Graduate Disciplinary Policies

Students may be placed on probation, or dismissed, for academic and behavioral reasons. Most lapses in ethical or academic standards will be addressed with probation, but some may be severe enough to warrant dismissal.

A student may be placed on probation only once during the timeframe of a given program. Exceptions to this policy for individual students may be made with approval of the program department and the School Dean.

Academic Probation

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and completion ratio of 67 percent. If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 or completion ratio below 67%, the student is placed on academic probation.

Academic dishonesty such as plagiarism, falsification of data, or cheating will result, at a minimum, in failure of the assignment involved, and may result in failure of the course. Course failure will result in academic probation. More than one instance of academic dishonesty will result in dismissal. However, in cases of serious dishonesty, dismissal may result after the first instance. Any instance of academic dishonesty and the resultant disciplinary actions must be reported to the School Dean.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The federal government requires institutions to monitor recipients of federal financial aid to ensure that they are meeting satisfactory academic progress standards. At St. Scholastica, students must demonstrate that they are making satisfactory academic progress towards their degree and this is reviewed each semester. For financial aid purposes, the definition of satisfactory academic progress includes three required components:

• The graduate student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 3.0 or better;
• The graduate student must successfully complete at least two-thirds (67%) of all credits they attempt;
• The graduate student cannot exceed more than 150% of the credit hours required to complete their degree.

If the student does not meet this, they are put on financial aid (FA) probation for 1 semester (still eligible for FA). If at the end of the 2nd semester they do not meet the requirements, they move to FA suspension (ineligible for FA).

Behavioral Probation

Students are expected to conform to professional standards of behavior. Some examples of reasons for behavioral probation are minor infractions in the following areas:

• Lying, stealing, or breach of confidentiality when dealing with a patient/client or related health-record data.
• Behavioral or emotional problems that are incompatible with competent and/or ethical performance as a graduate student.
• Failure to abide by the code of ethics governing the discipline.
• Impeding the learning of other students in the program through disruptive behavior, lack of cooperation, or other actions or lapses.
• Unprofessional behavior while in clinical/practicum/internship settings.

The student and the faculty of the department will create a set of expectations to address the problems (i.e. a contract), and a specified period of time will be set in which to correct them. Failure to conform to the terms of the probationary contract will result in dismissal from the program.

Students will normally be put on probation before being dismissed unless the student has committed acts of gross or irreparable unethical nature.

During a probationary period:

1. Standards must not be higher than those of other students in the program; however, students on probation may be monitored more frequently or more intensively than other students.
2. Clear descriptions of the reasons for probation, and expectations for the future, will be laid out in a written communication; copies to the student, the faculty advisor, any other faculty member involved in coursework, and the Program Director.
3. Faculty involved must follow up with the student and with the Program Director at regular intervals and give factual evidence of progress (example; weekly or bi-weekly grade reports or clinical evaluations).

At the end of the probationary period:

• If the student has completed the probationary period satisfactorily, and has corrected all problems laid out in the probation agreement, the student is returned to regular status.

Dismissal

Students will be subject to dismissal for severe and/or repeated academic or behavioral issues whereby expected academic or behavioral standards are not met.

Examples include:

Academic Dismissal

1. Failure to maintain an overall 3.0 GPA and/or completion ratio of 67%.
2. Incursion of a second probationary status for either academic or behavioral cause.
3. Repeated or serious plagiarism or other infractions of academic dishonesty.
4. Failure to meet stipulations of an academic probationary contract.
5. Failure to meet the conditions of a provisional/probationary admittance contract.

Behavioral Dismissal

1. Failure to meet expectations outlined in a probationary contract designed to correct any behavioral infractions.
2. Commission of acts of a gross or irreparable unethical nature.
3. Incursion of a second probationary status for either academic or behavioral cause.

Dismissal Procedure

In cases of continued violations during the probationary period, unsatisfactory progress during the probationary period, or in cases of single but severe violations, the department may proceed with dismissal according to specific procedures outlined in their department policies and procedures handbook.