4.5.1 Formative Assessments
Critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills are assessed during supervised clinical practica in the first year. Sixteen core clinical skills are assessed regularly using two competency metrics: student performance of specific skills (absent, emerging, inconsistent, consistent, and exceptional) and clinical instructor support (maximum, constant, ongoing, intermittent, monitored, and collaborative). While core clinical competencies are expected to be absent or emerging at the beginning of the first year, students are required to become consistent, capable clinicians in each of the core competencies to continue to the second year of coursework and clinical training.
Students who fail to achieve these core competencies may enroll in an additional (fourth) on-campus clinical practicum during the summer semester of the second year. If the student fails to achieve the required level of competence in each core clinical skill during this practicum, they will be recommended for dismissal from the program. Note that this path to remediation delays the start of internship placements during the second year and may delay externship placement and graduation.