Academic Policies and Procedures

This section summarizes requirements for admission to the undergraduate health science and rehabilitative services programs as well as the pre-OT track within heatlh science in the College of Health Professions. Because specific requirements vary for the variety of preprofessional career interests represented by students within the health science program, applicants should contact a college adviser as soon as they identify a health professions major to ensure appropriate academic planning. Premedical, predental, and preveterinary students are also encouraged to contact the pre-health advisor located in the Academic Advising Center. Pre-physician assistant students are encouraged to contact the PA advisor. All students also should review the relevant UF college web sites for up-to-date information regarding program admission requirements for their specific discipline of interest at the graduate/ professional level.

UF Freshmen and Sophomores

UF Juniors and Seniors

Students are eligible to be considered for admission once they meet the following criteria:

• Earned at least 60 semester hours of acceptable college credit with an overall average GPA of 3.0 or higher for health science and 2.7 or higher for rehabilitative services on all college/university level work attempted.
• Completed all prerequisites, including all preprofessional coursework with the required GPA. (Prerequisite courses are listed under the College catalog section entitled Programs of Study.)
• Passed all sections of the College Level Academic Skills Test or have received a CLAST waiver.
• Fulfilled the university-wide general education requirements described in the Academic Advising section of this catalog. The course sequence in the Programs of Study section for each of the college's programs indicates how to fulfill these requirements while planning careers in health professions.
• Completed all writing, math, and foreign language requirements.
• Submitted a college application.

Transfer Students

Florida community college students:

• Completed all requirements for the A.A. degree.
• Completed all prerequisites, including all prerequisite coursework with the required GPA.
• Passed all sections of the College Level Academic Skills Test (or have received a CLAST waiver).
• Completed 60 semester hours of transferable college-level credit with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher for health science and 2.7 or higher for rehabilitative services
• Submitted a college and university application
• Students attending four-year colleges:
• Followed a program of general education and preprofessional courses comparable to the curriculum for freshmen and sophomores outlined for each program.
• Completed 60 semester credit hours (96 quarter hours) that can be accepted as transfer credit. (Refer to Transfer Credit Policy in the Academic Regulations section of the catalog.)
• Submitted a college and university application

Transfer Credit

All junior/senior level core coursework must be taken at UF. Transfer credit is not allowed. Undergraduate transfer credit is allowed for electives with the approval of the undergraduate coordinator.

Special Admission Requirements

In addition to specific GPA and coursework requirements, health science and rehabilitative services require evidence of commitment to the field. Students are encouraged to volunteer in a human services field to demonstrate this commitment. An interview may be required for admission to a major in the College of Health Professions.

Application Materials

Application Deadlines

Health Science admits twice per year. The Health Science preferred application deadline is April 1 for Fall admission and March 1 for Summer admission. Rehabilitative Services admits three times per year. The Rehabilitative Services preferred deadline is March 1 for the Summer A term, May 15 for the Fall term, and October 1 for the Spring term. After the deadlines, student applications are considered on a space available basis.

Double Majors/Dual Degrees

The college offers a bachelor of health science degree with a double major in health science and rehabilitative services. Students interested in this option should check both majors on their application for admission to the junior year. Students who are accepted into one major and subsequently decide they are interested in both majors will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students must meet the prerequisite requirements of both majors and have fewer than 96 credit hours to be eligible for the double major.

Students in the College of Health Professions can pursue an additional degree outside of the college, and students from other colleges can consider a dual degree with the College of Health Professions with permission of both colleges. Students are eligible to apply for the dual degree after they have completed 45 credit hours but before completion of 96 credit hours. The student must meet the necessary curricular requirements for both degrees.

Minors

The College of Health Professions offers minors in health science and in rehabilitative services. These minors are open to students in any college at the University of Florida. Minors are typically 15 credit hours, of which 12 credit hours must be from coursework 3000 level or higher and all graded C or better. Up to three credits of approved transfer coursework with a grade of C or better will be accepted. Students interested in a minor can obtain an application form and a list of appropriate coursework beginning in the junior year from the dean's office (N1-2 HSC).

Student Selection

While the dean and faculty of the college are aware of the need to prepare well-qualified graduates in the various degree programs, limitations in available staff, faculty and facilities oblige the college to limit enrollment in the junior and senior years. Therefore, admission to this college at the junior level is selective; satisfaction of minimum GPA and course requirements, which are listed in this catalog, does not guarantee admission to the junior level.

A student's total record, including educational objectives, courses completed, quality of academic record, and application essay will be considered in evaluating an applicant for admission.

Academic Advising

Once admitted to the junior level, students work with a faculty advisor to develop a Plan of Study. This required plan lays out the coursework the student anticipates taking each term until graduation. Creating a Plan of Study helps each student stay on track and achieve all College graduation requirements. Faculty advisors are available throughout the student's academic program to assist the student with questions and career planning.

S/U Option

The S/U option is not permitted for required prerequisite or major courses. However, the S/U option can be used for electives with permission of advisor.

Dean's List

The Dean's List recognizes outstanding academic achievement at the completion of each semester. Inclusion on the list means that the student has achieved a GPA of 3.65 or higher on a full-time curriculum of graded coursework. Students receiving a final grade of U or a failing grade will not be considered for the Dean's List, regardless of overall grade point average.

Academic Probation

Students not making sufficient progress toward program completion are considered to be off track. Off track status means the student has not met all tracking criteria for the designated term. Students who are off track can be placed on probation. The purpose of probation is to develop a plan to help the student return to good academic standing. Students off-track for 2 or more semesters can be dismissed from the College of Health Professions based on the college's policy below.

Freshmen and Sophomores

Freshman and sophomores can be off track for one of two reasons: low GPA or missing prerequisite or major courses.

1. All students who are off track at the end of any semester are required to meet with an academic adviser in the college to determine the steps needed to get back on track. This meeting must occur before the next semester begins, and it is the student's responsibility to schedule this meeting. If the student fails to meet with an adviser before the next semester begins, the student can be dismissed from the college.

2. The academic performance of all students who are off track after two semesters will be reviewed by an HP academic adviser. If, in the opinion of the adviser, the student could return to on-track status within one additional semester, the student will be considered for probation.

The academic performance of students who are off track after two semesters will be reviewed by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will determine whether to place the student on probation or to dismiss the student from the program. If the student has to withdraw (i.e., is dismissed) from the program, assistance will be offered to select another major either within the college or the university. All students placed on academic probation must meet with a college adviser before registering for the next semester.

The student and adviser will complete a written contract that details the steps the student must take to get back on track and identifies the timeframe in which these steps must be accomplished. The student and adviser must sign this contract to indicate their agreement of the requirements to return to good standing.

3. If the student disagrees with any aspect of the contract proposed, these concerns must be stated on the contract before signing. The student and adviser should then attempt to resolve these concerns. If they are unable to reach an agreement, the student has the right, prior to signing the contract, to appeal directly to the associate dean.

The student's signature on this contract indicates complete agreement, and further decisions regarding probation and suspension or a return to good standing in the college will be based on progression toward contract requirements. (If a student has a disability precluding reading or signing a written contract, an appropriate alternative will be employed.)

4. If a student fails to meet probationary requirements as specified by the contract and/or is off track after three semesters, the student must withdraw from the major. The student has the right to appeal the decision for dismissal to the dean within one week of notification. Students who must withdraw from the college will be offered assistance in choosing a different major at the university.

5. Students dismissed from the college who believe they have remediated all college pre-application requirements by the deadline for the major have the right to apply for admission. However, dismissal from the college can be considered when making admissions decisions.

6. Regardless of the number of semesters the student is off track, if a student meets university guidelines for dismissal, that student will be dismissed consistent with university policy.

Juniors and Seniors

Students must receive at least a C grade in all courses required for the major. Unsatisfactory grades, defined as grades lower than a C or grades of unsatisfactory in classes graded S-U, are grounds for probation and/or dismissal from the college.

1. If a student in the college receives a grade of D+ or lower in a required course, the student is placed on academic probation. Faculty will provide an opportunity for the student to make up material through independent study or to repeat the course. If the student receives at least a C in the course for which probation was implemented, the student will return to good standing. If the student receives a D+ or lower while on probation, the student must withdraw from the program.

2. If a student receives a D+ or lower in a second required course, the student must withdraw from the program. However, the student has the right to petition this decision. In order to petition the faculty committee, the student must provide the program coordinator with a letter stating the reasons that the student should be allowed to repeat the course. Upon successful petition and on a space-available basis, the student will be placed on academic probation and allowed to make up material through independent study or to repeat the course in which the second unsatisfactory grade was received. Following completion of this course with a grade of C or higher, the student can continue in the program. However, if the student again receives a D+ or lower, the student must withdraw from the program. The college will help the student choose another major at UF if he or she withdraws from a health professions major.

3. In cases 1-2 above, the individual instructor is responsible for assigning student grades. The program coordinator, in consultation with the instructor and program faculty, is responsible for determining whether a student who appeals a dismissal will be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the program. The student will be notified in writing of the coordinator's decision concerning academic probation/dismissal.

If the student is placed on academic probation, the coordinator, instructor and student develop a contract to be signed by all three parties. The contract specifies the activities that the student must successfully complete to remedy the academic deficiency and the timeframe in which these activities must be completed. Failure to adhere to or meet the terms of the contract constitute grounds for dismissal from the program. The student will be offered assistance to select a different major.

4. If the student disagrees with the coordinator's decision regarding dismissal or the terms of the probation contract, the student may appeal in writing within one week to the college's Academic Progression Committee, chaired by the associate dean of the college. The committee will review both the coordinator's decision and the student's concerns, and make a determination about academic probation/dismissal. In the event the committee does not reach consensus, the associate dean will make the decision. Both the student and coordinator have the right to further appeal to the dean, who will review the case in its entirety and make the final decision.

Changing Majors

Freshmen and sophomores wishing to change majors should contact a college adviser. Juniors and seniors wishing to change majors in the college must contact the undergraduate coordinator or associate dean for academic affairs. If a student withdraws from the major, specific permission from the program and the college must be given at the time of withdrawal for the student to be eligible to re-enter the college.

Health Policy

The college requires evidence of ability to meet the physical and academic requirements of the program. Personnel in the Department of Student Health will test each health professions student for sensitivity to tuberculosis. The Department of Student Health will verify immunization against diphtheria, rubella (German measles) and tetanus.

Students who elect practica in hospital or other patient care settings must also be immunized against Hepatitis B. All students must be immunized against varicella (chicken pox) or provide the Student Health Center with medical documentation that they have had chicken pox. All students must participate in bloodborne pathogen training and repeat their TB test annually.

Students registered in clinical courses must have hospitalization insurance. Full-time students are eligible for the health insurance plans sponsored by Student Government. Twelve-month coverage may be purchased at the time of registration.

Expenses

Required immunizations and other expenses are the student's responsibility. Field experience is required in rehabilitative services, and students are responsible for financing this portion of their preparation. Costs vary depending upon location of the field assignment, which can be out of state. Students are responsible for computer related costs required for coursework completion.

Computer Policy

* Accessibility to the World Wide Web

* Windows operating environment

* Minimum system resources to run all

required applications

* Basic word processing software

• Students are responsible for operating the computer system they choose and the software packages required.
• Students are responsible for any repair and are expected to complete assignments on time, regardless of the state of repair of their computer systems.
• Over the course of a student's program, computer upgrades are likely. Students are responsible for the upgrades required for curriculum completion.
• Coursework may require additional software not already delineated. It is the faculty member's responsibility to ensure the software requirements are delineated on the class syllabus. Students then are responsible for acquiring the software.
• Students are responsible for printing their materials, including the cost.
• All work completed on the computer must be the student's original work. Students may not receive assistance to complete assignments unless specifically allowed as part of that assignment.
• Copying material from others, such as scanning others' materials, copying others' files or discs and/or downloading material from other sources, and claiming it as the student's own work, is strictly prohibited.