Academic Regulations
Academic requirements for the Master of Occupational Therapy program and Doctor of Physical Therapy program differ from those stated below. Please refer to the occupational therapy program and physical therapy program sections.
Registration - To receive credit for any course, a student must be registered for that course in the Registrar's office.
Attendance - Regular class attendance is a student obligation, and a student is responsible for all assigned work. No right or privilege exists which permits a student to be absent from any given number of class meetings.
If a student misses more classes than the instructor deems advisable, the instructor will report the fact to the department chairman for appropriate action. Absences from class for valid reasons are excused only by the instructor.
Grading - In determining the final grade to be assigned to each student at the end of a course, all important attributes of each student's performance in the course are given consideration. This includes cognitive, psychomotor and other attributes such as deportment, interpersonal relationships, attitudes toward course work and other factors which in the opinion of the faculty are important to the student's future role as an allied health professional. Final grades will be expressed using this letter system: A - Excellent, 90-100; B - Good, 80-89; C - Satisfactory 75-79; D Below Average, 70-74; and F - Failure, below 70. The quality point value of each letter grade is: A,4; B,3; C,2; D,1 and F,0. The grade of F is recorded when the student has failed to meet the minimal performance standards, dropped the course without permission, officially withdrawn from the course with a failing grade after the last day specified in the academic calendar or failed to satisfy requirements for the removal of an incomplete grade. A letter grade of I (incomplete) is given if a student’s work is satisfactory but for reasons beyond the student's control is incomplete at the time grades are recorded. If not removed within the time limit specified by the instructor (not to exceed 12 months), an I will automatically be replaced by an F. Students may challenge grades within 30 days of issuance of final grades by the Registrar's Office; otherwise, grades will stand as recorded.
Promotion - Promotion is contingent upon successful academic performance including demonstration of professional attributes as identified in previous sections. Recommendations for promotion and graduation are made by each departmental faculty to the Dean.
The faculty of each department reserves the right to recommend promotion, probation, reclassification or dismissal of any student. The school reserves the privilege of promoting only those students, who in the judgment of the department faculty, satisfy the requirements of scholarship and personal suitability for health related professions.
Probation - Upon the recommendation of the departmental faculty, a student may be placed on probation when the student's grade point average is less than 2.00 in a specific grade period or when the student has failed to meet professional expectations.
Dismissal - Upon the recommendation of the departmental faculty, a student may not be permitted to continue enrollment when the student has received a grade of F, when the student's overall grade point average is less than 2.00 on all course work completed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, when the student's grade point average is less than 2.00 in each of two consecutive grading periods, when the student has failed to meet professional expectations, or when the student incurs an unexplained or unexcused absence from all classes and school and departmental activities for a period of two continuous weeks.
When it seems advisable, a student may be dismissed from school without having been placed on probation. Students recommended for academic dismissal may request a hearing by submitting a written request to the dean.
Leave of Absence - On the recommendation of the department chairman and the approval of the dean, a student in good academic standing may be granted a leave of absence for legitimate medical or military reasons. The request for leave of absence must be appropriately documented, and in the case of medical leave, must be reviewed by the director of the Student-Employee Health Service. Leave may not exceed one (1) calendar year.
Withdrawal - Registration for a course makes the student responsible for attending that class until the course is completed or until, with the permission of the department chairman and Dean, the Registrar authorizes withdrawal from the course. A student who withdraws from the curriculum must file official withdrawal forms in the Registrar's Office to obtain necessary clearance from all departments concerned. Failure to comply will result in the recording of failing grades in all courses in which the student is registered. Approved withdrawals, if completed on or before the last day specified by the academic calendar, will not be recorded on the student's record. Withdrawals authorized after this date will be recorded as W, unless the student has completed the course, in which case the final grade in the course will be recorded.