Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) degrees are conferred at the completion of a program in May, August, and December. A formal Commencement exercise takes place in May. All students completing their degrees at any time during the academic year are invited to participate in the following May ceremony and will receive information regarding the Commencement ceremony on university website. Attendance at Commencement is not mandatory.
The Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) program at Virginia University of Lynchburg prepares students to take positions of responsibility and leadership within their communities and professions. Many of DHA students require supervised off-campus externship experience in which students are expected to conduct themselves as professionals-in-training. These programs represent professions that adhere to established standards of behavior and ethics. Virginia University of Lynchburg students are expected to adhere to those standards. Behavior in violation of ethical or professional standards or Virginia University of Lynchburg policy constitutes grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.
A student whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) is 3.0 or higher is in good academic standing, which is required for graduation. Every DHA student must have a 3.0 GPA with no incomplete courses to advance to the practicum stage of the program. If a student's GPA drops below 3.0, he or she will be placed on academic warning. The GPA must be restored to 3.0 within one semester (12 credits). The 3.0 average may be restored by repeating courses or through subsequent courses. If the student fails to restore their GPA within a semester, he or she will be dismissed from the program.
Students are expected to abide by the regulations, policies and procedures set forth by Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) program at Virginia University of Lynchburg. The University reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time for unsatisfactory academic performance or for conduct detrimental to the University or to the welfare of other students. The DHA program also reserves the right to dismiss a student if it is determined that a student's conduct is unprofessional or for the following reasons:
In circumstances such as illness or personal emergency, a grade of "I" (Incomplete) may be approved by the Dean of School of Business and Professional Studies if the student is unable to finish the course requirements by the end of the term but is passing the course. The outstanding work must be completed as soon as possible but no later than the last day of the first eight weeks of the next semester. Students who have received an Incomplete grade must meet the conditions for its removal the semester following the original course enrollment, or the date indicated on the official Incomplete card. If the Incomplete is not removed by the specified date, the grade "F" will be recorded for the course. No more than one Incomplete grade may be received in a semester, any incomplete grade must be finalised before the student is allowed to enroll in subsequent courses.
A student who plans to withdraw from Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) program for personal reasons should consult with his or her adviser. If the student intends to withdraw, he or she should notify the Dean of School of Business and Professional Studies, in writing, of intent to withdraw and must fill out the withdrawal form. The student may reapply within two years of that withdrawal by following the re-admission procedure.
With the approval of the Dean of School of Business and Professional Studies, a student may enroll in a course a second time and have it counted as part of the semester load. Both course grades will be included on the transcript and counted toward the student's GPA. If a student earns a D or F in a course required in the degree program, the course must be repeated and a grade of "C or above" earned. A course may be repeated only once. The student will be responsible for tuition payment when enrolling second time in a course.
Federal, state, and college policies regarding research on human subjects apply to all research involving Virginia University of Lynchburg students, faculty, or staff as researchers or as subjects, including research undertaken in the Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) program.
Every student must satisfactorily complete the required six core courses before they can be enrolled in the practicums.
To participate in Zoom meetings, each student needs to obtain a functional webcam (camera) with a built-in or separate microphone. Each student's video camera must be turned on for the duration of each Zoom meeting.
