Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida, Academic Policies

The continuance of each student through the curriculum at Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida and the permission to graduate is strictly subject to the discretionary powers of the College. The College expressly reserves the right and the student expressly concedes to the College the right to require withdrawal, at any time, of any student whose quality of work manifests an incompetence or unfitness to continue in the course of study or whose conduct is detrimental to, or incompatible with, the spirit and ideals of the College or the profession.

Definitions

Academic Levels—Academic periods:
The curriculum is divided into two academic levels, each divided into two academic periods. Each period consists of three or more consecutive quarters. The four periods are:

Level I Instruction:
First period: first, second, third quarter
Second period: fourth, fifth, sixth quarter

Level II Instruction:
Third period: seventh, eighth, ninth quarter
Fourth period: tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth quarter

Academic Status:
All students are in good standing for purposes of certifications unless they are suspened, dismissed or are on management. Management is a status that can be imposed by the Student Academic Support Committee on students who have successfully appealed suspension or a dismissal and are being allowed an additional opportunity.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

For the purpose of Federal Stafford and Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, an academic year is defined as a nine-month period. Students must successfully complete at least 18 to 21 credits per term, depending on the term of enrollment, in order to retain financial aid eligibility. Additionally, a student must maintain a 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA after second quarter. To retain eligibility for the receipt of financial aid, students must meet the requirements. Failure to do so will result in loss of financial aid eligibility until the number of credits a student is deficient in an award year and/or the GPA deficiency is made up.

If a student fails to meet the requirements due to circumstances beyond his/her control, the student may petition the Student Financial Aid Appeals Committee for a waiver of these requirements. Appeals must be documented and must be of a nature that assures the Committee that the student was unable to complete the requirements due to mitigating circumstances. Examples would include severe health problems, family death, etc.

Enrollment Status

Students must successfully complete 18 to 21 credits per term, depending upon the term of enrollment, in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid.

Tuition is charged per credit hour for one to 26 credits, and above 36 credits. A tuition block is charged for enrollment between 27 and 35 credit hours per term.

Preregistration

Continuing students are required to preregister for the subsequent quarter during the preregistration period, which is scheduled toward the end of each academic term. The schedule for preregistration will be published by the Student Administrative Services Office. All continuing students must preregister during their assigned time periods, anyone not preregistering will be assessed a registration fee of $15.

Tuition for all continuing students is due and payable on the tenth day of classes of each new quarter. Any special arrangements must be made with the Student Administrative Services Office prior to that date. Even after the preregistration procedure has been completed, the student is not formally registered for the class until all tuition obligations have been met.

Add/Drop Courses

Any student wishing to add or drop courses must request an “Add/Drop” form from the Student Administrative Services Office.

Course Addition

All course additions must be completed before the end of the first week of instruction in the quarter. Students wishing to add courses should be aware that the attendance regulations require attending no less than 85 percent of the total instructional hours in any class.

Course Withdrawal

A student requesting to withdraw from a course, which will result in the student being placed on a special schedule, must first meet with the appropriate Director of Instruction for academic advising. A student who “drops” a course(s) before the end of the second week of instruction will be removed from the class roster and no entry will be made on the permanent record. After the second week a student will be assigned a “Withdrawal” (W). Petitions to withdraw in extenuating circumstances (after the 50 percent point of classes) must receive approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Grading System

Incomplete

A grade of “Incomplete” signifies that a student has partially completed but not finished the work normally required for completion of a course. A grade other than “Incomplete” cannot, therefore, be issued until all course requirements are met.

It is the student’s responsibility to complete all courses and other graduation requirements in a satisfactory manner.

Situations do arise, however, such as a student illness, accidents or a death in the family, that make it impossible for a student to complete all the requirements of a course. In this case, the student could request to receive an “Incomplete” for one course, subject to the regulations listed next. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the course director when an “Incomplete” is being taken.

A student requesting an “Incomplete” in more than one course in a quarter must request approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs prior to the end of the quarter, and submit documentation justifying the reason for the request. With approval, the Dean of Academic Affairs will notify the appropriate course directors that the student is electing to take Incompletes. In this case, each course director will assign the grade of “Incomplete” if the student meets the requirements listed next.

When the student has completed all course work normally required, the earned grade must be forwarded to the Student Administrative Services Office by the third day of classes in the following quarter of enrollment to clear up the “I” or a final grade of “F” will be posted for that class. The grade “Incomplete” cannot be substituted for the earned grade.

An “Incomplete” (I) grade will be generated according to the following provisions:

Restrictions

Students have the right to repeat any course. The last grade earned in the course is called the current grade. Nevertheless, each “F” grade remains on the student’s record until a passing grade is achieved. Registration for any course in which the student has earned an “I” automatically converts the “I” to a grade “F.”

A student with any grade “F” will normally be subject to automatic scheduling in that course or courses during the next academic term in which the course is offered.

The College will issue letter grades in pass/no pass courses when required by state licensing boards.

A student must complete the entire curriculum within eight calendar years following matriculation to be eligible for graduation.

Discipline

Unethical student behavior exists when a student’s actions conflict with those described in the Student Code of Ethics. A full explanation of the Student Code of Ethics is found in the Student Handbook, which is given to all students during orientation. Additional information may be obtained from the Office of Adjudication/ Compliance.

Attendance

Attendance is monitored at the beginning of each instructional period by name only in accordance with FERPA regulations. Students are allowed 10 percent of the total instructional hours of the course as excused absences and five percent as unexcused absences. Excused absences must be authorized by the appropriate Instructional Director. Absences in excess of 15 percent of the total instructional hours is defined as insufficient attendance. Any student exceeding these limits is issued a failing grade for that course. Instructional hours for a course includes lecture, lab and clinic rotations.

Attendance may also be considered as part of the course grade. In this case, the portion of the grade related to attendance must be clearly stated in the course syllabus.

Falsification of attendance records is considered unprofessional conduct, which is in violation of the Student Code of Ethics. Behavior that contributes to the falsification of records can be grounds for dismissal, suspension or denial of the petition for graduation. For a detailed outline of the College’s standards of conduct, refer to the Palmer Florida Student Handbook.

Examinations

Course examinations are handled on an individual basis by each course director. The formative and summative evaluation processes are detailed in each course syllabus.

Formative evaluations include quizzes, examinations and/or assignments provided as an opportunity for students to evaluate their level of mastery of the course material. Formative evaluations provide feedback to the student, and provide the student with opportunities for reassessment of their level of understanding.

Summative evaluations include comprehensive examinations and/or assignments provided as an opportunity for students to demonstrate mastery of course goals and objectives. Summative evaluations include practical examinations as well as didactic examinations offered at the conclusion of the academic term. Didactic examinations are delivered electronically in a secured computer environment. Integrated practical examinations are offered at the end of each academic term to evaluate psychomotor and affective skills.

Withdrawal from the College

Temporary Interruption
Students may choose to attend four quarters per year, or they may wish to “temporarily interrupt” their education at Palmer Florida during certain quarters. Students who choose not to attend the upcoming quarter must complete the “Leave of Absence” form available in the Student Administrative Services Office.

It should be noted that College policy requires students to graduate within eight years from the first day of attendance. If students do not re-enter within three consecutive quarters, they are required to reapply to the College and meet the same admissions requirements completed by the class they plan to enter. Students taking off one quarter should be aware that this may affect their financial aid and that a repayment of loans could be initiated for students taking off two consecutive quarters. Contact the Financial Planning Office for details.

Leave of Absence
A student may find it necessary to temporarily withdraw from Palmer Florida after a quarter has begun. If this should occur, contact the Student Administrative Services Office and request a “Leave of Absence” form. This will result in grade “W” (Withdrawal) being posted for all classes currently being taken. The last day to withdraw from the College for an academic term is the 50 percent point of classes for that term. For specific withdrawal dates, refer to the Academic Calendar or contact the Student Administrative Services Office. Students must re-enter the College within three consecutive quarters after withdrawing to avoid having to reapply and meet any new entrance requirements.

Withdrawal
A student wishing to withdraw permanently from Palmer Florida must complete a “Request for Withdrawal” form available in the Student Administrative Services Office. Upon completion of this form, the Business Office will determine the amount of any refund of tuition. Any refund due will be forwarded to the appropriate lending institution or the student within 30 days from the date of withdrawal. The last day to withdraw from the College for an academic term is the 50 percent point of the classes for that term. For specific withdrawal dates, refer to the Academic Calendar or contact the Registrar’s Office. Any student withdrawing from Palmer Florida who decides at a later date to re-enter must follow the readmission guidelines on page 48.

A student is considered permanently withdrawn if he or she submits a permanent withdrawal to the Student Administrative Services Office or if three consecutive quarters of time is taken off on a leave of absence. (Note that a student who goes on leave of absence one quarter and then registers and withdraws from all courses the next is considered on a leave of absence for two consecutive quarters.) Once a student is permanently withdrawn, no grade changes resulting from the student completing “I” or “NPC” grades after the effective permanent withdrawal date will be accepted or entered onto the student’s transcript.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

GPA is used as a measurement of scholastic achievement. It is calculated by dividing the sum of the grade points (course units multiplied by quality points) by the sum of the units with quality points completed. Only grades A,B,C and F are computed in the GPA. A 2.00 (“C”) is required of all students to maintain good standing.

When a student earns an “F” grade, the student must repeat the course the following quarter. If the course is a prerequistite to a subsequent course, it must be repeated prior to continuing in sequence.

Course requirements for “I” must be fulfilled by the third day of classes in the following quarter of enrollment to clear the “I” or a final grade of “F” will be posted for that class.

Grade Reports

At the end of each academic term the student receives a grade report, which contains:

The original grade report is deposited in the student’s file. A computerized record of the report is also maintained. If a student believes that there is a discrepancy in the grade report, the student should immediately contact the Office of Academic Affairs.

Clinical Competency Evaluation

The Palmer Florida Clinical Competency Evaluation is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the development of clinical skills in the student. The comprehensive clinical competency examination includes a summative didactic examination and an integrated practical examination and is offered at the beginning of the ninth quarter. This assessment is designed to evaluate various clinical competencies integral to the successful practice of chiropractic. The summative evaluation determines overall clinical competence in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective components of clinical chiropractic practice. Students are tested using a variety of methods, including written and stationed examinations of adjusting and diagnostic skills, and simulated patient encounters. Students must successfully complete the clinical competency evaluation in order to advance to the clinical phase of the fourth period of the curriculum.

In order to satisfy clinical competency requirements for graduation, in addition to receiving a satisfactory Clinical Competency Evaluation, students must also receive satisfactory evaluations of their performance in the care and management of patients in the College clinics. Clinicians provide interns with formative feedback concerning their clinic performance. Repeated failure to meet the passing criteria may result in the requirement to repeat certain courses in the curriculum.

Prerequisite Courses

Definition
A prerequisite course is one whose completion with a passing grade is needed for registration into subsequent courses. A student must have successfully completed all courses within a curricular term before being allowed to register for any course(s) in any term more than two terms beyond the deficiency. An incomplete prerequisite course must be resolved with a passing grade by the third class day of the following term of enrollment to maintain enrollment in the course requiring that prerequisite.

Graduation

Commencement exercises are held four times a year. The Student Administrative Services Office and Faculty Marshal coordinate all aspects of the graduation ceremonies.

Intent-To-Graduate

Intent-to-graduate Forms are filed when students register for their final academic term. To be eligible to apply for graduation, students must be registering for the Transition to Practice Development Quarter, and have no deficit classes at the time of application. The graduation requirements listed below must be met. Students who do not graduate at the end of the academic term in which they applied for graduation must reapply with the Student Administrative Services Office during the first week of their next academic term. Intent-to-graduate forms will not be accepted after the 15th day of classes without the approval of the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Graduation Requirements

The degree of Doctor of Chiropractic is conferred upon candidates who have fulfilled the following requirements:

Attendance at the Graduation Convocation
Attendance at the graduation exercises is mandatory for all students. In extreme circumstances, students may be excused by application through the Faculty Marshall to the Office of the President.

Academic Honors

After completion of the quarter, students who have attained superior scholastic achievement will be placed on the Dean’s Honor List. To be eligible for this quarterly award, a student must have completed a full-time course load with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.50 with no quality grade less than grade “B.” Achievement of this recognition is not directly related to the evaluation of the student’s future academic performance. A student is eligible for the President’s List when he/she has achieved the Dean’s List for four consecutive terms of enrollment.

A student is eligible to be a Presidential Scholar at graduation when he/she has achieved the President’s List three consecutive times and has achieved Dean’s List honors for each term of enrollment.

Honors at graduation will be awarded as follows:
cum laude, 3.50-3.69 overall cumulative GPA; magna cum laude, 3.70-3.89 overall cumulative GPA; summa cum laude, 3.90-4.00 overall cumulative GPA.

Academic Probation/Dismissal

Academic guidelines provide direction for the student who demonstrates difficulty in completing course requirements. These guidelines are applied by the Student Academic Support Committee, which seeks to ensure fairness and equity for students while ensuring competence of the graduates of Palmer Florida.

In those situations where the student is unable to demonstrate an ability to make satisfactory progression through the program, the following policy will apply:

Good Academic Standing

A student is in good academic standing if the student has no active failing grades and maintains the minimum cumulative GPA requirement per academic term, as shown below:

Academic Term
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Cumulative G.P.A.
1.50
1.75
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00

Academic Warning

Students, regardless of cumulative grade point average, are placed on academic warning for the following academic term of enrollment, if they have one or more active failure.

Academic Probation

Students are placed on academic probation when their cumulative GPA falls below the acceptable minimum standard as stated in the table above.

Restricted Course Load

Students will receive a restricted course load, as determined by the Academic Dean, while on academic warning and/or probation. When a student earns an “F” grade, the student must repeat the course the next term the course is offered in the PCCF curriculum.

Academic Management

Students placed on an academic management contract can not be enrolled in elective courses.

The terms of the management contract will be at the discretion of the Student Academic Support Committee.

Students failing to successfully complete all terms of the management contract will be dismissed from the college.

Successful completion of an academic management contract shall return a student to good academic standing. Subsequently, any student who meets the criteria for a second management contract will be dismissed.

Academic Dismissal

Students may appeal a dismissal, in writing, to the Student Academic Support Committee. This appeal must be submitted to the Dean of Academic Affairs by 4:30 p.m. on the Friday of the first week of classes, the following academic term. The committee will meet to hear appeals on the sixth day of classes.

Students that receive an academic suspension will be placed on a management contract upon return for the next term of enrollment.

During terms of Academic Suspension, the student will be considered a non-enrolled student. This status allows access to college facilities, counseling services and academic tutorials. Non-enrolled students are not allowed to audit classes without written approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs.

An appeal on the decision of dismissal by the Student Academic Support Committee may be made by the student, in writing, to the President of the College.

Dismissal

Upon notification of dismissal, the student may no longer take courses but may petition the College Committee on Student Promotions for reinstatement into the program. In addition to the dismissal process described above, a student will be dismissed from the College upon the occurrence of any of the following:

Dismissed students may appeal their status in writing to the College Committee on Student Promotions. Appeals must be submitted to Student Academic Affairs by the Friday of the first week of classes of the following term. The committee will meet to hear appeals on the sixth day of classes. The College Committee on Student Promotions may recommend placing the student on academic management. Students on management are placed on a performance contract. Students who do not successfully complete the contract will be dismissed.

Appeal of the decision of the College Committee on Student Promotions can be made in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Note: Dismissal is subject to administrative, faculty and peer review, in accord with due process as described in the Student Handbook.

Military Active-Duty Call-up

In the event a currently enrolled student receives an Active-Duty Notification, he or she must provide the Registrar’s Office with a copy of the Active-Duty Notification or a copy of his or her military orders. Upon receipt, the Registrar’s Office will process a withdrawal from the College for the academic term enrolled, provided the military orders are to begin prior to the end of the current term of enrollment. A grade of "W" (Withdrawal) will be placed on the student’s record. The student’s tuition fees will be refunded in full to the student’s lender, regardless of the point in the academic term that the military orders are received. The Registrar’s Office will notify the appropriate departments on campus of the withdrawal.

Upon completion of the military orders, the student may contact the Registrar’s Office for re-enrollment to the College. The academic term of enrollment from which a student withdrew due to the military orders will not be considered in academic progress relating to financial aid eligibility or academic status. In addition, the rule that one must graduate within eight years will be extended based on the length of time the student was away from the College due to the specific military order. For a hiatus of more than four quarters but less than five years, the "Re-Matriculation/Re-admission Policy" provides further guidelines.

Audio and Video Recording Policy

The College allows students to make audio and/or video recordings of presentations by faculty in the classroom with the consent of the instructor. If the student request to make a recording is denied by the faculty member, the student may appeal to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

The recording process must not be disruptive to the delivery of course material. The recording will be used solely for study purposes by the student. Such recordings by students will not be used for course or instructor evaluation. The recording must be erased or disposed of when its use as a study aid is complete.

Such recordings may not be used in any manner outside of personal study, without the express, written consent of the faculty member. Such use outside of study shall be deemed a breech of the Student Code of Ethics and subject to sanction.

Student Conduct

Students must continually demonstrate intellectual and technical competence, as well as understanding of and adherence to the ethical standards of the chiropractic profession. Behavior that creates safety hazards or disrupts the order of the institution can be grounds for dismissal, suspension or denial of the petition for graduation. For a detailed outline of the College’s standards of conduct, refer to the Palmer Florida Student Handbook.

As students participate in the Palmer Florida Clinic programs, including the Campus Health Center, Outreach Clinic, Outpatient Clinic and Clinic Promotion activities, adherence to generally accepted standards of ethical conduct and clinical practice is required. For a detailed discussion of College Clinic policy, protocol and procedures, refer to the Palmer Florida Clinic Policy and Procedure Manual.

Policy on Academic Honesty

The maintenance of academic integrity is the responsibility of every student at Palmer Florida. Students are afforded certain rights, privileges and charged with responsibilities as outlined in the Palmer Florida Student Handbook. When the College guarantees the students’ rights, it expects students to conform to the rules and regulations established to protect the rights and freedom of others.

Irregular test-taking activity and plagiarism are major threats to the professional stature of the College and to the value of the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic. Such violations will not be tolerated. Acts of dishonesty in connection with the academic program at Palmer Florida are an offense for which a student may receive disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

Refer to the Palmer Florida Student Handbook for the specific policy that has been promulgated to minimize the opportunity for and discourage irregular test-taking activity and other acts of dishonesty.

Re-Matriculation/Re-Admission

Students not maintaining continuous attendance in the Doctor of Chiropractic program with an absence of less than one year are required to notify the Registrar 60 days prior to the start of the academic term of re-enrollment.

Students returning after a hiatus of less than five years, but greater than one year, are required to re-apply in writing to the office of the Registrar and complete the Application for Re-admission at least 60 days prior to the start of the academic term to re-enter the program. The completed application will be reviewed for re-admission acceptance by the College Committee on Student Promotions. Contact the Registrar’s Office for more information.

Students returning after a five-year (or longer) hiatus from active registration must complete the entire admissions process to be readmitted to the College. The student is required to meet all current admissions requirements and will retain no previous course

Course Cancellation Policy

The Florida campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic reserves the right to cancel a class for any reason. Registrants will be notified of cancellations in a timely manner, and refunds will be processed within three weeks of the scheduled cancellation. This policy applies to Doctor of Chiropractic courses and selective courses offered through the Office of Academic Affairs.

Program Cancellation

In the unlikely event that the Florida campus is closed, every attempt will be made by the College to assist students seeking a transfer to other chiropractic colleges.

Students wishing to transfer to either the Davenport or West campus will be awarded advanced placement based on a detailed course-by-course review. In addition to awarding advanced standing credit, test out options and supplemental educational opportunities (alternative tracks) may be utilized by the Davenport or West campus to expedite advancement through the program.

In the case of the Davenport campus, within the supplemental educational program are alternative tracks that mirror the Florida campus curriculum. Students would be placed into a track based on their incoming educational status i.e. third trimester. Transferring students would continue in these alternative tracks until they mainstream into the core educational track.