The Student Progress Committee has the responsibility to monitor and evaluate student performance and to make decisions appropriate to each individual case. The Committee consists of eight elected faculty members and one student from each class. The Committee is charged with reviewing the record of each student at least once each year. The purposes of such review are: to identify academic performance or behavioral problems sufficiently early to recommend appropriate action for the prevention of future problems; to recommend actions for those who fail a course (or courses); and to take appropriate action in cases where students engage in conduct that would be considered either unprofessional or unethical according to the standards guiding the medical profession, including any conduct or practice that is or might be harmful or dangerous to the health or safety of the student, a patient or the public.
The Student Progress Committee is guided by certain policies and procedures, which are on file in the Office of the Dean, and which will be made available to students desiring copies of this document. All actions taken by the Committee are prescribed by those policies, including appeals, which are handled by the Student Appeals Committee, whose procedures are set forth therein.
To qualify for graduation, the following guidelines apply:
1. A student must pass all required courses, as well as the requisite number of elective courses, as set forth in the College of Medicine catalog, as amended from time to time.
2. A student must pass both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) and must take Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) prior to graduation.
Step 1
Step 2
3. In order to graduate, medical students must take and pass the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation). A student whose score falls below two standard deviations below the mean on the examination shall be considered to have failed. If a student fails the examination, s/he shall be required to seek appropriate remedial assistance from the coordinator of Preparation of Clinical Medicine. The Coordinator of the Preparation of Clinical Medicine program shall make a written report to the Student Progress Committee of all students who fail the evaluation. The coordinator shall provide a written evaluation of the student's remedial work upon completion to the Student Progress Committee to ensure that the deficiencies have been addressed adequately prior to graduation.
4. Other Factors Affecting Award of Degree. If the Committee determines that other factors should be considered prior to recommending that a student receive his/her degree, it may do so. Some of these factors may include, but are not limited to:
a. Chronic disabling physical or emotional illness that, with reasonable accommodation, may be remedied with appropriate treatment, and the student has failed or refused to seek such treatment;
b. Chronic disabling physical or emotional illness that, even with reasonable accommodation or treatment, fails to resolve and renders the student unable to complete his or her required studies;
c. Conduct that would be considered either unprofessional or unethical according to the standards guiding the medical profession, including any conduct or practice that is or might be harmful or dangerous to the health or safety of the student, a patient or the public;
d. Dishonest scholastic work.
5. Time Limitations: The curriculum of the College of Medicine is designed to permit students to complete their medical degree in four years. Extensions of time to complete the curricular requirements shall be addressed to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs who will act on the request. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs will then inform the Student Progress Committee about each extension. Students may appeal the decision of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in accordance to the rules set forth in the Student Progress Committee Policy and Procedures, which is incorporated herein by reference.