Academic regulations

Approved by Faculty of Pharmacy August 27, 2020; update approved August 21, 2024

Academic Regulations, Faculty of Pharmacy

For complete information regarding academic rules and regulations of the University, students should consult University Academic Offices, Services, and Regulations. The following additions and amendments pertain to pharmacy students.

For purposes of these academic rules and regulations, for the Faculty of Pharmacy, the following definitions apply:

  1. Professional course means any course required in the Pharm.D. curriculum and any course approved for professional elective credit and elected by the student for that purpose.
  2. Satisfactory grade means a grade of 'C' or above, or a grade of 'S.'
  3. Unsatisfactory grade means a grade of `C-minus' or below 2.0 grade points, or a mark of 'X' or unauthorized 'W.' Marks of 'X' or marks of 'W' which have not been authorized will be treated as an 'E.'
  4. Professional year Standing
    1. P1 Standing: Admission to Pharm.D. Program
    2. P2 Standing: Successful completion of all P1 courses
    3. P3 Standing: Successful completion of all P2 courses
    4. P4 Standing: Successful completion of all P3 Courses
  5. Good Academic Standing: a student is considered in good academic standing if not on probation.
  6. Academic Probation means a restricted status in the program (see below).
  7. Dismissal from the program means that the student may no longer register in the program, or elect professional course work in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
  8. Remediation is defined as a process to re-introduce and reassess course content during a specially scheduled course re-offering to demonstrate competency, during spring or summer term. Remediation applies to the entire course.  

Progression

The Doctor of Pharmacy Program is designed to be a full time, sequential, lock-step program. Courses are intentionally interconnected within a given semester and longitudinally throughout the program to maximize learning. The Committee on Academic and Professional Progress (CAPP) monitors student performance throughout the program. Progression is defined as continuing in the program on-time without a delay in graduation. Progression is dependent upon both academic performance and professionalism. Information regarding University academic rules and regulations can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.  

Academic and Professional Progress

The Faculty of Pharmacy expects its students to develop professional competence and to satisfy the same high standards of exemplary character, appearance, and ethical conduct expected of professional pharmacists.

To merit confidence and esteem, both personally and in the health care professions, appropriate dress and demeanor are expected of each student in the academic and professional program in pharmacy.

The Committee on Academic and Professional Progress (CAPP) reviews student performance regularly and makes decisions concerning probationary status. A student may be dismissed from the College for unsatisfactory academic performance in accordance with policies outlined in this document.

Outside Employment

The professional curriculum has been arranged with the presumption that the student will devote full time and energy to the program. Pharmacy internship and other pharmaceutical employment is recognized as a component of the academic and professional growth of the pharmacy student. The student, however, is responsible for maintaining the appropriate balance between such activity and satisfactory achievement in the classroom.

Attendance

Regularity in attendance and performance is necessary for success in college work. At the beginning of each course the instructor will announce the specific attendance required of students as part of the successful completion of the course.

Course Elections Policy

The program must be elected on a full-time basis, following the curriculum as outlined in this bulletin, unless specifically directed otherwise by the Committee on Academic and Professional Progress, and/or the Faculty.

No course may be elected unless a satisfactory grade has been earned in each of the course prerequisites.

Registration to audit a course, or for courses elected on a Passed-Not Passed basis, is permitted only for elective credits in excess of the minimum degree requirements, or by guest or post-degree students.

Grade Appeals

Grade appeals are to be made in accordance with the college's policy on Final Course Grade Appeals.

Academic Probation

A student will be placed on academic probation when an unsatisfactory grade is earned in a required professional course.   Students will be informed of probation status in writing by the CAPP. When students are placed on academic probation the following restrictions apply:

  1. Students may not receive University funding for professional meeting travel
  2. Students are encouraged to resign from any leadership position held within a professional organization or as a class officer when on probation when able to maintain on-time progression (i.e., remediation-eligible).
  3. Students must resign from any leadership position held within a professional organization or as a class officer when on probation and required to delay-progression (i.e., not remediation-eligible)

Students will be removed from probation when the following criteria have been met:

  1. Meets with the student success coach or educational consultant to complete an Academic Success Plan and submit to CAPP
  2. Successfully complete a re-take of the course in which an unsatisfactory grade was received

Students with Delayed Progression

Students will experience a delay in progression when unsatisfactory grade(s) is/are earned in a required professional course(s) and they do not meet criteria for spring/summer remediation.   Students who are not remediation eligible and experience an imposed delay in progression will receive guidance from the CAPP on future course enrollment and may receive recommendations for a reduced course load over the year of academic delay.   The CAPP will make the determination of reduced course load and recommended course enrollment on a case-by-case basis.

Progression and Program Time Commitment

No professional course in which an unsatisfactory grade is earned will be counted toward degree requirement. The Doctor of Pharmacy Program Curriculum has professional year standing requirements in the P2 through P4 years to progress sequentially from one year to the next.  

The program must be completed within six calendar years of admission.   Students can apply to Associate Dean of Pharmacy for extension of time frame for exceptional circumstances.

Dismissal from the Program

A student will be dismissed from the program for the following academic reasons:

  1. Failing to earn a satisfactory grade when repeating a professional course
  2. The need to repeat more than 3 professional courses in the program
  3. Inability to complete the program within 6 calendar years

A student may be dismissed from the program for non-academic reasons as follows and as outlined in the Professionalism Curriculum.  

Readmission: Any student wishing to return to the program after dismissal must follow the application process. Any student readmitted to the program will re-enter as a P1 student regardless of prior program standing.

Student Code of Conduct and Professionalism Curriculum

Every student is subject to all regulations set forth by the University, the College, and the Faculty of Pharmacy, governing student activities, student behavior, and in use of their facilities. The University, College, and Faculty have the responsibility of making these regulations available and it is the student's responsibility to become thoroughly familiar with all regulations and to seek any necessary clarification. Questions and concerns regarding regulations should be brought to the appropriate faculty member and/or the Dean's office.

There are obligations inherent in registration as a student in the College. Students entering the profession of pharmacy are expected to have the highest standards of personal conduct so as to be a credit to themselves, the College, the University, and the profession. When there are reasonable grounds to believe a student has acted in a manner contrary to ethical standards, the law, or mores of the community, such student may be disciplined. This discipline may include suspension or dismissal from the program after due process in accord with published policies.

All students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program are held to the standards outlined in the Doctor of Pharmacy Professionalism Curriculum. Any individual may file a complaint of unprofessional behavior against a student by downloading and completing the Complaint Form and forwarding the Chair of the Committee on Academic and Professional Progress (CAPP). The process of responding to the complaint is outlined within the Professionalism Curriculum and is summarized on this CAPP flow diagram.

Academic Misbehavior

In any instance of academic misbehavior occurring in any course offered by the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, as defined in section 4 of the University Due Process Statute of the Student Code of Conduct, the procedures outlined in Wayne State's Academic Misbehavior Flowchart will be followed. The university student conduct officer will be contacted in all cases of academic misbehavior and one of the following two options will be followed:

  1. the provisions of  Section 10.1 of the Statute  will be followed, or
  2. charges will be filed through the student conduct officer as provided in Section 10.2 of the Statute.

The University Ombuds Office is available to assist those involved in Student Code of Conduct cases by acting as an information source and helping to gain access to University personnel. An appointment with the ombudsperson can be made by calling 313-577-3487  or by sending an email to ombudsoffice@wayne.edu.

Permanent Program Withdrawal

A student enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program may request to permanently withdraw from the program at any time by filling out the permanent program withdrawal form. Students are responsible for dropping/withdrawing from all in progress courses at the time of withdrawal. Tuition will be assessed according to the schedule set by the Office of the Registrar.

Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their decision to withdraw with their faculty advisor and to consult with Financial Aid (finaideacphs@wayne.edu) before submitting a withdrawal request. International students should contact the Office of International Students and Scholars prior to withdrawing. Students expecting to return to the program should complete a leave of absence request instead of a permanent program withdrawal request.

If a student permanently withdraws from the PharmD program voluntarily, they must re-apply for admission through the standard PharmCAS admissions process if they wish to re-enroll.