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University Dismissal

A student will be dismissed from the University for any of the following reasons:

  1. failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), including remaining on academic or financial aid warning longer than the prescribed period noted within the university SAP policy;
  2. for conduct reasons; Please refer to the University and Programmatic Handbooks.
  3. failure to meet the university and/or programmatic policies and procedures;
  4. Receiving non-passing grades:  (Each program may have a more restrictive policy.  See program-specific dismissal policies for further details.)  
  1. Undergraduate Programs:
    1. Eight (8) non-passing grades at West Coast University.      
    2. Receive a non-passing grade three (3) times for the same course. 
  1. Post and Non-licensure Graduate Programs
    1. Four (4) non-passing grades at West Coast University.  
    2. Receive a non-passing grade three (3) times for the same course. 

When an incomplete "I" grade is converted to a final course grade, a student's academic standing will be re-evaluated.  Any dismissal that may result will be effective as of the date on which the grade was finalized.  

Please note students who are dismissed from one academic program may apply for rentry, but admission after dismissal for maximum non-passing grades is contingent on an approved appeal. Students who reenter after maximum non-passing dismissal will be dismissed upon receiving one more non-passing grade. Students academically dismissed twice from WCU will not be allowed to reenter the institution.

Student may not apply to another track within the same program from which they were dismissed. Students who are dismissed from a pre-licensure program are ineligible to apply to another pre-licensure offering.  Students dismissed from an MSN-APRN program are ineligible to reenter an APRN program track (including post master’s certificate versions) at any time in the future, but can apply for readmission into a non-APRN program track.

Students who transfer between programs will not have their non-passing grades reset in the new programs.

Programmatic Dismissal Policies

Pre-licensure Nursing Students: Pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ADN, LVN-BSN, LPN-BSN, BSN)  program students will be dismissed if they receive:

  1. Four (4) non-passing grades taken at West Coast University in General Education, or two (2) non-passing grades in any Nursing (NURS) courses, or
  2. Receive a non-passing grade twice for the same course regardless of whether the course was in General Education or Nursing.  

Additional notes:

  • Grades from courses NURS 493, NURS 493R, NURS 499, DEP 098, FHE 100, and FYS 001 will not be considered when determining student status for programmatic dismissal.
  • Please see the Grading Scale located in the University Catalog for additional information on passing/non-passing grades. Students in graduate programs should consult with their program director/dean regarding what constitutes passing/non-passing grades in graduate courses.  
  • A student who has passed NURS340/342L and fails any or all courses in the subsequent terms will not be dismissed.  The student will be provided one (1) opportunity to repeat the required coursework, and if any additional non-passing grades are earned,  the student will be dismissed from the University.  

A student who fails NURS 493 on the first attempt will be provided no more than two (2) additional opportunities to repeat the course without added cost or being dismissed regardless of the number of previous course failures.  If the student fails or is unsuccessful on their third attempt to repeat the class, the student will be dismissed  from the University.  Students enrolled at a California campus may be approved to sit for the NCLEX as a "non-graduate" if unsuccessful in passing NURS 493.  See Campus Director of Nursing for more information. 

Pre-licensure Dental Hygiene Students: Dental Hygiene students will be dismissed from the program if they receive:

  1. A non-passing grade twice for the same General Education course, or
  2. Three (3) non-passing grades taken at West Coast University in General Education, or
  3. A non-passing grade in a Dental Hygiene course.

Pre-licensure OTD/MSOT Students: An Occupational Therapy student will be dismissed from the program if:

  1. A grade of "D+" or lower is received in any course, or
  2. Two (2) grades of "C" or below are received, or
  3. The minimum cumulative GPA as specified for each trimester is not met:
    1. At the completion of the 1st trimester (17 credits), have a cumulative GPA of 2.5
    2. At the completion of the 2nd trimester (36 credits), have a cumulative GPA of 2.8
    3. At the completion of the 3rd trimester (42 credits), have a cumulative GPA of 3.0
    4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the remaining trimesters of the program.  
  4. They receive two (2) failing grades during Fieldwork Level II

DPT Students:  Continuation in the graduate program in physical therapy is dependent on the following:

  1. Satisfactory progress in removing any conditions imposed at the time of admission.
  2. Satisfactory progress in restoring the cGPA to 3.0 during a probationary period of two (2) semesters.
  3. Satisfactory completion of all clinical affiliations.
  4. Satisfactory progress in removing any conditions imposed on the student as a result of professional behavior issues.

A student will not be allowed to continue in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program as a result of academic, clinical, or professional infractions. A student will be dismissed from the program if any of the following conditions exist:

  1. The student receives a grade of C or below in any course.
  2. If, at the discretion of the Faculty, student conduct or professional behaviors are deemed inappropriate, inadequate, compromising, or unsafe. This could include a breach of policies stated in this handbook or breach of a professional behavioral contract.
  3. The student fails a PT Experience or Clinical Internship.
  4. The student on academic probation is unable to raise his/her cumulative GPA to 3.0 or above after two (2) consecutive semesters.
  5. The student, while on academic probation, receives a tGPA below 3.0.
  6. A student may not be placed on academic probation more than one time in his/her academic progression; any conditions resulting in a second academic probation will result in dismissal.

The Physical Therapy program pledges to ensure due process to all students equitably, regardless of age, color, religion, national origin, race or gender, when carrying out the policies.

Any student dismissed from the DPT program for academic (clinical or didactic) or behavioral reasons has the right to appeal this decision with West Coast University. Please see University Catalog for more information related to the appeal process and policy.

MPA Students:  A Physician Assistant student will be dismissed from the program if:

  1. A grade of "C" or lower is received in any course.
  2. The minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for each trimester is not met.
  3. An incomplete grade is unresolved or results in a grade of “C” or lower.
  4. Withdraws from one or more classes.
  5. The maximum timeframe of trimesters to complete the program is exceeded.

Pre-licensure MSLP Students: A Speech-Language Pathology student will be dismissed from the program if:

  1. A grade of "C" or lower is received in any course.
  2. The minimum cumulative GPA as specified for each trimester is not met:
    1. At the completion of the 1st trimester, have a cumulative GPA of 2.5
    2. At the completion of the 2nd trimester, have a cumulative GPA of 2.7
    3. At the completion of the 3rd trimester, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0
    4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the remaining trimester of the program.
  3. An incomplete grade is unresolved or results in a grade of “C” or lower.
  4. Withdraws from one or more classes.
  5. Refuses a clinical placement (course requirement).
  6. The maximum timeframe of trimesters to complete the program is exceeded.

Post-licensure APRN Students:   An APRN student will be dismissed from the program if:  

  1. The student receives a total of two non-passing grades, whether that is a single non-passing grade in two different courses or two non-passing grades in the same course.  

  2. The student does not meet the required progression and good standing requirements as outlined on the Nursing, Master of Science Degree and Good Standing policy pages of the catalog.1

1  Non-passing grades are not reset to 0 after a student transfers from one APRN track to another APRN track. If the student receives one non-passing grade while in one APRN track, they would be dismissed upon receiving another non-passing grade in a different APRN track were they to transfer.