Student Handbook

The instructor has the responsibility of providing testing and assessment conditions that are conducive to ethical and professional behavior. Cheating will not be tolerated and should be reported to the Department Chair whenever suspected. Refer to sections of the Student Handbook for judicial policies and procedures relating to suspected unethical and/or unprofessional student conduct. Academic Progress and Degree Requirements Doctor of Optometry (OD) Program: Students must achieve passing grades in all courses and required optometric clinics before advancing to the next academic year. If other than a passing grade is received (an “F,” “U” or “I” see below for information about the grading system), it must be remediated as outlined under “Student Grievances and Appeals of Final Grade” later in this handbook, or by the Committee on Course and Standing and the dean for academic affairs. These decisions may be modified on an individual basis by appeal upon recommendation of the chairperson and with the final approval of the dean for academic affairs. MS in Vision Science: For graduation, a student must complete 40 hours of course credits at a 3.0 level or above, with a minimum of 30 hours at a G200 or above level. The student must complete a minimum of nine credits of research. The student must also complete a paper in publication form, based on the student’s research and approved by the Master of Science Thesis Committee. PhD in Vision Science: The student must successfully complete a specialty area examination, 80 hours of course credits and submit and successfully defend a dissertation based on original research. The dissertation must be completed and defended within five years of admission to candidacy. Grading System In each course, including laboratories and clinical internships, there will be established criteria for the assignment of grades. Faculty will provide timely, informative feedback from assignments, exams, and other assessments as soon as possible, and before the final, summative grade is issued. In addition, the IOR in collaboration with the Committee on Course & Standing and the Office of Academic Affairs will identify and communicate with students considered by course IOR to be at risk after the midterm period.

Student course performance shall be reported on transcripts as:

A Outstanding B Competent

C Minimally competent D Marginally competent

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