University of Nevada School of Medicine - Departments and Programs

Promotion

The decision for promotion of students from one semester to the next is made prior to the beginning of each semester. To qualify for promotion, a student must adhere to the grading policy. If promotion is denied for failure to meet the professional, cognitive or non cognitive standards, the due process procedures contained in this handbook apply, including written notification and the opportunity to reply.

Students must receive a grade “C” or better in all graded courses, a pass or better in all clinical clerkships, electives, and other curriculum experiences and demonstrate the appropriate level of professionalism in order to progress and to graduate. Marginal evaluations or evaluator concerns may affect promotion. Each student must take and pass the USMLE Step I prior to progression to the third year clerkships. The USMLE Step II CK and Step II CS must be taken before December 15 of the student’s fourth year of medical school. Passage of these exams is required for graduation.

Sub-Committee on Criteria Governing Promotion

All academic deficiencies shall be assessed by the SDC, using the Criteria Governing Promotion approved by the Year I-II Course Coordinators Committee in March 2008, and revised and approved by the Year I-II Course Coordinators Committee and the Student Development Committee in June 2009.

The Student Development Committee shall have the ability to override these guidelines.

Cognitive Criteria Governing Promotion

For promotion, all failures acquired during Years I and II count toward total cumulative failures even when rectified by repeating the Course.

Year I to Year II

1. One marginal pass - Student receives letter of concern from Year I-II Committee.

2. Two marginal passes - Student referred to SDC. Student will be placed on academic probation and may be required to repeat the year with requirement of 75% or better to pass in each course repeated.

3. Three or more marginal passes – Is grounds for dismissal. If SDC approves continued active student status, the student will be placed on academic probation and must repeat the entire year with a requirement of 75% or better to pass in each course repeated.

4. One failure with all other courses passed (no marginal passes) – must repeat the course prior to the beginning of the second year at an accredited institution subject to the approval of the Course Coordinator.

5. One failure with one or more marginal pass(es) – Is grounds for dismissal. If SDC approves continued active student status, the student will be placed on academic probation, will not be promoted to the second semester, and must repeat the entire year with a requirement of 75% or better to pass in each course.

6. Two or more failures – Is grounds for dismissal. If SDC approves continued active student status, the student will be placed on academic probation and must repeat the entire year with a requirement of 75% or better to pass in each course.

Year II to Year III

1. A student that repeats Year I cannot repeat Year II unless approved by SDC.

2. One or more marginal pass(es) –

a. If this is student’s first marginal pass during medical school - Student receives letter of concern from Year I-II Committee.

b. If this is student’s second or subsequent cumulative marginal pass - Student referred to SDC. Student will be placed on academic probation and may be required to repeat the entire year with a requirement of 75% or better to pass in each course.

3. One failure – Repeat the course at an accredited institution subject to the approval of the Course Coordinator with a requirement of 75% or better to pass.

4. Two or more failures – Student is referred to the SDC and is grounds for dismissal.
Additional Cognitive Criteria Governing Promotion

• Student progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester – A minimum grade of 75% is required to pass a course on a second attempt

• Marginal pass is defined as a score between 70 to below 75%

• Students who withdraw from classes at any time without SDC approval will receive an F in that class

• Freshman students upon entering the Fall semester that are deemed by the SDC within the first six weeks of the semester to have academic extenuating circumstances (such as a marginal science background or prior extended absence from academia) can be placed on an extended program (i.e., two years in three) 34

• Three or more marginal passes in a semester – is grounds for dismissal. If SDC approves continued active student status, the student will be placed on academic probation and must repeat the entire year with a requirement of 75% or better in each course

• Three semesters of continued marginal performance is grounds for dismissal

Sub-Committee on Criteria Governing Promotion

All academic deficiencies shall be assessed by the SDC, using the Criteria to Deny Promotion approved by the Year I-II Course Coordinators Committee in March 2008, and revised and approved by the Year I and II Course Coordinators and the Student Development Committee in June 2009.

The Student Development Committee shall have the ability to override these guidelines.

Non-Cognitive Criteria Governing Promotion

Behavioral issues - i.e. infractions that reflect poorly on oneself, one’s peers, or UNSOM; infractions that directly advance or harm a person

Student will be referred to SDC. The infraction must be documented in the student’s permanent academic record. Disciplinary action may be taken up to and including dismissal. If SDC approves continued active student status, the student will be placed on probation. A second occurrence will result in dismissal.

Academic dishonesty – i.e. cheating, plagiarism, breach of confidentiality in SP exams, forgery Cheating on any academic test will result in automatic failure of the course and is grounds for dismissal.

Student will be referred to SDC. The infraction must be documented in the student’s permanent academic record. If SDC approves continued active student status, the student will be placed on probation. If the student is allowed to repeat the course, the highest grade he/she can receive is a C. A second infraction will result in dismissal.

From UNR “Student Conduct Information” accessed at http://www.unr.edu/stsv/acdespol.html Academic dishonesty is defined as: “Cheating, plagiarism, or otherwise obtaining grades under false pretenses. Plagiarism is defined as submitting the language, ideas, thoughts or work of another as one’s own; or assisting in the act of plagiarism by allowing one’s work to be used in this fashion.

Cheating is defined as (1) obtaining or providing unauthorized information during an examination through verbal, visual or unauthorized use of books, notes, text and other materials; (2) obtaining or providing information concerning all or part of an examination prior to that examination; (3) taking an examination for another student, or arranging for another person to take an exam in one’s place; (4) altering or changing test answers after submittal for grading, grades after grades have been awarded, or other academic records once these are official.”

Also included under the heading of “cheating” is the submission of any work as your own that you did not create or perform. This includes, but is not limited to: homework assignments, written projects, and patient history or examination findings.

Patient Care – Falsifying or knowingly omitting pertinent information, lying regarding patient care, conscious HIPPA violations