Respiratory Care: Academic Policies


Academic Progression
All professional courses (RC prefix) in the Department are taught in a sequential manner.  Each professional course in the program serves as the prerequisite for the subsequent course.  Consequently, professional courses must be taken in sequence.  Withdrawing or failure to successfully complete a professional course with a letter grade of "C" or better may result in the student being placed on the three-year track, given a leave of absence (LOA) and academic probation or dismissed from the program after review by the Committee on Progress and Promotions.  Students readmitted to the program at times other than the fall quarter of the second year will pick up the course sequence as prescribed by the Chair/Program Director or Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care.

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR RESPIRATORY CARE AND MAJOR FIELD RELATED COURSES
90 - 100 = A
80 -  89 = B
75 -  79 = C
70 -  74 = D
below 70 = F
Unless otherwise described in a given course syllabus, the minimum satisfactory grade for course credit is a letter grade of "C" and all stipulated segments of a course must be passed by this standard. Students must demonstrate proficiency in all clinical skills presented in order to pass clinical courses.  For all clinical courses, the final exam must be passed at the designated cut score AND a grade of “C” or better must be maintained in order to successfully complete each clinical course to continue in the program.
Students are expected to maintain an Overall GPA in The Program of at Least 2.0
Failure of the student to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 will subject the student to a review and may result in the student being placed on probation, given a LOA, or dismissed from the program after review by the Committee on Progress and Promotions.
If dismissed and the student wishes to reenter the program, he/she must reapply and will be considered on the same basis as any new applicant.  Students who voluntarily withdraw from the program either passing or failing have no guarantee of reinstatement to the program.  Students requesting readmission to the program should submit a letter to that effect to the Committee on Progress and Promotion for Respiratory Care. Students readmitted to the program will pick up the course sequence as prescribed by the Chair/Program Director or Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care.
The three-year track option may be used to remediate students that fail to earn at least a grade of "C" in each respiratory care course or maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0.  While on this three-year track withdrawing or failure to complete a respiratory care professional course with a letter grade of "C" or better may result in the student being placed on academic probation, given a LOA, or dismissed from the program after review by the Committee on Progress and Promotions.

CLINICAL FINAL EXAMINATIONS
All students are required to pass the clinical final examination after completing Clinical course to continue in the program. In the event a student fails the clinical final examination, the student is allowed to make ONE more attempt to pass. In the event the student passes the clinical final exam on the second attempt the student will continue in the program.  The grade earned on the first attempt will be used to calculate the final clinical grade.  In the event the student does NOT pass the clinical final exam on the second attempt the student will earn an “F” in the clinical course and may be suspended or released from the program. 

COMPREHENSIVE END-OF-PROGRAM COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT EXAMINATION
At the end of the second year, the student will complete the written registry examination (WRRT) and clinical simulation examination (CSE).  The examination will be taken during the spring session of the second year as a part of RC 431 Clinical Practice III.  The examination fee is approximately $390.00.  A passing score and successful achievement of the registry (RRT) credential is required to successfully complete RC 431, as well as meet graduation and program completion requirements (see Graduation Requirements).  Students who do not successfully complete the RRT credential will receive an Incomplete (“I”) for RC 432 and will retake the examination prior to the beginning of the next quarter.  Those failing the examination twice will be enrolled in RC 432 as a directed Independent Study during the summer quarter for remediation.  Those failing the examination on the third attempt will be subject to dismissal from the program.  Those students may reapply to the program (see Procedures for Readmission).

PROFICIENCEY CREDIT
Specific information about proficiency credit is available at: http://www.rushu.rush.edu/catalog/acadresources/creditbyexam.html

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES/RUSH UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC POLICIES
Academic policies specific to the College of Health Sciences are located at http://www.rushu.rush.edu/catalog/acadprograms/chs/chsacadpolicies.html. In addition, the Academic Resources and Policies section of this catalog contains Rush University academic policies.