School of Health Professions and Studies (SHPS)

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3180 William S. White Building
(810) 237-6503
Fax: (810) 237-6532
http://www.umflint.edu/shps

Dean: Donna Fry, Ph. D.
Business Manager: Amalie Helms
Public Health and Health Sciences (PHHS) Director: Suzanne Selig, Ph. D.
Physical Therapy (Doctor of Physical Therapy) Director: Allon Goldberg, Ph. D.
Occupational Therapy (OT) Director: Nancy Vandewiele Milligan, Ph. D.

The School of Health Professions and Studies prepares students for careers in health related fields by offering degrees that blend liberal education and professional preparation that lead to the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration, Public Health, Health Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Science/ Medical Technology, and Radiation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy; Master of Science in Anesthesia, Master of Public Health, Doctor of Anesthesia Practice, Doctor of Physical Therapy, transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy, Ph. D. in Physical Therapy,  plus post-professional certificates in orthopedic, neurologic, geriatric, and pediatric physical therapy.  The School of Health Professions and Studies also offers an undergraduate minor and certificate in Health Navigation. The School of Health Professions and Studies provides professional preparation with attention to societal issues, health care delivery models, and factors influencing the relationships between health care professionals and clients. The school strives to provide the highest quality education in collaboration with all campus instructional units and health care professionals in the community who provide clinical experiences for students. A director oversees each of the departments in the school. The Office of the Dean for the School of Health Professions and Studies provides required administrative services.

Mission of the School

SHPS is a diverse community of learners and scholars. The faculity utilize best practices in teaching, scholarship, service, and community engagement to educate highly qualified professionals to advance health of local and global communities.

Admissions

Since programs offered through the School of Health Professions and Studies vary in nature, individual departments and programs establish their own admission procedures and other policies and procedures. Students must meet the admission requirements for and apply to their specific program of interest within the School of Health Professions and Studies.

Academic Regulations and Procedures

Undergraduate Grading System

The following grading system is used in the School of Health Professions and Studies: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, poor; E, failure; I, incomplete; Y, work in progress; W, officially withdrawn (without penalty). The following scale is used in computing grade-point averages:

Grade point averages are computed by dividing total honor points by total credits. The computation is limited to points and credits earned at the University of Michigan-Flint and to credits transferred from other schools and colleges of the University of Michigan.

An instructor may report an “I” (incomplete), if the student is unable to meet the course requirements within the specified time. The student may make up an “I” not enrolled and must complete the coursework by the end of the fifth week of the next semester (fall or winter) in which a student is enrolled. If, for sufficient reason, a student cannot remove the incomplete within the five-week period, an extension request form must be approved by both the course instructor and the Department Director and forwarded to the Office of the Registrar. Failure to either make up the grade within the allotted time or to have an extension approved will result in the “I”  automatically changing to a grade of E.

The grade Y indicates “Work in Progress” and is therefore used only for courses designated to extend beyond a single semester. After completion of the work, the Y grade will be removed and replaced by an appropriate grade, or it may also be replaced by an (I) Incomplete.

A grade once reported (with the exception of I or Y) may be changed only to correct a demonstrable error up to one calendar year after the end of the semester in which the grade was originally submitted and then only with the approval of the Dean.  Grade changes made and/or received after degrees have been conferred will not be processed as the records are closed.  Final grades are reported at the conclusion of each academic semester and become part of the official record of the student. Final grades are generally available on SIS within one week of the last day of the examination period.

Credit Without Grade (Pass/Fail)

The pass/fail option applies only to specific courses so designated in the course schedule by individual SHPS departments. Courses elected for credit without grade are not included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Changes in Course Elections (Drop/Add)

Changes in course elections include dropping and adding a course. To make a course change before the first official day of the semester the student must drop and add on the SIS website. Beginning on the first day of the semester, students may add courses in SIS as follows:

• 1st - 5th day, if seats are available - NO SIGNATURES or OVERRIDES NEEDED.
• 6th - 10th day, if seats are available - WITH AN OVERRIDE from the academic department.

Students wishing to drop courses may do so in SIS without the instructor’s signature until the final drop deadline.

Students should check the course schedule or Registrar’s website for specific drop and add dates.

Any student who seeks an exception to these deadlines must do so by a petition to the Academic Standards Committee of the School of Health Professions and Studies. A request to drop a course without a final grade after the deadline is considered only on medical grounds or for other compelling reasons.

Permission to drop a course after the deadline is not granted merely because the student is doing unsatisfactory work. If a student drops a course without official approval, the grade of E is recorded.

Granting withdrawal from a SHPS program (with intention to return) is a prerogative of the individual SHPS departmental faculty.

Recognition of Superior Scholarship

For those students with 45 graded hours or more completed at UM-Flint, graduating seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher are recommended for the degree “with honors,” and students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher are recommended for the degree “with high honors.” For students in the Physical Therapy Program, the grade point average is computed on the basis of all courses taken after admission to the professional preparation program.

Students who have complete less than 45 graded credit hours, but meet the requirements for graduation with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, will receive the Academic Distinction Award.

See “Undergraduate Honors” in the “Academic Policies of the University” section of this Catalog for information regarding campus- and system-wide honors recognition.

Distinguished scholarship is also recognized by awards offered by the faculty of the University of Michigan-Flint and by other organizations.

Academic Standing

A student in the School of Health Professions and Studies who maintains a grade point average of at least 2.0 for courses elected while enrolled in the University is generally considered in good academic standing. However, individual program standards may be higher. Grade point average requirements for graduation also vary.

The academic records of all students whose grade point average falls below C (2.0) are reviewed at the end of each semester by the Academic Standards Committee of the School of Health Professions and Studies. According to individual circumstances, students with deficient academic records may be placed on warning or required to withdraw. Students of individual programs which have established policies and procedures to determine academic discipline do not normally come before the Academic Standards Committee unless the grade point falls below C (2.0).

Appeals Procedure

Students in the School of Health Professions and Studies who believe they have been unfairly treated may appeal to the School of Health Professions and Studies Student Appeals Committee. For problems involving a faculty member, the appeal procedure should be initiated after consultation with the faculty member whenever possible.

Students in programs with written policies and procedures related to academic performance, clinical competency, and ethical standards should follow procedures established by the program prior to contacting the School of Health Professions and Studies Student Appeals Committee.

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