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

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.

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.

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.

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