10.5.2.3 College of Medicine
[US: 3/10/86]
10.5.2.3.1 Assessment of Student Learning
The College of Medicine is charged with the education and training of competent physicians. Competence must be assured not only in the students' fund of knowledge and technical expertise, but also in their standards of personal and professional conduct. Student progress shall be carefully monitored to certify that students have acquired appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes, and ethical principles. To this end, students are responsible for conforming to all rules and regulations specified by the Health Care Colleges Code of Student Professional Conduct, the "Technical Standards" detailed in the College of Medicine Bulletin, and the academic standards established in these University Senate Rules.
The Student Progress and Promotion Committee (SPPC) is charged with the monitoring of student progress through the curriculum. The SPPC regularly reviews each student's performance and makes recommendations to the Dean on such actions as graduation, promotion, remediation, dismissal and leaves of absence. Final authority on all matters of student progress and promotion is vested in the Dean of the College of Medicine except as otherwise provided below.
Assessment criteria are as follows [US: 4/12/2004; 4/23/2018]:
- Student work is assessed by the faculty through the assignment of grades upon completion of all required courses and clerkships and the assignment of ratings on specific measures of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and ethical principles
- Faculty determine the level of student competence in the course or clerkship for which they are responsible. Within four weeks of the termination of each course, every department shall submit to the Office of Medical Education a grade, and where possible, written comments on each student's performance. The Office of Medical Education will promptly provide every student a copy of this grade.
- Passing scores are required on the United States Medical Licensure Exam (USMLE) Step 1 examination, USMLE Step 2 CK examination and USMLE Step 2 CS examination. Students have three attempts to pass each part of the examination before dismissal, with appeals. Students are not required to take Step 2 examinations in any particular order.
10.5.2.3.2 Promotion and Retention Criteria
[US: 12/14/2016; 4/23/2018]
The education of a physician is a complex process, longitudinal in character, with many incremental steps. To assure that students graduating from the College of Medicine have the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes, and ethical principles essential to professional competence, the following procedures will be used to evaluate and promote students:
10.5.2.3.2.1 General
At regular intervals the SPPC will review the academic record of each student and make specific recommendations addressing promotion, remediation, or dismissal. Beyond these recommendations, potential actions include but are not limited to the adjustment of academic load, repetition of curriculum segments, and participation in counseling sessions.
Promotion to sequential semesters or years in the curriculum is contingent upon attaining the expected level of performance as prescribed by the Faculty of the College of Medicine.
10.5.2.3.2.2 Failure to achieve competency
A student failing to achieve competency in any course or clerkship has performed at an unacceptable level. To redress the grade, the SPPC will review both the student's academic record and the recommendations of the Instructor of Record. The SPPC will determine a plan of action which may include remediation, repetition of all or a portion of the course, clerkship, or curriculum year, or dismissal from the College.
10.5.2.3.2.3 Number of repeat attempts allowed
The Student Progress and Promotion Committee determines how many repeat attempts are allowed. Unlimited opportunity to repeat courses, clerkships or curriculum sequences is neither feasible nor desirable.
10.5.2.3.2.4 Consequences of failing a course or failing to meet competency standards
Students who fail a course or fail to meet the competency standards for any academic year will be placed on probation and remediation will be required.
- Students who satisfactorily complete the remediation requirements for probation will be removed from probation.
- Students who are on probation and fail to meet the remediation requirements will be dismissed from the College of Medicine.
- Students who are on academic probation may not be allowed to participate in University extracurricular activities, or to serve as officers or committee members in campus organizations.
10.5.2.3.2.5 Dismissal
Dismissal from the College of Medicine will result when students receive three or more “E” course grades; receive an “E” course grade while on academic probation; or fail any part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination on three attempts.
10.5.2.3.3 Leaves of Absence
Students are normally expected to complete the curriculum in four consecutive years. Under compelling circumstances, leaves of absence may be approved by the SPPC. The request for a leave of absence must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Medical Education. Return from a leave must be approved by the SPPC, may necessitate an amended curriculum, and is subject to the availability of space in required courses. The following three categories of leave may be recommended by the SPPC and approved by the Dean:
10.5.2.3.3.1 Academic Leave of Absence
An academic leave of absence is available to a student who wishes to undertake specialized academic pursuits in a defined field of study. Students must be in good academic standing. Approval will not be given for intervals in excess of one year without reapplication.
10.5.2.3.3.2 Personal Leave of Absence
A personal leave of absence is initiated at the student’s request. A student must be in good academic standing. Leaves in this category may range from a number of weeks to a maximum of one year.
10.5.2.3.3.3 Medical Leave of Absence
Illness can seriously disrupt or impede student progress through the course of study. A student anticipating an absence of ten (10) days or more must secure a medical leave of absence. Application for this type of leave may be requested through the Office of Medical Education and must be accompanied by a letter from the student's attending physician.
10.5.2.3.3.3.1 Procedures for applications for leave and reentry
Processing and approval of a medical leave by the SPPC may require a review of the student's pertinent medical records by a specially appointed committee of physicians with relevant medical expertise. The length of the medical leave of absence will be determined by the SPPC in consultation with the student, the student’s attending physician, and the ad hoc committee of physicians. Request for reentry must be accompanied by a statement from the student's attending physician which addresses the student's ability (mental and physical) to carry a full academic load. At this juncture, the SPPC may again require review of the student's medical records and/or a medical assessment, at the student’s expense, by a physician with relevant clinical expertise.
10.5.2.3.3.3.2 Short-term absences
Absences due to acute illness do not require a medical leave of absence. However, for absences which encompass a major performance examination or more than five days of a clinical clerkship, the student is responsible for notifying the Office of Medical Education as soon as possible. Further, a supporting statement from an attending physician must be filed with the Office of Medical Education prior to returning to class.
10.5.2.3.4 Other Considerations and Restrictions
10.5.2.3.4.1 Outside employment
The demands of the study of Medicine consume the entire efforts of medical students. Therefore, upon acceptance to the program of study students are required to sign a statement indicating that they will not have outside employment during the academic year. For the exceptional case, permission may be granted by the SPPC upon petition by the student.
10.5.2.3.4.2 Saturday examinations
Due to curricular requirements, Saturday examinations are frequently scheduled. Allowances will be made for students who religious beliefs prohibit participation in Saturday examinations.
10.5.2.3.4.3 Night and weekend work
Clinical responsibilities during the third and fourth year will necessitate night and week-end work.