ITHACA COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Academic Policies and Procedures
I.
ADMISSIONS
A.
Admission of Students into Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy program
Students are typically admitted into the Physical Therapy Program to the pre-professional year 1
majoring in Clinical Health Studies. Once admitted, the student will be able to remain enrolled in
the program as long as he/she satisfies the academic requirements of the Department, School, and
College.
B.
Admission of Transfer Students
Transfer students may be admitted to the Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy degree
program as undergraduate students as early as the fall semester of the pre-professional year 2 and
as late as the summer session that begins the first professional year of courses. When openings
exist, credentials of the applicants will be reviewed by the Department’s Transfer Coordinator who
then makes recommendations regarding admission to the Department Chair. The Department
Chair reviews the recommendations and renders a final decision regarding admission. A
minimum of three transfer students will be admitted to each student cohort.
Transfer students may be accepted directly at the beginning of the professional phase of the
curriculum (professional year one) if they have a B.S. Degree with a cumulative GPA of at least
3.0 and have completed specified undergraduate prerequisite courses. When openings exist,
credentials of the applicants will be reviewed by the Department’s Transfer Coordinator who then
makes recommendations regarding admission to the Department Chair. The Department Chair
reviews the recommendations and renders a final decision regarding admission.
C.
Admission to Graduate Component of Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Program
To be eligible for admission to the physical therapy doctoral program, undergraduate students
must have completed the B.S. Degree in Clinical Health Studies (described in the Ithaca College
Undergraduate Catalog) with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
II.
STUDENT ACADEMIC ADVISING
The goal in advisement is to counsel students regarding their academic, intellectual, and professional
development. Each student admitted to the Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy program is assigned
an academic advisor from the Physical Therapy faculty. If at any time either a student or an advisor
believes it would be in the student’s best interest to change advisors a Change of Advisor Form must be
completed and submitted to the Department Chair who will assign the student another advisor.
Conversations with the student regarding their academic performance will be documented at the discretion
of the advisor. The notes of these conversations will be included in the student’s file that is maintained by
the Department of Physical Therapy.
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III.
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
A.
Grade Requirements
The regulations outlined below comply with, or are in addition to, those outlined in the
Undergraduate or Graduate catalogs.
1.
Undergraduate Students
Students matriculated in the Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy major must receive
at least a grade of C- in all required courses. Undergraduate courses (level 4 or below) in
the physical therapy program that are awarded letter grades use the following grading
scale:
% earned
letter grade
93-100
A
90-92
A87-89
B+
83-86
B
80-82
B77-79
C+
73-76
C
70-72
C67-69
D+
63-66
D
60-62
D<60
F
Grades of D or F are not acceptable in any required undergraduate courses.
Graduate level courses (level 5 or above) in the Clinical Health
Studies/Physical Therapy program that are awarded letter grades use the following
grading scale:
% earned
letter grade
93-100
A
90-92
A87-89
B+
83-86
B
80-82
B77-79
C+
73-76
C
70-72
C<70
F
No grades of D are awarded for graduate level courses.
Grades of F are not acceptable in any required graduate courses.
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.80 at the completion of the spring
semester of pre-professional year 2 to continue in the program.
Students in the Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy major must achieve a
cumulative 3.0 GPA by the end of pre-professional year 3in order to enter the
professional phase of the program.
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Incomplete Grade for Undergraduate Students
All undergraduate students must complete required courses in which a grade of
Incomplete (I) has been recorded by the end of the following semester, or earlier if
specified by the course instructor, in accordance with the Undergraduate Catalog. All
undergraduate students must complete any required physical therapy professional level
course(s) (courses with the PTBS course prefix) in which an Incomplete (I) has been
recorded before entering the following semester.
2.
Graduate Students
Graduate level courses (level 5 or 6 courses) in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program
are awarded letter grades using the following grading scale:
% earned
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
<70
letter grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CF
No grades of D are awarded for graduate level courses.
Students in Clinical Education coursework are graded on a Satisfactory (S)
/Unsatisfactory (U) basis
Grades of F or U are not acceptable in any required graduate courses.
Students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must achieve a 3.0 GPA for each
semester or term and must earn satisfactory grades in clinical education courses in order
to remain in good academic standing and continue in the program. Students in the
doctoral program must maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA to successfully
complete the DPT program.
.
Incomplete Grade for Graduate Students
A faculty member may assign a grade of “I” (incomplete) to a graduate student whose
work on a thesis or other individual study course is not complete at the end of a semester
or academic session. Otherwise, incompletes are given only when a student is doing
satisfactory work but cannot complete the course for a reason not related to academic
performance (i.e., medical, family emergency). Terms for the completion of the course
are to be determined by the course instructor and will include the following: specific
assignments with criteria for assessment and the due date (see Graduate Catalog for
procedural details). If no complete grade is received by the due date, a grade of F or U is
recorded on the transcript.
A graduate student who receives a grade of Incomplete (I) must complete the
requirements of the course within one year from the date of the last class.
Students must have satisfactorily completed all prior required course work to progress to
clinical education courses.
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B.
Curricular Requirements
1. Order and Sequence of Completion of Required Courses
Courses must be satisfactorily completed in the order and timeframe specified in the DPT
curriculum made available to each student unless permission to deviate from the sequence or time
frame has been approved by the department faculty. Students who fail Clinical Education courses
be required to successfully repeat the course the next time it is offered before continuing in the
curriculum.
Students enrolled in the Clinical Health Studies program must complete all degree requirements
within five years of beginning the program.
Students enrolled in Doctor of Physical Therapy program are required to meet all requirements for
graduation within four years of date of graduation from the Clinical Health Studies program.
Transfer students who are accepted into the DPT program must satisfactorily complete all courses
in the professional phase of the Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy program in the order and
timeframe specified for the DPT class which they are entering. In addition, transfer students
admitted to the DPT program may be required to satisfactorily complete additional courses that
may be specified on a case-by-case basis by the Department’s Transfer Coordinator in order to
satisfy requirements normally met by completion of the pre-professional phase (years 1-3) of the
DPT curriculum.
2. Completion of a Minor or Second Major
Students enrolled in the Clinical Health Studies degree program must complete by the end of the
spring semester of the professional year 1, a minor in a field of their choice or a second major to
fulfill degree requirements.
C. Program Acceleration
At times, students in the Clinical Health Studies degree program may enter the program with a
substantial number of credits derived from Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate
(IB), College level Examination Program (CLEP) coursework or courses completed at other
colleges or universities that are credited toward the Clinical Health Studies degree requirements.
Such students may be able to complete the requirements within the first six semesters of the
degree program in two academic years as opposed to the normal three academic years. If such is
the case a student may apply for program acceleration which if approved would move the student
from their current class to the next class or cohort. To apply for program acceleration:
a.
the student completes and submits an acceleration application to the academic
advisor who notes a recommendation (approve/deny) with reasons,
b.
the advisor forwards the application with recommendation to the Chair, and
c.
the Chair reviews the application, approves/denies the request and notifies the
student regarding the decision.
D. Student Functional Performance Requirements
Physical therapists must have the physical and mental capacity to safely and effectively evaluate
and manage the individuals they serve. A document titled “Essential Functions for Physical
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Therapy Practice” describes in detail the emotional, communication, cognitive, sensory/motor, and
social-behavioral functions a student should be able to perform in order to practice physical
therapy. Matriculating pre-professional year one students are given printed copy of the essential
functions document prior to arrival to campus and asked to acknowledge by signature receipt of
the document. In addition, for pre-professional year one students, the essential functions are
discussed in required academic coursework during their first academic year in residence. For
students transferring into the program, the essential function document will be provided to them
upon arrival on campus. All students will be advised to discuss the essential function document
with their academic advisor. For all students, the document is also available on the Physical
Therapy Department website
(http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/depts/pt/docs/studentpol/ICPTEssentFunc/). Students with
documented disability will not be precluded from participating in the program however such
students will need to be able to perform all functions with reasonable accommodation.
IV.
POLICIES ON UNACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
The following sections describe those policies and procedures that apply to students with unacceptable
academic performance. Criteria for College or School academic status (warning, suspension, or dismissal)
are specified in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. The criteria below apply to departmental
academic status.
A.
Student Academic Performance Review
1.
Undergraduate
At the end of each academic term, the faculty will review the records of students with
academic deficiencies to determine their academic status. Grade point averages will be
reviewed upon completion of each academic semester (fall or spring excluding summer
term). Academic warning, suspension, or dismissal notices will be sent to the student by
the Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. When necessary, these letters will
specify criteria for reinstatement of good standing and time limitations. Notice of
departmental academic warning will not be sent to the college Registrar.
2.
Graduate
At the end of each term (semester, block, clinical education course), the faculty will
review the records of students with academic deficiencies. Grade point averages will be
reviewed upon completion of each academic semester (fall or spring) or upon completion
of all required classroom graduate coursework. The Dean of the School of Health
Sciences and Human performance will be informed of the student’s departmental
academic status. Notice of departmental academic warning will not be sent to the college
Registrar.
B.
Departmental Academic Warning
Placement of a student on academic warning indicates that a student has a serious deficiency that,
if not corrected, will result in suspension or dismissal from the Clinical Health Studies/Physical
Therapy program. Students on academic warning may not be allowed to progress to the clinical
education courses. Such students may be allowed to progress in the curriculum only under
conditions specified and approved by the department faculty. Remediation for removal of
academic warning status will be determined by the department faculty.
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1.
Undergraduate Students
An undergraduate student in the Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy major will be
placed on academic warning within the Department of Physical Therapy for the following
term if he/she:
a.
b.
c.
receives less than a C- grade, in any required course, or
drops or withdraws from any required course, or
does not complete the required courses in the normal timeframe and
sequence of the class to which they are assigned , or
d. fails to remove an incomplete grade by the date specified by the course
instructor, or
e receives less than a 3.0 GPA during a semester taking required graduate
(level 5 or higher) courses, or
f. has a documented pattern of unprofessional behavior.
2.
Graduate Students
A graduate student in the physical therapy major will be placed on academic warning
within the Department of Physical Therapy for the following term if he/she:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
receives less than a 3.00 GPA in an academic term,
withdraws from a required course, or
fails to remove a grade of incomplete (I) in the specified time, or
drops, withdraws, or receives an Unsatisfactory (U) grade from a
clinical education course, or
has a documented pattern of unprofessional behavior.
Students on Academic Warning may be allowed to progress in the curriculum only under
conditions specified and approved by the faculty. Remediation for removal of academic
warning status will be determined by the graduate faculty. Graduate students on academic
warning may not be allowed to progress to clinical education courses.
Warning status will be removed when the student’s GPA for the following academic
block or semester is 3.00 or greater and the cumulative GPA is 3.0 or greater. Warning
status due to unprofessional behavior will be removed when the student completes the
following term without additional documented incidences of unprofessional behavior.
Graduate students on academic warning due to unsatisfactory performance in a clinical
education course may not progress in the curriculum. Removal of this academic warning
status will occur upon successful completion of the following sequence:
a. satisfactorily complete Independent Clinical Study (PDPT 62900)
b. repeat the clinical education course in which an Unsatisfactory (U) grade
was earned the next time it is offered.
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C.
Dismissal from the Program
1.
Undergraduate Students
An undergraduate student is subject to dismissal from the Clinical Health
Studies/Physical Therapy program for any of the following reasons:
a. receives less than a C- grade in two or more required courses in the same
semester, or
b. is a pre-professional year one or pre-professional year two student on academic
warning who fails to successfully complete (with grades of C- or better) at least
12 credit hours in a semester, or
c. has less than a 2.8 cumulative GPA at the end of pre-professional year 2, or
d. has less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the end of the pre-professional year 3
e. is a pre-professional year 3 student or professional year 1 student who has been
on academic warning for any semester, and who receives less than a C- (or fails
to remove a grade of I in the specified time period) in any required course, or
f. is a professional year one student who receives less than a C- grade (or fails to
remove a grade of I in the specified time) in any required course or
g. fails, drops, or withdraws from any two required courses, or
h. withdraws from a required course while on academic warning.
i. has repeated documented instances of unprofessional conduct.
In an exceptional case, a student may be re-admitted upon the satisfactory completion of
conditions determined by the department faculty. Readmission following dismissal
requires the student to submit a written petition to the department faculty.
2.
Graduate Students
A graduate student in the Department of Physical Therapy is subject to dismissal for any
of the following reasons:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
receives more than 6 credits of C (C-, C, C+) per academic year or more than
nine credits total during the graduate years, or
receives a grade of F for any course in the graduate years (including
Independent Clinical Study) or,
remains on academic warning for any two consecutive full time academic terms,
or
fails, drops, withdraws or receives a (U) from any two clinical education
courses, or
receives an unsatisfactory grade (U) in a clinical education course in the final
year of the graduate program due to unsafe conduct, or
fails to successfully complete departmental remediation as prescribed by the
faculty within the allotted time, or
has repeated documented instances of unprofessional conduct.
If academic performance deficiencies include failure to meet minimum standards of the
School of Health Sciences and Human Performance or the College, suspension or
dismissal from Ithaca College may result.
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D.
Suspension from the Undergraduate Program
A student who is subject to dismissal from the program may, under extenuating circumstances, be
granted a suspension from the program.
A student who is suspended:
a. may not enroll in courses offered within the major.
b. may apply for a leave of absence from Ithaca College in accordance with College
policy.
c. may apply for readmission upon satisfactory completion of conditions specified by the
Department of Physical Therapy at the time of suspension.
E.
Petition for Waiver of Departmental Academic Policy
1.
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students who have academic deficiencies and have been placed on
warning or who have been suspended or dismissed from the program according to policy
may petition the faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy to waive Departmental
academic policy. Information for filing a petition can be obtained from the Department
office. A petition to the faculty to waive policy should contain explanations or
justifications for the waiver request.
2.
Graduate Students
Graduate Students who have academic deficiencies and have been placed on warning or
who have been dismissed from the program according to policy may petition to waive
Departmental academic policy. Information for filing a petition can be obtained from
the Department office. A petition to waive policy should contain explanations or
justifications for the waiver request.
V.
DEFERRAL OR LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM GRADUATE STUDIES
Once students graduate from the Clinical Health Studies program they have four years to complete the DPT degree.
Graduate students typically enter the graduate phase of the program the summer following the awarding of the
Clinical Health Studies degree.
Students who choose to defer graduate studies for personal, health or emergency reasons must submit a request in
writing (Student Intent to Not Continue/Defer in the Graduate Component of the Program) to the Chair of Graduate
Studies with a rationale for taking a leave, and when possible a plan for return. See Graduate Catalog for details
regarding Standard Leave of Absence, Medical Leave of Absence, or Emergency Leave of Absence. Students
enrolled in coursework at the time the leave is initiated will receive a W (withdrawal) if withdrawal deadline has not
passed or an I (Incomplete) if the withdrawal deadline has passed.
Students must notify in writing the Chair of Graduate Studies of their intention to return sixteen weeks prior to their
planned return date. The Chair of Graduate Studies will liaison with the student and faculty to determine a plan for
return that may include completion of additional coursework and/ or demonstration of knowledge or skills
Approved by the Faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy, October 1986. Amended by the
Department Faculty, November 1997, November 2005, October 2011, September 2012
Edited: 6/87, 6/92, 6/93, 4/94, 6/94, 4/95, 11/96, 11/97, 5/98, 5/99, 6/00, 5/01, 6/02, 5/03, 6/04, 12/05, 6/08, 3/10,
5/19/11, 10/25/11, 9/26/12, 1/3/13, 5/5/14, 6/15
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Appendix A:
Definitions of Pre-professional and Professional years in the Physical Therapy program at Ithaca
College
The Physical Therapy program at Ithaca College is approximately six years in duration and
consists of a four-year undergraduate degree program (B.S. in Clinical Health Studies) and a
two-year graduate degree program (DPT- Doctor of Physical Therapy). The first three years of
academic work are primarily directed toward the fulfillment of the college’s General Education
or Integrative Core Curriculum requirements, the requirements of a self-selected minor, and
basic science requirements for admission into the Professional Phase of the program. Preprofessional Year 1 is typically the first and second semesters of academic coursework. Preprofessional year two is typically the third and fourth semesters of academic coursework. Preprofessional year three is typically the fifth and six semesters of academic coursework. Upon
successful completion of all pre-professional required courses and a satisfactory cumulative GPA
students are permitted to enter the Professional Phase of the Physical Therapy program. The
Professional Year one typically begins in mid-to-late May with the onset of the summer
academic term immediately following completion of the sixth academic semester and the start
date for PTBS -51002 Human Anatomy. Professional Year one continues with the subsequent
fall (seventh semester) and spring (eighth semester) semester of required coursework with the
completion of these courses in May. Professional year two typically begins in mid-to-late May
with the start date of PDPT-59000 Clinical Education I and continues through the subsequent fall
(ninth semester) and spring (tenth semester) semesters of required course work and ends with
completion of the tenth semester required courses. Professional year three typically begins in the
fall semester (eleventh semester) of a DPT students sixth year and continues through the fall and
spring semesters and summer clinical internships which typically end in August.
Pre-professional year one: typically first and second semesters of coursework
Pre-professional year two: typically third and fourth semesters of coursework
Pre-professional year three: typically fifth and six semesters of coursework
Professional year one: typically summer session following pre-professional year three followed
by seventh and eighth semesters of coursework in Clinical health Studies program.
Professional year two (aka: Graduate year one): typically ninth and tenth semesters of
coursework in the DPT degree program
Professional year three (aka: Graduate year two): eleventh and twelfth semesters of coursework
followed by final clinical internships in the DPT program
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