Students must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in all respiratory courses to satisfy the requirements for graduation and progress.
Students must retake a respiratory course in which a grade of "D" or less grade is earned. If the repeated grade is acceptable ("C" or above) only the higher grade will be reflected in the student's GPA. If a grade of "D" is earned when repeating the course or in any subsequent respiratory course, the student must submit a performance improvement plan to the program Chair for program progression. If a grade of “D” and “F” is earned in any two or more REST courses, the student will be dismissed from the program. Likewise, if a grade of “F” is earned in any two REST courses, the student will be dismissed from the program.
The option of withdrawing from a respiratory course and receiving a grade of "W" is possible within the withdrawal period listed on the academic calendar each semester. For courses lasting less than the full semester, the option of withdrawing with a "W" is possible within the first 60% of the course. Refer to the course schedule and/or calendar for specific dates.
See University guidelines for the procedure that must be followed regarding withdrawal.
Students who do not follow the required University procedure to officially withdraw from a course will receive an "F" grade.
Falsification of records and reports and cheating on an examination, quiz, or any other assignment will be a basis for dismissal from the program.
Plagiarism, as defined in the University Bulletin, is the intentional reproduction of another person’s ideas, words, or statements without acknowledgment. Students must give credit when using the works of others and are expected to properly reference the use of: 1) direct quotes; 2) another person’s ideas or opinions; or 3) any borrowed statistics, facts, or other materials. Failure to properly give credit to others’ work is a form of academic dishonesty (University Bulletin, Student Rights and Responsibilitie).
The Program reserves the right to dismiss a student for self-plagiarism, which is the act of submitting work owned by the student but previously submitted for a grade at USI or other academic institution.
Cheating, as defined in the University Student Handbook, is intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. Examples include but are not limited to:
Using external assistance during any examination unless the instructor has specifically authorized such assistance. Examples of external assistance include but are not limited to: books, calculators, notes, formula lists, cues on a computer, photographs, cell phones, symbolic representation, and electronic devices.
Copying from another student’s work. Examples include, but are not limited to: a test, paper, project, product, performance, or electronic document of file.
Completing assignments for someone or having someone complete an assignment for them
Taking a test for someone
Having someone take a test for them
Submitting the same academic work more than once without permission from all instructors who may be involved.
Obtaining a copy of an examination from an unauthorized source
Submitting another’s works as their own, using commercial term-paper companies, past papers, and/or AI generative tools. (USI Student Rights and Responsibilities)
Academic honesty is an expected behavior of all students. Academic dishonesty may include, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and knowingly assisting others in an act of academic dishonesty. Students who engage in academic dishonesty in any form, even as a first offense, place themselves in jeopardy of receiving a failing grade for the assignment or course, as well as dismissal from the respiratory program and University. Policies and procedures governing academic dishonesty can be found in the Student Rights and Responsibilities section of the University Bulletin.
Violation of client and/or agency confidential information may result in dismissal from the program.
Violation of course, program, and/or University policies.
The Faculty reserves the right to dismiss any student whose personal integrity, health or behavior demonstrate unfitness to continue preparation for the profession of respiratory and/or violate the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Code of Ethics, which is found in Appendix of this document.
Students shall be dismissed from the program for serious or repeated violations of program, college, university, and/or clinical site policies. Dismissal actions shall follow due process. Due process for a program dismissal action follows the university's process for student conduct. This process contains three fundamental steps:
presentation of the charges
hearing
decision and action by an administrator
Read the entire policy on Conduct located in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: Code of Student Behavior at the following web link: https://www.usi.edu/student-handbook
Program dismissal is implemented upon recommendation of a Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee is comprised of the Program Director, Director of Clinical Education, and a Director/Program Chair from another health program in the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
The Disciplinary Committee conducts a hearing to determine the proper course of action.
The student is given written advanced notice of the date and time of the hearing and advised of all rights as described under "Program Dismissal".
The hearing is conducted with or without the student's participation.
After the hearing, the student is informed, in writing, of the committee's recommendations and resultant program action.
The student may appeal within five days of notification. See the "Appeals" section below.
If a dismissal action is the final recommendation, the student is required to withdraw immediately from all respiratory therapy courses.
Program Appeals
Students shall have the right to appeal any action taken against them by the program. The program uses the University's policy on Grievances for appeals to disciplinary action. Formal and informal methods of appeal may be utilized. Since most grievances can be resolved through informal methods, the student is strongly encouraged to use the informal procedure first.
Students should review the University policy on Grievances found in the University Student Handbook located at the following web link: https://www.usi.edu/student-handbook
All grievances and their resolutions will be kept on file with the program.
