An Examination of Mandatory Class Attendance and Academic Performance in a PharmD Program

IF 3.8 4区教育学 Q1 EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education Pub Date : 2025-03-08 DOI:10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101389

Carla Lea Bonner Winkles , Candace W. Barnett , Alexander P. Burgoyne

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

This study examined the relationship between a mandatory attendance policy (MAP) and grade point average (GPA), grade distribution, and course failures in a PharmD program. Student adherence to the MAP was also analyzed.

Methods

A MAP was implemented in the 2021-2022 academic year. Pre- and post-MAP course grades were collected retrospectively, along with post-MAP attendance records and violations for MAP nonadherence. Due to curricular revisions, grade analyses were restricted to the first and third years.

Results

Analysis of covariance revealed significant main and interaction effects of MAP and curriculum on unweighted GPA. Specifically, unweighted third-year GPA increased by 0.21 points post-MAP, while unweighted first-year GPA increased by 0.11 points. The MAP had a greater impact in the third year than in the first, as indicated by the significant interaction effect. For weighted GPA, analysis of covariance revealed a significant main effect for MAP but no significant main effect for curriculum or interaction effect. Specifically, the aggregate first- and third-year weighted GPA increased significantly by 0.14 GPA post-MAP. For final grades in third-year courses, the failure rate decreased significantly from 1.04% pre-MAP to 0.31% post-MAP, and likewise for first-year courses, from 3.14% pre-MAP to 1.73% post-MAP. Grade distributions improved at both the upper and lower ends post-MAP. Student adherence to the MAP in the 2 academic years following its implementation ranged from 93.2% in fall 2021 to 79.6% in spring 2023.

Conclusion

The implementation of a MAP warrants consideration by schools and colleges of pharmacy seeking to improve students’ academic performance.

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来源期刊

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 医学-学科教育

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

15.20%

发文量

114

期刊介绍： The Journal accepts unsolicited manuscripts that have not been published and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere. The Journal only considers material related to pharmaceutical education for publication. Authors must prepare manuscripts to conform to the Journal style (Author Instructions). All manuscripts are subject to peer review and approval by the editor prior to acceptance for publication. Reviewers are assigned by the editor with the advice of the editorial board as needed. Manuscripts are submitted and processed online (Submit a Manuscript) using Editorial Manager, an online manuscript tracking system that facilitates communication between the editorial office, editor, associate editors, reviewers, and authors. After a manuscript is accepted, it is scheduled for publication in an upcoming issue of the Journal. All manuscripts are formatted and copyedited, and returned to the author for review and approval of the changes. Approximately 2 weeks prior to publication, the author receives an electronic proof of the article for final review and approval. Authors are not assessed page charges for publication.