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

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Academic Policy
• Student Performance Metrics

Background:

• Academic policies significantly influence student outcomes in higher education.
• Understanding the impact of mandatory attendance policies (MAP) on pharmacy students is crucial for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of a mandatory attendance policy (MAP) on grade point average (GPA), grade distribution, and course failure rates in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program.
• To analyze student adherence to the implemented MAP.

Main Methods:

• A mandatory attendance policy (MAP) was implemented in the 2021-2022 academic year.
• Retrospective collection of pre- and post-MAP course grades for first- and third-year PharmD students.
• Analysis of post-MAP attendance records and nonadherence violations.

Main Results:

• Unweighted GPA increased by 0.21 points in the third year and 0.11 points in the first year post-MAP.
• Weighted GPA for first- and third-year students increased by 0.14 points post-MAP.
• Course failure rates decreased significantly, and grade distributions improved post-MAP. Student adherence ranged from 79.6% to 93.2%.

Conclusions:

• The mandatory attendance policy (MAP) positively impacted academic performance in the PharmD program.
• MAP implementation is a viable strategy for pharmacy schools aiming to enhance student academic success.