| Pass-Fail System
During the first two years, courses consist of a variety of lecture, laboratory, and small-group learning formats. Performance, is evaluated periodically based on written examinations, papers, practical laboratory examinations, and group activity participation. The details for the grading of each course are published in the course syllabus by the course director(s). In the M1 & M2 academic years, the only grades assigned are “pass” and “fail”. These are the only grades that appear on the student’s official transcript. While individual test scores within a course are recorded and maintained internally (for program evaluation, monitoring student progress and consideration for AOA), these test scores do not appear in the students’ official record. Remediation
A student who fails to master a course component must remediate it satisfactorily before advancing to the next year of the curriculum. The course director(s) will determine the remediation requirements for the specific course component before the final course grade is submitted.
In the event of a course failure, the Student Promotions Committee in cooperation with the course director(s) determines if and how a remediation will occur. Timing, content, and method of remediation are course- and year- specific.
The basic science courses of the first two years (Structure-Function and Scientific Basis of Medicine), have “block exams” for each course section. For the Structure-Function course, four of the block exams consist of written and practical exams. The Scientific Basis of Medicine has only written exams. To pass each course, a student must pass every block exam. If a student fails one or two block exams, the student will have one opportunity to make up the exam(s). Structure-Function remediation exams occur during the summer following the first year. Scientific Basis of Medicine remediation exams must take place at least two weeks after the initial exam and one week prior to the Introduction to Clinical Clerkship (ICC). If remediation of one or two failed unit exams is satisfactorily completed, the final course grade is recorded as Pass. A student will fail Structure-Function or Scientific Basis of Medicine under either of the following two circumstances. - If the student fails a makeup exam, a grade of Fail is recorded for the entire course; or
- If a student fails three or more block exams in Structure-Function or Scientific Basis of Medicine, a grade of Fail is recorded for the entire course.
Similarly, failing Medical Decision Making, Problem-Based Learning, and units of Patient, Physician & Society must be remediated satisfactorily in order to pass the course. Remediation requirements are determined by the course director(s) in coordination with the Student Promotions Committee. Failure
If a student fails a course, generally the entire course must be repeated for credit. Associated problem-based learning sessions and units initially passed must be repeated. A repeated course is graded on its own merit.
At the end of the second year, students participate in a clinical skills assessment with a trained standardized patient to determine their readiness to begin the required clerkship rotations. Students who do not pass all units of this exam will be required to remediate failed units before beginning the third year. The remediation will be determined by the course faculty. Performance in the third- and fourth-year clerkships is based on written and/or oral exams, the faculty’s subjective impression of a student’s clinical knowledge, skills and attitude; and—in select clerkships—an objective structured clinical examination ("OSCE"). The OSCE requires the student to interact with scripted patient “actors” to perform clinical procedural tasks under faculty supervision. A final grade of Honors can be achieved if a student’s clerkship performance falls within the top 20 percent of the class. Starting in 2005–06 with the Class of 2007, students performing within the top 20–40 percent of their clerkship class will receive a final grade of High Pass. Failure to master a required clerkship necessitates successful remediation by re-examination or repetition prior to promotion to the next year or graduation.
If based on the subjective impression of faculty, a student’s clinical performance is deemed to be inadequate, regardless of accompanying examination score, the clerkship final grade becomes Fail. The Student Promotions Committee will work with the clerkship director to establish an appropriate remediation. If only the examination is failed and is passed upon the second attempt, the final grade becomes Pass. A second failure of the written exam will result in a final grade of Fail.
Incomplete
A grade of Incomplete is assigned when an illness or personal crisis precludes completion of a course or clerkship duing the scheduled timeframe. A student is granted an extension period determined by the course/clerkship director(s) in coordination with the Student Promotions Committee. If the necessary requirements are completed within the extension period, the grade of Incomplete will be replaced by a grade of Honors, High Pass, Pass, or Fail. If requirements are not completed within the allocated extension period, a grade of Fail will be recorded. This result would necessitate repeating the entire course or clerkship rotation.
Students can obtain their grades online for Structure-Function, Scientific Basis of Medicine, and the required clerkships soon after completing the course exam or clerkship. Official transcripts may be requested in person or in writing from the Office of Registration and Records (Ward 3-130).
Students who pass a course but whose performance is weak will be so notified of this when grades are distributed. Marginal performance is not recorded on the transcript but is reported to the Student Promotions Committee. A student’s progress may become of particular concern to the Student Promotions Committee if weak performance is reported in two or more courses or clerkships.
Academic Status of “Good Standing”
The academic status of “good standing” indicates that a student is not on probation (enrollment permitted), is not on suspension (enrollment not permitted), and has not failed an initial attempt to remediate an academic deficiency.
Leave of Absence (LOA)
A leaves of absence (LOA) may be granted for several general reasons, including, but not limited to, the following: - academic performance
- personal issues (health or family difficulties)
- financial hardship
- pursuit of other academic activities (such as earning an advanced degree, conducting non–degree-related research, or studying abroad).
When a LOA is granted for reasons related to academic performance, certain conditions apply.
In some circumstances, a student may drop an ongoing course or clerkship without having a grade recorded and resume or repeat it later.
When a LOA is granted for reasons of physical or mental illness or personal/family crisis, the student’s ongoing curriculum may be dropped, in whole or in part, at any time and resumed or repeated later, subject to the following conditions: - A written request to drop for reason of illness must be made to the Associate Dean for Student Programs and Professional Development and be accompanied by documentation from the treating physician stating that continuation by the student under the prevailing circumstances is not practical. In addition, the physician should project when the student might be able to resume his or her studies.
- A written request to drop for reasons of personal or family crisis must explain to the Associate Dean for Student Programs and Professional Development the specific nature of the crisis, such as death, disability, or serious illness of a family member; collapse of financial support; or impending legal issue. The request must also explain how the student expects to cope with his or her particular situation before returning and the expected return date.
- A student whose inadequate performance in early units of the first- or second-year courses is related to inadequate preparation, underdeveloped coping or study skills, or uncertain career motivation may request that all or part of the remaining curriculum be delayed to a future year. Such a request must be made in writing prior to (a) the completion of the fourth unit of the Structure-Function course or the fifth unit of the Scientific Basis of Medicine course, and (b) the failure of any three units of either course. Courses dropped beyond either of these occurences will be graded Fail. The written request should include a plan for identifying and correcting the deficiency or distraction and an estimate of when the student will be ready to resume or repeat the course.
- For similar reasons, a student may make a written request to the Associate Dean for Student Programs and Professional Development that the remainder of a clerkship be dropped and the clerkship be resumed with the clerkship director’s consent. Such a request must be made prior to the completion of the first half of the clerkship and include a plan for identifying and correcting the deficiency or distraction and an estimate of when the student will be ready to resume or repeat the clerkship.
Action on these requests, extensions of them, and conditions for return will be reviewed and affirmed or denied by the Student Promotions Committee in coordination with course directors, the student’s college mentor, and the Associate Dean for Student Programs and Professional Development. Requests to drop courses after mid-point deadlines will generally be denied. A student should seek and apply whatever counsel may be available to strengthen performance and attempt to satisfy the remaining course requirements.
LOAs are generally limited to one year but may, under some circumstances, be renewed upon re-application and provision of justification to the Associate Dean for Student Programs and Professional Development. At his or her discretion, the associate dean may consult with the Student Promotions Committee and other appropriate faculty members regarding such extensions. Return to medical school must be approved by the Associate Dean for Student Programs and Professional Development and the Student Promotions Committee and is subject to the availability of space in the appropriate medical school class. A student who has been on a LOA for three or more years may be required to repeat some or all of the coursework completed prior to taking leave. | |
