Policy on Non-Academic Progression

The faculty and leadership of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect members of the public and of the health care community from unsafe, unethical, or unprofessional pharmacy practices. The School is charged with preparation of competent pharmacists. Because competence must be assured not only in the knowledge and technical abilities of the student, but also in their standards of personal and professional conduct, student progress is carefully monitored to certify that students have acquired and can demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills, behavioral characteristics, and ethical principles.

The Scholastic Achievement and Progression Committee reserves the right to dismiss or sanction a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate at the end of any semester, regardless of the student’s grades, if the student does not, in the judgment of the Committee, show sufficient promise to justify allowing the student to continue the study of pharmacy. Repeated failure to demonstrate professionalism, consistent with published codes of ethics for pharmacists (ex. APhA & NCAP) and the School’s Technical Standards, with respect to the management of patients or in interactions with other students, staff, faculty, or preceptors constitutes grounds for dismissal. Any acts or patterns of behavior consistent with physical, emotional, or behavioral problems, that impair the student’s ability to interact effectively with others, prevent others from fully participating in the educational process, endanger the well-being of the student or others, threaten patient safety or confidentiality, discredit the profession, or in any other way that raises serious questions about the student’s fitness for professional practice will serve as a basis for review by the Scholastic Achievement and Progression Committee. Any student who fails to participate in or does not respond to appropriate interventions (e.g., treatment, counseling, community service, additional or repeated course or immersion/advanced immersion requirements) within a specified period of time is subject to dismissal from the PharmD Program. These non-academic factors serve as critical indicators of the student’s capacity to deliver a high standard of health care, meeting all technical, ethical, and legal requirements, and thus are considered by the faculty to be of equal importance with academic performance when making progression decisions.

If a faculty member or a student colleague believes there is evidence supporting a non-academic progression policy violation for a particular student, they should follow the guidelines listed below under Procedure for Dismissal (or Sanction) based on Non-Academic Performance. The Committee will decide if a dismissal or a sanction is an appropriate action.