Section 1 of this document addresses academic standards and readmission policies for students enrolled in the didactic portion of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. These standards are administered by the Academic Standards and Readmissions Committee, chaired by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Section 2 addresses standards and readmission policies for students in the experiential portion of the curriculum (introductory and advanced practice experiences). These standards and policies are administered by the Experiential Learning Academic Standards Committee, chaired by the Associate Dean for Engagement and Partnerships.

Section 1

Definitions for purposes of this document:

Professional program GPA refers to the semester and/or cumulative GPA reported on the official Purdue University transcript following admission to the professional program. GPA is computed following University procedures with regard to grades for repeated courses and credits transferred from other institutions for course equivalents.

Core courses are defined as mandatory courses requiring achievement of minimal competency in order to meet the requirements of the PharmD degree. The large majority of PharmD courses are core courses; see the curriculum.

Electives are courses that are required in addition to core curricula that meet the hours requirement for the PharmD degree. Electives allow for knowledge expansion in specific areas and may be offered within the College or outside of the College. The PharmD degree requires satisfactory completion of 10 credit hours of electives taken over the first six semesters of the PharmD program.

Rationale

Students are selected for admission based on evidence of (a) academic readiness for the curriculum, and (b) motivation to pursue a PharmD degree. An Academic Progress Evaluation is conducted at the end of each fall and spring semester through the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to identify students whose grade records reveal academic difficulties. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisors to formulate an individualized action plan for success.

Minimal competency and GPA

The faculty have defined minimal competency as all of the following:

  1. C grade (course GPA of 2.0) or P grade (for courses offered P/NP) in core courses, AND
  2. Professional program semester GPA of 2.0, AND
  3. Professional program cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  • A grade of C minus in a core course (course GPA of 1.7) does not meet minimal competence.
  • Courses taken as P/NP do not impact a student’s GPA.

Academic notice

A student will be placed on academic notice upon earning any of the following:

  1. One or more grades below a C (course GPA below 2.0) or a grade of NP in any given semester in a core course.
  2. Professional program semester GPA below 2.0 at the end of a fall or spring semester.
  3. Professional program cumulative GPA below 2.0 at the end of a fall or spring semester.
  • A grade of C minus (course GPA of 1.7) in a core course will result in academic notice.
  • A grade of WF is equivalent to an F.
  • Students are allowed two semesters of academic notice, with the exception of readmitted students who are allowed one subsequent academic notice. A second academic notice for students previously dismissed results in dismissal with no option for readmission.
  • A student shall be removed from academic notice at the end of the first subsequent fall or spring semester in which he/she achieves a semester and cumulative professional program GPA at or above 2.0, and has repeated and achieved minimal competency in core coursework.
  • A student who did not meet minimal competency in a core course is placed in continuing academic notice status until they have the opportunity to repeat the course. This allows students to continue in the PharmD program without receiving an additional academic notice due to a GPA below 2.0.
  • If a course is repeated, the original grade remains on the Purdue transcript but the student’s GPA is adjusted upon completion of the repeated course. It is not advised to repeat a core course in which a student has achieved a grade of C or higher, as a subsequent lower grade could result in academic notice.
  • Upon completion of the semester Academic Progress Evaluation, students placed on probation in academic notice with these policies will be notified, along with the students’ pharmacy academic advisor.

Academic separation

A student will be academically separated from the PharmD program upon any of the following:

  1. A third semester resulting in academic academic notice
  2. Failure to meet minimal competency after taking a core course twice
  3. Absence from the PharmD program for more than one year without an approved deferral by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
  4. Failure to meet University academic standards regarding academic separation
  • Students academically separated should contact their pharmacy academic advisor for assistance with a revised academic plan.
  • Students academically separated may not take Purdue College of Pharmacy PharmD courses.
  • Academic separation from the PharmD program does not mean the student is dropped from Purdue University. These students may apply for transfer to another academic program or to another University and take courses to prepare for readmission.
  • Upon completion of the semester Academic Progress Evaluation, students academically separated in accordance with these policies will be notified, along with the student's pharmacy academic advisor.
  • Students academically separated may apply for readmission as outlined in the readmission section below.

Readmission

  • Students without a Bachelor’s degree who are academically separated for failing to demonstrate minimal competency must complete a Bachelor’s of Science degree from an accredited US college or university before consideration for readmission.  The degree must be in a STEM-related field and the overall undergraduate GPA must be at or above 3.0 (or the equivalent).  The content and rigor of the coursework must demonstrate to the College Readmissions Committee that the student has resolved the issues that led to poor academic performance.
  • Students with a Bachelor’s degree who are academically separated for failing to demonstrate minimal competency must successfully complete 30 additional credit hours at an accredited US college or university, with at least 23 of those credit hours being junior, senior or master’s level STEM coursework. Cumulative GPA must be at or above 3.0 (or the equivalent) for those 30 credits prior to consideration for readmission. Students must discuss the selection of courses with their Purdue pharmacy academic advisor before enrollment. The content and rigor of the coursework must demonstrate to the College Readmissions Committee that the student has resolved the issues that led to poor academic performance.
  • At least one year must elapse from academic separation before the student is eligible to apply for readmission.
  • A letter of intent for readmission must be sent to the Readmissions Committee Chair. The letter of intent outlines the steps taken by the student to fulfill the requirements for application for readmission.
  • For anticipated fall enrollment, the letter of intent due date is: January 20. For spring enrollment, the letter due date is: August 20. Late letters will not be considered.
  • The Chair will 1) review the letter of intent to determine eligibility to apply for readmission 2) send an application packet to the student, and 3) convene the Readmissions Committee after the student’s final grades are submitted. The Readmissions Committee will meet during the semester prior to anticipated reenrollment to review the application materials and final grades and make a determination.
  • The Readmissions Committee will consist of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a total of 7 other faculty, with representation from each of the College Departments. The student’s primary academic advisor and the Admissions Committee Chair may attend ad hoc as non-voting members of the committee.
  • The student may attend the start of the Readmissions Committee meeting in order to make a statement and clarify content in the readmissions packet.
  • Students readmitted may have stipulations including a requirement to repeat a course(s) previously taken regardless of the grade(s) earned, repeat an entire semester, year or years of the PharmD program, meet regularly with an advisor or faculty member, and/or participate in specified study or help group(s), among other stipulations.

Appeals

Student appeals related to grades are handled by the College Grade Appeals Committee in accordance with the University Grade Appeal System; whereas student appeals relating to administration of these policies will be referred to the College Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Graduation

Students must demonstrate minimum competency in all core courses and attain a minimum professional program cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be considered for graduation in the College.

Section 2

Experiential Learning policies for Introductory (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) align with the policies and procedures stated above with these exceptions:

Academic notice

A student will be placed on academic notice upon earning a NP grade on a Community Pharmacy IPPE, Hospital/Health System IPPE, or any APPE rotation.

Academic separation

A student will be academically separated from the PharmD program upon earning a second NP grade for the Community Pharmacy IPPE, a second NP grade for the Hospital/Health System IPPE, or a second NP grade for any APPE rotation.

Readmission

The Experiential Learning Academic Standards Committee considers readmissions based on experiential learning academic separation and consists of the Associate Dean for Engagement and Partnerships, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and 7 other faculty with precepting responsibilities.

Approved by the faculty, Spring 2011.  Readmission standards revised and approved by the faculty, Fall 2011.  Revision approved by the faculty, Fall 2013. Revision approved by the faculty, Spring 2023. Section 2 approved by ELAC Spring 2023.