. Remote exams are ONLY reserved for students who are ill with COVID-19 like symptoms or for students who need to quarantine due to a COVID-19 exposure. If a student requires an examination from home, they must contact the academic coordinators and back-up proctor (listed on calendar) in advance to let them know why they require taking the exam at home. Students may be required to produce appropriate documentation. Any other requests to take an exam remotely will be at the discretion of the academic coordinators. Students MUST receive a confirmation from an academic coordinator or back-up proctor confirming that they may take the exam from home. If a student is taking an exam remotely, it is prudent to ensure they are in a quiet area of their home, with good lighting and a strong internet connection. Students taking exams remotely MUST perform a 360-degree environment check. In addition, students taking remote exams MAY be required to use a second device to assist with virtual proctoring and maintain exam integrity. All examination policies detailed above apply to students who are taking an exam at home

All exams taken remotely MUST be accessed via Respondus, which will take you to Blackboard, NOT through Exammaster. Should a student bypass the Blackboard link and access the exam directly through Exammaster, the exam is automatically void, resulting in a score of zero and the student will be called before the ASC o Exam space should be free of backpacks, cellphones, all electronic devices, beverages, snacks, chewing gum, coats, and brimmed hats. Student workspace must be shown to the Respondus camera. o If a student experiences technical issues taking an exam off campus, log off the exam (both blackboard and Respondus) and log into the blackboard shell for the course, click on the corresponding remote exam troubleshooting link in “Zoom Room”. A program representative will be in the room to help troubleshoot the issue.

Remediation Of Academic Difficulties

Students who fail to demonstrate the requisite knowledge or skills necessary to perform at an acceptable level for a course may be required to remediate those deficiencies. It is the program’s responsibility to assure the availability of remedial instruction. Remediation is a process intended to correct a student’s academic deficiencies and includes such activities as special assignments, examinations, additional advisement, tutoring, and assessment and development of study skills. Remediation is mandatory for unit exam failures, course failures, or upon the recommendation of a course instructor or PA core faculty member. If a remediation exam is necessary, the exam will take place within one week of the failed exam (as noted on the didactic calendar) unless extenuating circumstances are identified by the academic coordinators.

Standard For Written Assignments

All written assignments must use the most recent edition of American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style. In addition, all papers must be free of typographical errors, spelling and grammatical errors, and plagiarism. Written work must also be sensitive to gender, racial, sexual orientation, religious, and ethnic bias. Non-adherence to any of these requirements may affect the grade received for that paper. Students are advised to make an extra copy of all written assignments for their own protection and records prior to submission. A resource for AMA style can be found at http://www.hofstra.edu/library/library_citation_style.html and at http://www.amamanualofstyle.com/.

Summative Examination

Students will have two summative evaluations during the curriculum. The first occurs at the end of the didactic year and the second at the end of the program. These examinations will combine multiple choice tests, and an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exam) and a technical skills exam. These evaluations must be successfully passed to continue in the program and to graduate. If a student fails either a written exam, OSCE or a technical skills exam, a make-up will be given. Should a student fail the makeup, the Academic Standing Committee will review the case, and action, including possible dismissal, will be taken. Additionally, two formative evaluations (PACKRAT) will be administered during the curriculum.

ACADEMIC STANDING COMMITTEE (ASC)

The ASC committee is comprised of a minimum of three PA Program faculty excluding the program director. The program director is an active, non-voting member of the ASC. The function of the ASC is for the faculty to present issues of academic or professional difficulty to the student and to give the student the opportunity to provide information that may explain or clarify the issue. The ASC will make decisions concerning the course of action needed to address the problem and to enforce program policy. Determinations such as the issuance of a warning, professional or academic probation, dismissal, or other alternatives are made by the ASC, as deemed appropriate.

Maintenance Of Good Academic Standing

The cumulative grade point average (GPA) to remain in good academic standing and for degree conferral is 3.0. Students with academic difficulty will be identified by the faculty and remedial measures will be delineated to assist the student in improving their academic performance. Should the cumulative grade point average fall below 2.5 at the end of any semester, the student will be dismissed. Should a student obtain an overall GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 at the end of any semester, the student will be placed on academic probation and have one semester to obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. If the student does not obtain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 within one semester, they will be dismissed.