Graduate Policy on Progression, Remediation and Dismissal

Graduate Policy on Progression, Remediation and Dismissal

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology recognizes that the awarding of a master’s degree with the recommendation for teacher certification, ASHA certification, and New York State licensure carries with it the full authority of the institution and communicates to those seeking services that the graduate is competent. This requires that graduate students in speech-language pathology acquire the requisite knowledge, skills, dispositions and interaction/personal qualities essential to professional practice and agreed upon by the faculty.

Progression

Certain minimal skills are required in order to progress through the master’s program. Graduate students must be able to meet, with or without reasonable accommodations, the following minimal standards: 

Knowledge – The student is responsible for: a) attaining the Knowledge competencies associated with a course; and b) keeping track of his/her performance as the semester progresses. Any/all concerns about successful completion of the course should immediately be brought to the attention of and discussed with the instructor. To meet the knowledge competencies for each course, students must attain a grade of B (3.0) or better. (If a student’s grade falls below a B, see remediation section.)  The Director of the Graduate Program (DGP) monitors each graduate student’s academic performance at midterm and at the end of the semester.

Skill – The student is responsible for: a) attaining the skills associated with clinical practica; and b) keeping track of his/her clinical skills as the semester progresses. Any/all concerns about successful completion of the clinical practica should immediately be brought to the attention of and discussed with the clinical supervisor. Students must attain a grade of B (3.0) or better in each clinical practicum, both on and off campus, in order to advance to the next practicum level. The Clinic Director monitors each graduate student’s clinical performance at midterm and at the end of the semester.

Disposition – All faculty monitor dispositions in the classroom and in clinic practica. Students must develop effective and appropriate relationships with faculty, supervisors, staff, peers, individual clients, parents/caregivers, and other professionals. Students must adhere to the code of ethics of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and be professional at all times. Students must exercise good judgment, complete duties and assignments in a timely manner, maintain client confidentiality, communicate effectively, be culturally appropriate, and complete all duties and assignments pursuant to her/his academic plan and responsible and ethical clinical practice.  

Note: if these minimal skills are not met, an individual remediation plan will be developed. Failure to progress through the remediation plan may result in dismissal from the program.

Remediation

It is expected that the student, in consultation with the faculty, be responsible for ensuring that he/she have adequately met the required knowledge, skills, and dispositions. The department faculty has determined that a final grade of B or better in academic and clinic coursework indicates that specific knowledge and/or skills have been acquired. In cases where the student fails to satisfy the required knowledge/skills competencies, he/she must consult with the instructor to establish a remediation plan. A copy of the remediation plan is to be submitted to the DGP and a copy placed in the student’s file located in the department office.

Grades lower than a B will be accepted, without remediation, only in the following cases:

a) When a student has demonstrated the knowledge/skills competencies associated with a particular course, but his/her final grade is lower than a B because of tardiness or lack of participation penalties.

b) When a student demonstrates the knowledge/skills competencies associated with a particular course through a process of formative assessment as set forth by the instructor. In this case, the final grade may be lower than a B, but the instructor can certify to the attainment of the knowledge/skills competencies.

In both cases, the student and the instructor must inform the DGP that the student has achieved the knowledge/skills competencies.

Knowledge – Late semester projects and exams (e.g., final exams/projects) may not be graded and returned to the student prior to the end of the semester/grading period. Therefore, the student should closely monitor his/her grades at the end of each semester to ensure they have met the requirement of B or better in the course. If necessary, the instructor and the student should discuss a remediation plan for the student that can include one or a combination of the following:



  • Complete additional writing assignments
  • Complete a written paper/project
  • Re-take an exam
  • Take an oral/verbal exam
  • Re-attend specific course lectures in the weak area
  • Successfully complete relevant (pre-approved) continuing education activities
  • Repeat the academic course.

When the student has successfully completed the assigned and agreed upon activity/ies of remediation, the instructor will notify the DGP in writing that the student has demonstrated the required knowledge/skill competencies.

Skill – Students performing below B in clinic will receive a grade of E and will be required to repeat SLP 515 at the same Practicum Level in the following semester. Clinic clock hours from the unsuccessful clinic will not count toward the minimum required clinical clock hours. The remedial clinical experience will target individual objectives to include directed activities such as:

  • Extended observation
  • Self-evaluation of recorded sessions
  • Co-treatment with supervisor
  • Role-playing
  • Mock evaluation and treatment reports

Students will typically repeat SLP 515 the following semester. Students who elect not to repeat SLP 515 the subsequent semester will not be allowed to register for academic courses until they resume clinic enrollment. This is to ensure that students progress satisfactorily in both academic and clinical courses.

Disposition – Students must participate in a dialogue about their own dispositions and will work with faculty to develop plans to do so. Students may be referred to appropriate support services as part of a remediation plan.

Dismissal

Following the completion of a remediation plan, a decision may be made to dismiss the student from the program.

Knowledge – The graduate catalog states that all graduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in their graduate program. A student is automatically placed on probation if the GPA falls below 3.0. Matriculated full-time students are given one semester to achieve a 3.0 GPA, provided total credit hours do not exceed the degree program by more than six. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA within the specified time results in academic dismissal. In addition, failure to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during each semester of academic probation results in academic dismissal.

A student who has been academically dismissed must wait one full year from the time of dismissal before applying for readmission. A student may be readmitted to the college only once after an academic dismissal. If readmitted, the student is automatically returned to academic probation if his or her cumulative GPA is below 3.0. The student then has one full-time semester or 9 credits of part-time study to achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and must maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA during each semester of academic probation. Failure to do so results in final academic dismissal.

Skill – Performance below B in two consecutive semesters of SLP 515 will result in dismissal from the program.

Disposition – Students who are unable to communicate successfully and develop effective and appropriate relationships with faculty, supervisors, staff, peers, individual clients, parents/caregivers, and other professionals following remediation will be dismissed from the program.

NOTE: In all cases (progression, remediation, and dismissal), the student is encouraged to first meet with his/her immediate instructor/supervisor to discuss any difficulty he/she may be encountering. Should the need arise, and depending on the whether the difficulty lies with their coursework or clinic practica, the student should then consult with the DGP and/or clinic director. At any time in the process, the student has the right to speak with the department chair to discuss any concerns or options.

Graduate Policy on Progession, Remediation and Dismissal (PDF, 92KB)