Standards of Academic Conduct
Division III - Academic Performance
Section 3-101 Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory Performance Within All Components of the Curriculum:
Promotion from one component of the curriculum to the next and graduation from the program with the granting of an M.D. degree are based on a student satisfactorily meeting the performance standards established by the faculty of the SMHS.
A. Performance Standards
1. Students must be registered for each block, required clinical experience or elective at the prescribed time as outlined in the SMHS Bulletin unless otherwise authorized by SPRC.
2. Student performance is determined on the basis of achievement of prescribed block, required clinical experience, or elective objectives. Students must achieve the satisfactory criterion level established by the faculty and presented to all students at the beginning of each block, required clinical experience, or elective.
3. Student performance will be recorded according to the attached grading policy for medical students. (See Appendix - Medical Student Grading Policy). The faculty will evaluate and document each student=s general performance characteristics including self-directed learning, knowledge of the sciences basic to medicine, clinical skills competency, and professional attitudes and behaviors.
4. Satisfactory completion of Steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), according to established National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) criteria, is a requirement for graduation and granting of the M.D. degree at SMHS; a student must pass USMLE Step 1 Examination before beginning the second half of the required third year clerkships. A student is required to take USMLE Step 1 before beginning Year 3 required clinical experiences provided that Blocks I-VIII of Years 1 & 2 have been satisfactorily completed. Should a student fail to satisfactorily complete Step 1, the student would be allowed to continue in the first half of the Year 3 required clinical experiences or, with the counsel of SPRC and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, petition for a leave of absence to adequately prepare to repeat the exam. If a student takes and fails a USMLE Step Examination three times, a dismissal hearing will be conducted.
5. Satisfactory grades in individual components of the curriculum do not guarantee that the student's performance, viewed as a whole, will meet requirements for awarding the degree.
B. Curriculum Completion and Promotion
Promotion from component to component (e.g., block to block or year to year) requires satisfactory completion of all blocks, required clinical experiences, and/or curriculum objectives in the preceding curricular component.
C. Consequences of Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
1. Remediation: Remedial experiences may be prescribed depending on the time and severity of student deficiencies.
a. If, by student self-assessment or observation by a faculty facilitator or preceptor, a student is performing unsatisfactorily during a block, required clinical experience or elective, the block or clinical experience director may prescribe measures to help correct the deficiencies. The availability and type of remediation are the responsibility of the faculty and may include, but are not limited to, designated tutorials, academic exercises, or supplemental instruction.
b. If a student receives an Unsatisfactory grade at the end of a block or required clinical experience, remediation will be required. Students with Unsatisfactory grades in more than one required clinical experience cannot begin remediation programs until the SPRC has given approval.
2. A student who receives an Unsatisfactory grade in a single block or required clinical experience will be placed on academic probation. Removal of probationary status requires satisfactory completion of the particular block or required clinical experience.
a. Within Blocks I-VIII of Years 1 & 2, failure of a single component of assessment in an individual block results in an Unsatisfactory grade for the block. Remediation of the failed component can be accomplished during the Special Studies Week (10th week of the block) according to written policies and procedures for remediation. Successful remediation will result in a Satisfactory grade for the block. Unsuccessful remediation will not affect participation in the subsequent block; however, the student will be responsible for remediating the entire block at a designated time during the summer following the academic year in which the deficiency occurred. Failure to remediate block assessment in the summer will result in a dismissal hearing in which a decision to dismiss the student or to grant an opportunity to repeat the block will be made by the SPRC after careful consideration of the student's entire record.
b. Within Blocks I-VIII of Years 1 & 2, failure of more than one component of assessment in an individual block results in an Unsatisfactory grade for the block. While the deficiency will not affect participation in the subsequent block, remediation of the entire block is necessary and will occur at a designated time during the summer following the academic year in which the deficiency occurred. Remediation will be done according to written policies and procedures. Successful remediation will result in a Satisfactory grade for the block. Failure to remediate block assessment in the summer will result in a dismissal hearing in which a decision to dismiss the student or to grant an opportunity to repeat the block will be made by the SPRC after careful consideration of the student's entire record.
c. For clerkships, if a student fails one or more components of assessment, the student may progress to the next clerkship but must make arrangements with the clerkship director(s) for remediation of the clerkship in a timely manner. Failure to remediate the clerkship will result in a dismissal hearing in which a decision to dismiss the student or to grant an opportunity to repeat the clerkship will be made by the SPRC after careful consideration of the student's entire record.
d. Within the Rural Opportunities in Medical Education (ROME) program, students must successfully pass all components of assessment. Failure of any component of assessment will require remediation before going on to Year 4 electives. Failure to remediate will result in a dismissal hearing and a decision to either dismiss the student, or in consultation with Clerkship Directors and SPRC, require that the student successfully complete a prescribed program of study to correct the deficiency. The requirements of remediation may include successful completion of a clerkship in the discipline in which the student is deficient.
3. Unsatisfactory grades in any block of Year 1 must be corrected before starting Year 2. Unsatisfactory grades in any block of Year 2 must be corrected before starting required Year 3 clinical experiences. Unsatisfactory grades in any required clinical experiences of Year 3 must be corrected before starting Year 4 electives. Exceptions to the above must be approved by SPRC.
4. A student who receives two Unsatisfactory grades in an academic year will be placed on probation and a dismissal hearing will be held. A decision to dismiss the student, to suspend the student, or to grant remedial experiences will be made by SPRC after careful consideration of the student's entire record. Removal of probation and promotion to the next curricular component requires satisfactory remediation of the specific deficiencies. Failure to meet the criteria of the remedial experiences is grounds for dismissal.
a. For Blocks I-VIII of Years 1 & 2, if a student fails a single component of assessment in an individual block, and fails to remediate in week 10, and fails to remediate a deficiency in any subsequent block in the same academic year, the student will be placed on probation and a dismissal hearing will be held. A decision to dismiss the student or to grant an opportunity to repeat the year will be made by SPRC after careful consideration of the student's entire record.
b. If a student fails multiple components of assessment in more than one block in the same academic year, the student will be placed on probation, and a dismissal hearing will be held. A decision to dismiss the student or to grant an opportunity to repeat the year will be made by SPRC after careful consideration of the student's entire record.
c. If a student carries unremediated Unsatisfactory grades in two or more required clinical experiences and/or electives in Year 3 or 4, the student will be placed on probation, and a dismissal hearing will be held. A decision to dismiss the student or to grant an opportunity to repeat the year will be made by the SPRC after careful consideration of the student's entire record.
5. During a repeated year, a student will be placed on probation and a dismissal hearing will be held if the student fails any block in which the student was previously enrolled. A decision regarding dismissal will be made by the SPRC after careful consideration of the student's entire record.
6. Students admitted to SMHS must complete their requirements for the M.D. degree within six years from the date of matriculation. Blocks I-VIII (Years 1 and 2) must be completed satisfactorily in no more than three years from the date of matriculation, and required clinical experiences and electives (Years 3 and 4) must be completed satisfactorily in no more than three years from the date the student begins the third year required experiences. Students in the M.D./Ph.D. program may exceed the six year limitation in satisfying the requirements of both degrees, but must take no more than three years from the date of matriculation to complete satisfactorily Blocks I-VIII and no more than three years after beginning the required year 3 clinical experiences to complete satisfactorily required clinical experiences and electives. Failure by any student to complete requirements as stated is grounds for dismissal. SPRC may make limited exceptions to this policy for medical or other compelling reasons.
