The means of assessing a students progress and determining a students grades may vary from one course to another, according to the nature of the course. Factors other than examination results may be used to a variable extent by instructors in determining grades. Students are informed at the beginning of each course how grades are to be determined.

Students must satisfactorily complete all components of all courses.

Progression in the program is term by term. Accordingly, all students in a particular co-hort of the program normally should be registered in the same courses in each term (see §114.7.) Students will not normally register in any core (i.e., non-elective) courses from a particular term of the program until they have satisfactorily completed core courses from the previous term of the program.

A student who is awarded First-Class Standing or Satisfactory Standing, as defined below, will normally qualify for promotion:

First-Class Standing: Awarded to a student who obtains a GPA of 3.5 or above and passes all courses while enrolled in the full normal academic/clinical course load in that term.

Satisfactory Standing: For promotion, a student must pass all courses and obtain a minimum GPA of 2.7 while enrolled in the full normal academic/clinical course load in that term.

Conditional Standing: Conditional Standing will be assigned to a student who receives a grade of F, D, D+, C-, C, or C+ in any course within the program. A student who is assigned Conditional Standing will be placed on Academic Warning and must retake and pass the failed course. Other courses are to be taken, up to a normal course load, as scheduling permits and as approved by the Faculty.

Students on Academic Warning as a result of acquiring Conditional Standing will clear their Academic Warning upon passing the repeated course and will qualify for promotion if they achieve Satisfactory Standing on the basis of all courses taken during the following term. Students who fail a course a second time will be required to withdraw from the program.

Required to Withdraw: Any student who:

Probation: Students who have been required to withdraw and who have successfully appealed that decision will be placed on Probation and required to repeat the full program year.

To clear probation and qualify for promotion, the student must achieve Satisfactory Standing in all terms during the probationary year. Students who fail to do so will be required to withdraw. Any student in a probationary year who fails a course in Fall Term will be required to withdraw immediately and subsequent registration will be cancelled.

Only one year of probation is allowed while registered in the BSc in Radiation Therapy program.

A student who is absent more than two clinical days in any one clinical course may need to make up the lost time before being allowed to continue in the program.

The Program Director, or designate acting on behalf of the Program Director, may immediately deny assignment of a student to, withdraw a student from, or vary terms, conditions or site of a practicum/clinical placement if the Program Director or designate has reasonable grounds to believe that this is necessary in order to protect the public interest. (See §23.8.2 Practicum Intervention Policy).

All students enrolled in the Radiation Therapy program are bound by, and shall comply with the Professional Codes of Ethics governing the profession and practice of Radiation Therapy.

Review, by the Faculty of the reasons for withdrawal and the students academic record;

Availability of a place, within quota, in the class to which the student is seeking readmission. Priority will be assigned in the following order: Students who have met normal promotion requirements.

Faculty approved repeating students and students returning after voluntary withdrawal, in order of academic standing.

The length of time the student interrupts studies leading to the Bachelors of Science in Radiation Therapy must not exceed one year in total.

Reexamination is not permitted in clinical courses.

Students who fail more than one academic course in any full program academic year (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer Terms) are not allowed reexamination privileges.

The Department of Oncology Education Committee must approve reexaminations.

If a reexamination is approved, satisfactory completion of a remedial program may be required by the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Academic Standing and Promotion Committee before the student is permitted to take the reexamination.

Students are advised that it is not possible to make a ruling regarding remediation or reexamination until all grades for a term are received and recorded.

The weight of reexamination is at least that of the final examination.

The reexamination mark (as in the case of a deferred mark) will replace the original final exam mark.

Any student who, after reexamination and/or evaluation fails to meet promotion/graduation requirements is deemed to have failed the year and will not be allowed to continue in the program.

A student who does not take a reexamination within the time period prescribed by the Faculty will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Academic Performance for Graduation: Students must achieve Satisfactory Academic Standing or First Class Standing in their final year of the program; successfully complete all program requirements; and present a graduation average of at least 2.7. The graduation average is a cumulative measure of a students grade points obtained while registered in the program in all years and terms, including Spring/Summer. It is the quotient of (a) the total number of grade points earned by a student in courses credited to the degree and (b) the total weight of those courses.

The notation of With Distinction is awarded to a graduating student who has obtained an average GPA of 3.5 or higher and no failing grades over the entire program.

Valid certification of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) at the Healthcare Provider Level and the Basic Life Support Training (Level C) is required and must be maintained throughout the program. A CPR-Healthcare Provider certificate is valid for one year from the date of the course. Evidence of recertification in each subsequent year is required.

Health Status: All students admitted to the Radiation Therapy Program must be capable of completing the physical activities and responsibilities required in clinical simulation and clinical practice.

Medical Testing and Immunization: To ensure, insofar as possible, both student and patient safety, the Faculty requires immunization against, or proof of immunity to, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B. As well varicella screening and a two-step tuberculin skin test in required in the first year of the program and should be performed by the University Health Centre. Requirements: See §113.2.6.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): Hepatitis B antigen testing will be performed by the University Health Centre on all students after acceptance in to the program. Students who test negative for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg), Hepatitis B vaccination will be required. An exception will be made for those for whom is medically contraindicated or for those individuals who have proof of prior vaccination and test positive for antibody to Hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). After vaccination, students will receive a second test to determine if they have converted to produce the appropriate antibody titre. If they have not converted they will receive a second vaccination and again be tested. Those students who then fail to convert will be counselled as their potential risk status during training and future practice.

For students who test positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen their e antigen (HbeAg) status and the presence of Hepatitis B viral DNA will be determined. If they are found to be positive for the e antigen or the viral DNA they will be counselled as to their risk of infecting patients.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): The data indicates that transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) from health care worker (HCW) to a patient in a health care setting is extremely rare, although transmission from patients to a HCW is more common. Therefore, all students accepted into the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry are encouraged to undergo HIV and HCV testing upon admission and at any time during their program when concerns about infection have arisen, but testing for HIV or HCV is not mandatory at the time.

Note: For updates on changes to medical testing and immunization refer to the Faculty Office.

N-95 Respirator Fit Testing: Students are required to be fit tested for N 95 respirators. Check with the Faculty office for the procedures to schedule this fit testing. The associated costs are the responsibility of the student.

Criminal Records Check: Students should be aware that under the Alberta Protection of People in Care Act, they will be required to satisfy a criminal records check Refer to §23.8.3.

The Program Director, or Designate acting on behalf of the Program Director, may immediately deny assignment of a student to, withdraw a student from, or vary terms, conditions or site of practicum/clinical placement if the Program Director, or Designate has reasonable grounds to believe that this is necessary in order to protect the Public Interest. (See §23.8.2, Practicum Intervention Policy.)