Academic Policies and Procedures

After receiving a grade of D+, D, or D-, the student chooses whether or not to repeat the course, if the course does not conflict with other courses the student would normally take in the same semester. He or she may progress to courses for which the course in question is a prerequisite. If the student chooses to repeat the course, he or she must earn a grade of at least C-. If the new grade is a C- or better, the student is released from academic probation only if he or she has earned no further grades of D+, D, D-, or F while on academic probation or conditional academic probation. If the student does not earn a grade of at least C- upon repeating the course, he or she is subject to academic dismissal. The new grade is averaged with the grade of D+, D, or D- when the student’s pharmacy grade point average is calculated.

If the student chooses not to repeat the course, he or she remains on academic probation (or conditional academic probation, described below) through completion of the P4 advanced pharmacy practice experiential courses in the final semester. To take the P4 experiential courses, the student must have a grade point average of at least 2.00 in required pharmacy courses. If the student earns the symbol CR in each P4 advanced pharmacy practice  course, he or she is released from probation and graduates in good academic standing with the college.

1. The student’s University grade point average includes all courses taken at the University for which a grade or symbol other than Q, W, X, or CR is recorded. If the student has repeated a course, including those courses for which he or she earned a grade of D+, D, D-, or F, all grades earned are included in the University grade point average.
2. The student’s College of Pharmacy grade point average includes all required professional courses (excluding ALL elective courses) taken at the University for which a grade or symbol other than Q, W, X, or CR is recorded. When a student repeats a required pharmacy course, the second grade in the repeated course is averaged with the previous grade when the student’s College of Pharmacy grade point average is calculated.

1. To progress to the final-year experiential courses, the student must have successfully completed all basic education requirements and all required and elective pharmacy courses except those in the internship year.
2. Because final-year experiential courses are offered on the pass/fail basis only, students must have attained both the University and the College of Pharmacy grade point average of at least 2.00 required for graduation before they begin the P4 advanced pharmacy practice experiential year.
3. If a conflict arises between University requirements and a student’s employment, the student must resolve the conflict in favor of the University requirements.
4. A student who is not on academic probation must take at least twelve semester hours during any long-session semester, at least six hours of which must be for a letter grade (not pass/fail).
5. A student on academic probation must take at least twelve semester hours during any long-session semester or at least six semester hours during the summer session in order to clear academic probation.
6. Students may not take courses for degree credit at another institution without prior approval from the dean of the College of Pharmacy.
7. All students seeking to reenter the College of Pharmacy after having been placed on academic dismissal must make formal application through the Admissions Committee. The application is processed through the Admissions Committee with recommendations from the Academic Performance Committee and the approval of the dean.

Additional information is provided to students during the first professional year.

Toward that end, the faculty and students of the College of Pharmacy have pledged their support to the Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct and Scholastic Integrity and the Code of Ethics that implements this Policy Statement. Upon entering the College of Pharmacy, and each academic year thereafter, students are asked to recite and sign the following pledge:

“As a student of the University of Texas College of Pharmacy, I have reviewed and hereby pledge my full support to the Honor Code. I pledge to be honest myself, and in order that the spirit and integrity of the Honor Code may endure, I pledge that I will make known to the appropriate authorities cases of dishonesty which I observe in the College of Pharmacy.”

In addition, the following oath, which students will be asked to sign, is included at the end of all class examinations: “I have neither participated in nor witnessed any acts of academic dishonesty pertaining to this assignment.” At the discretion of the instructor, the oath may also be included for other assignments such as quizzes, written reports, or papers.

The entire text of the Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct and Scholastic Integrity and the Honor Code are available at http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/students/handbook98/3code.html .

Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including failure of the course involved and dismissal from the college and/or the University. Since dishonesty harms the individual, fellow students, and the integrity of the University and the College of Pharmacy, policies on scholastic dishonesty are strictly enforced.

The Second Highest GPA Award is given to the graduate(s) with the second highest grade point average in required PharmD courses.

The College of Pharmacy Award for Outstanding Research is given to a graduate who has demonstrated outstanding ability in areas of pharmacy research.

The College of Pharmacy Award for Excellence in Patient Care is presented to a graduate who has demonstrated excellence in patient care while pursuing the PharmD degree.

The College of Pharmacy Award for Dedicated Service is presented to a graduate who has shown a commitment to service above and beyond the norm.

The College of Pharmacy Award for Exemplary Leadership is presented to a graduate who has excelled in leadership while pursuing the PharmD degree.

The College of Pharmacy Alumni Association Mortar and Pestle Award for Leadership, Service, and Patient Care recognizes an exceptional graduate who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, service, and patient care in the college, the University, and the community while pursuing the PharmD degree. The award is a hand-carved mortar and pestle.

College of Pharmacy Class Officers are elected by their classmates and serve as permanent officers of their class.

Students’ scholarly accomplishments are also recognized through election to Rho Chi, the national pharmaceutical honor society, and through admission to the Pharmacy Honors Program. Students’ leadership accomplishments are recognized through election to Phi Lambda Sigma, the national pharmacy leadership society.