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A Scholastic Appeals Process for Dental Hygiene Student Remediation and Retention
Author(s) -
Freudenthal Jacqueline,
Bowen Denise M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2010.74.3.tb04872.x
Subject(s) - graduation (instrument) , denial , medical education , psychology , academic integrity , academic year , medicine , mathematics education , engineering , social psychology , mechanical engineering , psychoanalysis
A scholastic appeals process tailoring individualized remediation for dental hygiene students not meeting academic standards was assessed retrospectively (1999–2008) to evaluate retention and academic failure rates, nature of academic problems, type of remediation, and success of recommendations. Academic records of students (n=55) not meeting academic standards and/or withdrawing were reviewed. Overall retention (92.7 percent) ranged from 86.7 percent to 96.6 percent. Of the fifty‐five students whose records were reviewed, six students (10.91 percent) withdrew for medical/personal reasons, and forty‐nine (89.1 percent) petitioned for individualized remediation. The number and percentage of students in each category of reasons are as follows: four (7.5 percent) preclinical; thirty‐seven (69.8 percent) clinical; eight (15.1 percent) academic/clinical/personal reasons; and four (7.5 percent) academic dishonesty. The options approved were the following: continue in the program with grade below C‐ (n=3), summer clinical course with individualized contract (n=11), or independent study course during the academic year plus the summer course (n=13), all without delaying graduation; repeating a course with a one‐semester delay in graduation (n=7); and auditing/repeating multiple courses with a one‐year delay in graduation (n=3). Twelve students were dismissed after denial of a petition requesting remediation or second failure. The scholastic appeals process was successful for 75.5 percent (n=37) of the students who petitioned after failing to meet academic standards, thereby contributing to the 92.7 percent overall retention rate. Student‐specific remediation plans based on individual academic appeals are viable options for ensuring success.