Academic Deficiencies
The MSEPC expects every student to meet the requirements and standards stated in this policy. For the purposes of this policy, academic deficiencies refer to either a No Pass (NP) or Incomplete (I) grade for a course or a clerkship. Consequences of academic deficiencies are described below. However, even without an academic deficiency, a student with poor academic performance may incur consequences as severe as a recommendation for dismissal for failure to meet these requirements and standards. Decisions by the MSEPC for promotion to the next academic year or for recommending graduation from the School of Medicine are contingent upon the successful remediation of all academic deficiencies and completion of all academic requirements.
One Deficiency in an Academic Year:
A student who has one deficiency (NP or I grade) per year will be required to remediate the grade successfully prior to promotion to the next year. If the final grade earned in a course or clerkship is No Pass (NP) or Incomplete (I), a formal plan (“Plan for Remediating Failing Performance” for a grade of NP, or “Plan for Completing Course Requirements” for a grade of I) will be established by the module or clerkship director and the student and submitted to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the chair of the MSEPC. The plan, including expectations for work to be performed, student assessment, passing level, and time period for the remediation, must be developed and submitted to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs within two weeks of the initial grade of NP or I being posted. The first remediation attempt must be completed within 5 weeks of the end of the academic year.
If the student fails to successfully remediate, the student will receive an NP in the course or clerkship and will be referred to the MSEPC for review. A second grade of No Pass in the same repeated course in years 1 and 2 may result in dismissal of the student from the School of Medicine M.D. program. Further remediation, if allowed by the MSEPC, must be by repetition of the course. A second grade of No Pass in the same repeated clerkship in years 3 and 4 will result in dismissal of the student from the School of Medicine M.D. program.
Two or More Deficiencies in an Academic Year:
A student who has more than one deficiency (NP or I grade) per academic year may be dismissed from the program or be required to repeat the entire year or a part of the year. The MSEPC will determine a plan to resolve the deficiencies merited by the situation and will place the student on formal "At-Risk" status (see below).
Multiple Deficiencies across Academic Years:
A student who has had multiple deficiencies during enrollment will be reviewed for the severity of the overall problem and a recommended course of action for the individual will be made by the MSEPC. Consistency of performance is also evaluated. Any student who records two or more deficiencies (NP or I grade) throughout enrollment in the School of Medicine M.D. program will be reviewed on an on-going basis by the MSEPC, will be placed on At Risk status, and may be subject to further MSEPC action.
Referrals to Counseling (Tutorial) and Study Skills Service:
Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and will be provided with formative assessment results throughout the M.D. program. All students are encouraged to avail themselves of tutorial and study skills services without referral. However, when students are presented as having difficulty at an MSEPC meeting, they are strongly encouraged to avail themselves of these services, and in some instances, will be directed to do so in writing. If a student is repeatedly urged to arrange tutoring, counseling or study skills help, but does not do so and subsequently does not pass a course or clerkship, this will be made known to, and taken into consideration by, the MSEPC to assist in the evaluation of the student’s overall performance and professional attitudes.
If a student is directed to seek these referral services, the student has a choice of utilizing UTRGV services or private resources. In addition to the SOM Office of Student Affairs, course/clerkship representatives to the MSEPC are responsible for providing the committee with reports of referrals made by course/clerkship faculty as well as the student’s utilization of referral services. Verification that the student has utilized these referral services may be required. In addition, the MSEPC may require that the student have his/her tutor submit information and/or a recommendation to the MSEPC relating to the student’s academic program.
Ref. Pol. # EAA018