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& Awards Academic evaluation in the School of Dentistry is based upon a combination of the intellectual, technical, professional and behavioral performance of a student. It is not sufficient for a student to meet grading requirements, as that is only one component of the standards for promotion and graduation. Each student is required to meet not only academic standards that reflect intellectual achievement, but also those that reflect technical standards and professional conduct. TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR THE PROFESSION In addition to proven academic ability and other relevant personal characteristics, the School of Dentistry expects all applicants to and students of the programs in dentistry, dental hygiene, dental laboratory technology and advanced education to possess and be able to demonstrate the skills, attributes and qualities set forth below, without unreasonable dependence on technology or intermediaries. Physical health: The student must possess the physical health and stamina needed to carry out the program of dental education. Intellectual skills: The student must have sufficient powers of intellect to acquire, assimilate, integrate and apply information. The student must have the intellectual ability to solve problems. The student must possess the ability to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships. Motor skills: The student must have sufficient use of motor skills to carry out all procedures involved in learning the fundamental sciences and those required in the clinical environment. This includes the ability to participate in relevant educational exercises and to extract information from written sources. Communication: The student must have sufficient use of the senses of speech, hearing and vision to communicate effectively with patients, teachers and peers in both oral and written form. Sensory abilities: The student must have sufficient use of the senses of vision, hearing, touch and smell to observe effectively in the classroom, laboratory and clinical setting. Students must possess the ability to observe both close at hand and at a distance. Behavioral qualities: The student must possess emotional health sufficient to carry out the tasks above, must have good judgment and must behave in a professional, reliable, mature and responsible manner. The student must be adaptable, possessing sufficient flexibility to function in new and stressful environments. The student must possess appropriate motivation, integrity, compassion and a genuine interest in caring for others. Each student must continue to meet all of the TECHNICAL STANDARDS set forth above. A student may be denied permission to continue in the education program at the School of Dentistry should the student fail at any time to demonstrate all of the required TECHNICAL STANDARDS. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEES GRADING SYSTEM The School of Dentistry uses the letter grades of A, B, C, D and F for final course grades. Numerical values are established by the Academic Performance Advancement Committee and published in the LSUSD Student Handbook of Policies and Procedures. The grades of A, B, C and D indicate passing work, with "A" being the highest grade given. The School of Dentistry also employs an "I" grade for incomplete course work that is assigned when the reason for the incomplete course work can be verified as beyond the student's control. The deficiency must be removed by the student, at which time the "I" will be converted to the letter grade the student has earned. The "F" grade indicates failure in a course. The LSU Health Sciences Center, Office of the Registrar, notifies each student of his/her academic standing in writing at the end of the academic year. For the Program in Dentistry, the grade point average (GPA) is derived by multiplying the clock hours total by the quality points earned and dividing that product by the total number of hours attempted. Proportional weight is given to the number of clock hours in each course. An "A" has the value of 4 quality points, B = 3 quality points, C = 2 quality points, D = 1 quality point, and F = no quality points. Thus a 2.0 GPA is equivalent to a "C" average. For the Programs in Dental Hygiene and Dental Laboratory Technology, the grade point average (GPA) is derived by multiplying the number of credit hours assigned to each course by the quality points earned and dividing that product by the total number of credit hours attempted. Proportional weight is given to the number of credit hours in each course. An "A" has the value of 4 quality points, B = 3 quality points, C = 2 quality points, D = 1 quality point, and F = no quality points. Thus a 2.0 GPA is equivalent to a "C" average. GRADING SCALES Case 1: LSUSD Letter Grading System:
The "F" grade
denotes a failure
of the course. PASS / FAIL GRADES The Pass/Fail grading system applies in certain required courses, as well as elective courses, and the criteria are specified in the evaluation section of the individual course outlines. For the Program in Dentistry, when a "Pass" grade is awarded, the student earns the clock hour value of the course; however, should a "Fail" grade be incurred, the clock hours are charged against the GPA, as an "F" would in any letter-graded course. For the Program in Dental Hygiene and Dental Laboratory Technology, the student earns the credit hour value of the course; however, should a "Fail" grade be incurred, the credit hours are charged against the GPA, as an "F" would in any letter-graded course. EXAMINATIONS Examinations may be written, oral, practical or a combination of all three. Failure to pay fees may cause a student to be restricted from taking examinations. The Department Head, or the Course Director with approval of the Department Head, has the option to re-examine any student at any time or to give the student any additional test or tests other than those regularly scheduled, with the objective of arriving at a more accurate evaluation of the student's academic performance. Examination materials will be retained by the course director/department until after registration for the next academic year unless a grade appeal has been filed. Materials should be retained as long as an appeal is in progress. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT Students must demonstrate the highest standards of character and integrity that warrant the public confidence and trust bestowed on them as health professionals. The standards for PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT are included in the LSUSD Student Handbook of Policies and Procedures. Among the elements of professionalism, each student must adhere to the following specific standards:
All documented reports of non-compliance with the standards of PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT specified above are forwarded to the appropriate Academic Performance Advancement Committee for review. The Academic Performance Advancement Committee may deny a student permission to continue in the educational program should the student fail to demonstrate PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. ATTENDANCE LSUSD has a standard
policy for attendance
in all didactic and
pre-clinical courses
as well as a policy
for attendance in
all clinical courses.
These policies are
included in the LSUSD
Student Handbook
of Policies and Procedures. Students are required to attend all scheduled appointments/sessions in each course. Students not present when attendance is taken will be considered absent. Absence in excess of 20% of the total clock hours in any course will result in a final grade reduction of one letter grade for that course. Each department will determine general policy for monitoring attendance in assigned courses. There are no excused absences with this policy. The only exception is an approved LEAVE OF ABSENCE, as described herein. Case 2: Clinical Courses: All third and fourth year dental students will be required to attend 90% of the clinic sessions scheduled for them in order to be promoted and/or to graduate. Lab work sessions, personal commitments and illness are included in the 10% missed sessions allowed. Students, who exceed the 10% missed sessions, will be allowed to remediate by working in clinic sessions. Remediation will begin as soon as possible after the completion of the academic year. This will only be permitted during the available scheduled clinic sessions before the start of the next year. If there are not enough sessions available, the third-year student will not be promoted to the fourth-year. Fourth-year students who cannot complete their remediation prior to graduation will graduate at the next regularly scheduled LSU Health Sciences Center graduation. STATEMENT OF SATISFACTORY PROGRESS The Academic Performance Advancement Committees evaluate the qualitative and quantitative academic progress of each student and allow the student's continued enrollment in the School of Dentistry if the student is making satisfactory progress. In order to achieve the status of satisfactory academic progress, the student must meet the following minimum standards:
A student not satisfactorily completing all course requirements may be permitted to remediate or required to repeat an entire academic year of study. A student not satisfactorily meeting all of the TECHNICAL STANDARDS or satisfactorily demonstrating PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT expected of a health professional may be denied at any time permission to continue in the educational program at the School of Dentistry. With the approval of the Dean, the committee will recommend that a student who is not making satisfactory progress be dropped from the rolls of the school. PROMOTIONS After a student has been admitted to the School of Dentistry, the student's advancement to the next succeeding class and ultimate graduation depend on the student's demonstration of SATISFACTORY PROGRESS as defined above and the approval and recommendation of the Academic Performance Advancement Committee. The Academic Performance
Advancement Committee
may deny a student
permission to continue
in the educational
program when the
student's conduct,
attitude, mental
or physical fitness
cast grave doubt
upon the student's
professional capabilities. The Academic Performance Advancement Committee will consider for promotion a student who has achieved a grade point average of 2.0 or better, has not failed courses during the academic year, has continued to meet the required TECHNICAL STANDARDS of the profession and has continued to demonstrate PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. The student must satisfactorily complete all requirements in each course. The student who has achieved a grade point average of 2.0 or better and has incurred deficiencies (a grade of "I" or "F") that the committee has not considered excessive may be allowed to remove the deficiencies in order to be considered for promotion. A mid-year review is made for all students in all programs. All students with grade point averages below 1.0 will be dropped from the rolls for academic deficiencies. Dental hygiene or dental laboratory technology students with grade point averages below 1.5 will be dropped from the rolls for academic deficiencies (applies to programs on semester basis). The committee may require a student with a grade point average between 1.70 up to and including 1.99 to be dropped from the rolls for poor scholarship. A student with a grade point average below 1.70 will be dropped from the rolls for poor scholarship. The Academic Performance Advancement Committee may drop from the rolls at any time during the academic year a student who has incurred excessive deficiencies (a grade of "I" or "F"), has failed to satisfactorily meet the required TECHNICAL STANDARDS or has failed to demonstrate PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. Any student of a School of Dentistry program who has been dropped from the rolls for academic reasons and has been recommended to further pursue certain courses or activities, may upon satisfactory completion of said courses or activities, petition the Academic Performance Advancement Committee for readmission to repeat that academic year. When a student is readmitted to repeat an entire academic year, only the course grades achieved in the repeat year will be used to compute satisfactory academic progress for promotion and graduation. The student's complete transcript (grades for all work attempted) while enrolled in the School of Dentistry will still be used for all other purposes. Each dental student
must complete the
four-year curriculum
in no more than six
years after initial
enrollment and no
year may be repeated
more than once. Each
dental hygiene student
must complete the
two-year Bachelor
of Science Degree
program curriculum
in no more than three
years after initial
enrollment and no
year may be repeated
more than once. Each
dental laboratory
technology student
must complete the
two-year Associate
of Science Degree
program curriculum
in no more than three
years after initial
enrollment, and no
year may be repeated
more than once. The
time granted a student
for a LEAVE OF ABSENCE
will not be included
in the maximum time
period for completion
of the program. The Academic Performance Advancement Committee will not approve the promotion of a student to the next succeeding class or for graduation until the student has demonstrated SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. When a student has incurred deficiencies in any course, the department involved specifies, with the approval of the Academic Performance Advancement Committee, the method of removing deficiencies. The student must promptly remove all deficiencies in order for the Academic Performance Advancement Committee to evaluate the student's progress prior to registration. A student whose performance is unsatisfactory, including receiving a failing course grade, failing to meet the required TECHNICAL STANDARDS or failing to demonstrate PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT may be considered for dismissal or appropriate academic probation at any time the Academic Performance Advancement Committee feels such action is in the best interest of the school and/or the student involved. APPEALS OF FINAL GRADES Appeals of final course grades must be initiated by the student within five working days of receipt of the disputed grade. To appeal a final course grade, the student must first meet with the course director to discuss the situation and attempt to arrive at a solution. If the matter is not resolved between the student and the course director, and the student wishes to pursue the appeal, the student must then make a written request to the head of the department in which the course was taught asking for a meeting with the department head and the course director. The department head shall arrange a meeting within 10 working days of receipt of the request and, at the close of the meeting or within five working days thereafter, the department head shall render a decision. The department head shall inform all parties of the decision in writing. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision reached, the student may appeal to the Ad Hoc Academic Appeals Committee. The committee shall consist of three faculty members appointed by the dean of the School of Dentistry. The student's appeal to the Standing Appeals Committee must be made within five working days after notification of the department head's decision. The Standing Appeals Committee shall make a decision within fifteen working days from receipt of the student's appeal.
Appeals of action(s) taken by the Academic Performance Advancement Committee must be appealed within 5 working days after receipt of notification of the committee action(s). The appeal must be in writing to the dean and contain the following information: (1) a statement of the actions complained of, (2) the relief requested, and (3) a specific statement of the reasons supporting the relief sought. The dean or his assignee may recommend the matter to the Academic Performance Advancement Committee for consideration of additional evidence. The committee shall make its recommendation to the dean within 5 working days of the hearing. Acting on the committee's advice or independently, the dean shall render a decision. The dean shall make a decision within 30 days from receipt of the student's appeal. The decision shall be in writing and copies of the decision shall be given to all parties. The decision of the appeal reached by the dean represents the final level of due process in the School of Dentistry. DISCIPLINARY MISCONDUCT Disciplinary misconduct occurring within or outside the confines of the teaching programs will subject the offending student to appropriate disciplinary measures that can include dismissal. A student who is accused of such offenses will be given an opportunity to establish innocence before the Student Affairs Committee. At the time of matriculation, all students are furnished with a complete set of policies and procedures including all phases of due process relating to disciplinary misconduct. CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY POLICY Alcohol abuse and the illegal use or abuse of other drugs are associated with health, safety and social problems. Students may obtain assistance for alcohol and/or drug problems voluntarily through the LSUHSC Campus Assistance Program (CAP) or through an outside provider. School of Dentistry administration may formally refer a student to CAP for a substance abuse evaluation. Any student who refuses formal referral for evaluation and/or treatment for chemical dependency or who is unsuccessful in a treatment program for chemical dependency is subject to suspension from the School of Dentistry by the dean. If a student returns to school after obtaining treatment for chemical dependency, the student will be given the opportunity to sign a Continuation of Enrollment Agreement with the School of Dentistry which outlines continued compliance with chemical dependency treatment recommendations. Failure to comply with the terms of this agreement may result in termination from the School of Dentistry. REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
WITHDRAWALS A student who, for legitimate reasons, is unable to return to school at the opening of any semester or who, for acceptable reason, must discontinue school during the academic year, will ordinarily be permitted to withdraw in good standing. A student who withdraws from the School will receive a "W" grade for each course that is less than 80% completed, according to assigned clock hours. For courses that are 80% or more complete at the time of withdrawal, a "W" will be recorded when student performance is satisfactory or an "F" will be recorded when student performance is unsatisfactory. A student who has withdrawn in good standing may apply for readmission on the basis of the student's status at the time of withdrawal. In general, a student will not be considered for readmission if the absence has been for more than two consecutive years. LEAVE OF ABSENCE The Dean or his assignee may grant a petition for a short leave of absence in case of illness, pregnancy, approved participation at a professional meeting, or any emergency, with the explicit understanding that the student will arrange with the faculty involved to satisfactorily make up all the work the student will miss. Extended medical or personal leaves of absence will be considered through the Dean's office on a case by case basis. LSUHSC | Foundation | Contact
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The
School of Dentistry
has six Academic
Performance Advancement
Committees including
one for each dental
class, one for the
dental hygiene program
and one for the dental
laboratory technology
program. The Academic
Performance Advancement
Committees are responsible
for evaluating the
student's scholastic
performance and progress,
which shall include
the student's course
grades, compliance
with the TECHNICAL
STANDARDS and demonstration
of PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
expected of a dental
professional. The
committees meet on
a regular basis throughout
the year to evaluate
student scholastic
progress and professional
behavior. Students
who appear to be
experiencing difficulty
in maintaining the
required standards
are informed in writing
or through personal
counseling. Each
student must continue
to meet the requirements
of SATISFACTORY PROGRESS
as defined herein.