Student Advancement, Promotion, and Graduation Standards

Student Advancement, Promotion, and Graduation Standards

Last updated: January 18th, 2023 at 03:55 pm

The Student Advancement, Promotion and Graduation Standards Policy is intended to inform WAUSM students of their rights and responsibilities as they progress through the WAUSM curriculum.

I. The Student Progress Committee (SPC) reviews student performance to ensure students are making satisfactory progress toward graduation and meeting WAUSM’s general competencies.

II. Standards

a. Students must meet all academic requirements, including, but not limited to, passing all required courses or rotations and licensing examinations. Candidates for the MD degree must achieve all competencies, complete the prescribed course of study, and pass USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, the Occupational English Test for Medicine (OET), and all other curricular requirements. Students must complete the MD degree program within seven (7) years from the date of matriculation into the program.

b. In order to maintain Good Standing, a student is required to pass all courses. If a student fails one course in a pre-clerkship semester, the student must repeat the entire semester, regardless of performance in other courses, to advance. Any student who fails two or more courses is subject to dismissal.

c. A student must meet all academic requirements, including, but not limited to, passing all courses, licensing examinations and/or having fulfilled all terms of an agreement (for example: remediation, Leave of Absence, etc.), to advance.

d. A student must complete the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and OET requirements within the specified timelines as outlined in the Licensing Examination Policy.

e. A student must complete all graduation requirements within seven (7) years of matriculation.

f. A student fulfills all agreed upon terms of an approved leave of absence.

III. Advancement

a. A Student in good standing that has passing grades in all courses will advance to the next course/semester of instruction.

b. A Student who successfully completes a remediation program, if applicable, or a repeated semester with passing grades will advance.

c. A student who fails a course, or fails to meet academic standards or competency standards, will not advance and will be subject to review and possible disciplinary action.

IV. Formal Disciplinary Actions

a. Formal Disciplinary Actions include Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal.

b. A Student subject to a Formal Disciplinary Action is not in good standing.

c. The action will be recorded on the student’s record and noted in the medical student performance

d. All formal disciplinary actions will be reported to medical staff committees, specialty boards, medical licensing authorities, and regulatory agencies upon their request.

V. Probation

a. Probation provides a student that has not satisfactorily met WAUSM’s general competencies another opportunity to meet those standards rather than be dismissed. A Student will be placed on probation for academic reasons if any of the following occur:

i. Failure to successfully pass a course

ii. Withdrawing or taking a leave of absence while failing a course

iii. Failure to pass USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, or the OET

b. A student currently on probation who fails a course or USMLE Examination or a licensing exam may be subject to dismissal.

c. Before a student can be removed from probation and reinstated to good standing, they must have their academic record reviewed by the SPC to ensure the student has met the required standards and is making satisfactory progress.

VI. Dismissal

a. Dismissal permanently removes the student from active enrollment with no opportunity for reenrollment or re-admission.

b. Dismissal is recorded on the academic transcript and reported to medical staff committees, specialty boards, medical licensing authorities, and regulatory agencies upon their request. The SPC may dismiss a student for any of the following reasons, including but not limited to, the following:

i. Failure of two or more courses or failure of a course while on Probation.

ii. Failure to pass USMLE Step 1, Step 2CK, or the OET.

iii. Insufficient time remaining to complete the requirements for the MD degree within seven (7) years of matriculation.

VII. Dismissal Process

Dismissal is not automatic and requires a review by the SPC. The process for review is as follows:

a. A student will be notified via their WAUSM email by the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) if they are being considered for dismissal no later than seven (7) business days from the official grade release. The OUR also will notify the SPC of all students to be considered for dismissal.

b. A student being considered for dismissal may apply for a personal leave of absence while the SPC deliberates.

c. Students who chose not to take a personal leave of absence will be administratively withdrawn.

d. The SPC will review and meet with each student brought before SPC and render a decision on each student no later than thirty-five (35) business days from the official grade release.

e. The Chair of the SPC will notify the student via their WAUSM email of the time and location of the SPC meeting, as well as the student’s rights and responsibilities. The student may present why they should not be dismissed at the meeting and may provide written materials supporting their position to the SPC prior to noon on the last business day before the meeting. The student may not have a guest or advisor at the meeting or remain during SPC deliberations.

f. After deliberation, the SPC will decide as to whether the student should be dismissed. The Chair of the SPC will notify the student of its decision no later than forty-five (45) business days from the date of the official grade release unless circumstances exist making the forty-five (45) business day timeline impractical.

g. A student who is dismissed may choose to accept the dismissal, request reconsideration by the SPC, or appeal to the Executive Dean.

VIII. Reconsideration & Appeal

a. A student dismissed by the SPC may request reconsideration by the SPC if the student has new
relevant information that was not previously available and presented to the SPC. Request for
reconsideration must be emailed no later than five (5) business from receipt of the SPC decision.

b. The SPC will reply to a request for reconsideration no later than ten (10) business days from receipt of the student request. If the student provides no new information, the request for reconsideration will be denied.

c. A student who is dismissed, or whose request for reconsideration was denied, and believes that policies and procedures were not followed by the SPC, may appeal to the Executive Dean. The student must send their letter of appeal to the Executive Dean no later than five (5) business days from the date of the SPC notice of dismissal.

d. The Executive Dean will review a student’s letter of appeal, the student’s academic record, the record from the student’s meeting with the SPC, and the SPC decision Letter.

e. The Executive Dean then will issue a written decision and send it to the student’s WAUSM email
account no later than twenty (20) business days from the date of the student’s letter of appeal. The Executive Dean may deny the student’s appeal and accept the SPC recommendation of dismissal, or they may reject the recommendation and refer the matter back to the SPC and the Office of Student Affairs to develop an appropriate remediation program with the student.

Unsatisfactory Performance and Academic Remediation

Students who fail to meet academic performance and professionalism standards during the 5 semesters at WAUSM will be subject to review by the Student Progress Committee (SPC) and could be considered for remediation, disciplinary action and/or dismissal. When deemed appropriate by SPC, remediation opportunities will be allowed.

Unsatisfactory Performance

a. Student performance extends beyond medical knowledge and academic performance. Behavior of a medical student reflects on the student’s ability to become a competent physician. The University expects all medical students to be professional in their interactions with patients, employees, faculty, and staff and to exhibit caring and compassionate attitudes. These and other qualities will be evaluated during patient contacts and in other relevant settings by both faculty and peers. In addition, students must adhere to WAUSM’s Code of Student Conduct.

b. In conferring the MD degree, WAUSM certifies that the student is prepared to enter the challenges of Graduate Medical Education. The MD degree also certifies that, in addition to competency in medical knowledge and skills, the graduate possesses those traits essential to the profession of medicine as
judged by the faculty members, residents, and the student’s peers. Attitudes and/or behaviors, including, but not limited to alleged violations of WAUSM’s Code of Student Conduct may indicate unsatisfactory performance of professionalism. The SPC may review allegations of conduct that, in its judgment, indicate an academic deficiency and, if a deficiency is found, may dismiss the student. A SPC review of a student’s academic progress does not preclude a WAUSM review for student conduct code violations.

Academic Remediation

a. Failed Examination within a Course

i. The WAUSM curriculum is fast-paced and demands a high level of preparation and participation for student success. Any student who scores below a passing grade on any examination as defined in the missed examination policy must meet with the Center for Academic Success (CAS) to discuss their performance and learning strategies.

ii. The Center for Academic Success and the Office of Student Affairs will assist in formulating strategies to assist the student and will meet with the student to discuss correction strategies tailored to the student’s individual needs.

iii. The goal is to provide prompt and effective intervention to correct academic deficiencies to help prevent failure overall.

b. Failed Course

i. If a student fails a course and requires formal remediation to achieve a passing grade, the student will be presented to SPC for review.

1. Foundations of Medicine (FoM): Students must pass all components of the course to pass the semester. Students who fail the FoM course may have the opportunity to repeat one (1) semester. All failures will be reviewed by the SPC.

2. Patient Centered Care (PCC): Students failing the PCC 1 practical examination may remediate the examination after week 15 of the semester, within the first week of the semester break. Students successfully remediating the practical examination may not receive a total PCC 1 grade higher than 70%, regardless of remediation exam score or points received for the activity component of the PCC 1 course. Remediating students cannot receive high pass or honors for that semester. The remediation of the course will be noted internally for MSPE purposes.

c. Failed Semester – Pre-clerkship Program

i. Students must pass all components of the Foundations of Medicine course (FoM) and the Patient Centered Care (PCC) course to pass the semester. Students who fail either the PCC course or the FoM course without successful remediation, may have the opportunity to repeat one (1) semester. All failures will be reviewed by the SPC.

Academic Counseling

The Center for Academic Success (CAS)

The Center for Academic Success is the main mechanism for student academic advising, facilitation of tutoring, teaching of study skills, and monitoring of student performance, and mentoring. All WAUSM faculty has some portion of their time allocated to CAS.

Accommodations

WAUSM is committed to diversity and inclusion and celebrates the various learning needs, neurodiversity, and abilities of our students. Students with documented disabilities may request accommodations as needed.

Accommodations granted by WAUSM during pre-clerkship years do not guarantee accommodations for any other institutions and may not carry over to clerkship years. Accommodations granted by WAUSM do not
guarantee accommodations for tests administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). Please see USMLE accommodations here: USMLE Accommodations. WAUSM students are responsible for being proactive in obtaining and supplying all relevant information requested for accommodations to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). Applications for accommodations requests are confidential and will only be accessed by those parties responsible for reviewing applications and implementing approved accommodations.

Requesting Accommodations:

a. Complete the Accommodations Request Form available on the WAUSM Student Hub Canvas Course.

b. If applicable, upload previously approved accommodation documentation from past schools or other educational institutions, inclusive of the specific accommodations and dates they were provided.

c. Upload professional evaluations and/or appropriate records from a Qualified Professional (QP).

i. QP evaluations should be comprehensive, provide specific evidence of impairment and in most cases, have been completed in the past three years. Reports must be typewritten on official letterhead, dated, and signed by the QP. Certified English translations of non-English documentation are required.

ii. A comprehensive QP evaluation includes:

1. Full name, credentials, current title, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of QP conducting evaluation.

2. The presenting problem and relevant historical information.

3. A description of the onset, frequency, intensity, and duration of relevant symptoms as well as the extent to which the symptoms impact your daily functioning across multiple environments (e.g., social, academic, occupational, etc.).

4. A description of the assessment procedure and diagnostic tests administered.

5. A description of the individual’s functional limitations due to the disability in the context of an academic environment.

6. Specific accommodations and/or assistive devices request along with rationale for requests.

7. If applicable, a rationale as to why accommodations were not requested or required in the past.

d. WAUSM may request additional information before rendering an accommodation request decision. Students will receive an email outlining the outcome of the accommodation request. Relevant WAUSM faculty members and colleagues will be made aware of approved accommodations to ensure that they are implemented.

Registering a Service Animal:

a. Complete the Service Animal Form located on the WAUSM Student Hub Canvas Course.

Missed Examinations

Students are expected to complete all examinations on the dates and times noted on Canvas calendar. In rare cases, extenuating circumstances may prohibit a student from completing an examination on the original scheduled date and time. In these instances, students may request approval from the Office of Student Affairs (OSA)to sit for a missed examination and must be prepared to sit for a remediation exam. Extenuating Circumstances may include, but are not limited to, hospitalization due to serious illness, military conscription, or death of a family member. Extenuating circumstances will be determined by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

I. Summative Examinations (SUM-E’s), Anatomy Practical Exams, Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA)

a. Students who miss a summative examination, anatomy practical examination or the Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessment (CBSSA)due to extenuating circumstances need to provide documentation of those circumstances to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). Documentation must be provided within 24 hours of the missed examination.

b. Students approved for a remediation examination must be prepared to sit for a remediation exam within seven (7) calendar days from the original exam date.

c. Following approval, the exact remediation exam date will be scheduled, and this date is final.

d. In cases where a student is either not approved for remediation or fails to appear for the remediation exam at the scheduled date and time, the student will receive a score of zero (0) for that missed
examination.

II. Final Examinations, OSCE’s and Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSE)

a. Students who miss a final examination or OSCE will receive a zero (0) for those examinations.

b. If a student fails a course because of missing these examinations, the Student Advancement, Promotions and Graduation Standards Policy will apply.

Attendance

As future professionals, medical students should conduct themselves appropriately in all curricular activities, including classroom work, laboratory work, and clinical experiences. The professionalism of a medical student
includes arriving to educational activities on time, using laptop computers only for coursework during the educational activity, and minimizing disruptions to the educational exercise.

Certain activities in medical school are experiential and require attendance. Students are personally responsible for attending all required educational activities as specified by the course, or clerkship director, which will generally include group interactive sessions such as clinical skills or other team based or active learning environments. Students should consult the course syllabus for specific attendance policies related to each course. Required attendance at teaching/classroom sessions varies with the course or clerkship. Specific attendance and punctuality requirements for courses and clerkships will be included in the syllabus or may be communicated by alternate written means, such as email or notice on unit, course, or clerkship websites.

Students are expected to attend required scheduled activities on time and ready to begin. If a semester 1-5 enrolled WAUSM student or MAPP student has an extenuating circumstance that prevents them from attending a scheduled activity, the student is expected to notify the Office of Student Affairs (please see EXTENDED ABSENCE AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE POLICY). It is important that students realize that their absence or tardiness negatively impacts many other people. Attendance, including tardiness, is part of the evaluation for professionalism, and poor evaluations may result in decreased grades and, in severe cases, referral to SPC.

During semesters 6-10, time off is given at the discretion of the clerkship director and may or may not be granted. Students are allotted breaks as noted on the WAUSM academic calendar, but otherwise, students
are expected to attend 100% of all clerkship activities. Semester 6-10 students on scheduled clerkships are NOT automatically off on official holidays listed on the academic calendar. Clerkship programs may permit students a holiday (e.g., If the outpatient clinic(s) is/are closed, and a clerkship director may give the students assigned there the day off).

Extended Absences and Leave of Absences

Students are expected to attend class, participate in all educational activities, and complete curricular requirements for their course of study. However, WAUSM recognizes that some students may encounter circumstances that prevent them from fulfilling all requirements for their program of study in the prescribed timeline.

WAUSM has established policies that allow arrangements for students to be able to complete their course of study.

Students should be aware that their return and reintegration into the curriculum may require repeating or auditing of classes or clerkships / electives already taken. Students should also understand that, depending upon the length of the leave of absence, graduation may be delayed.

I. Approved Extended Absence

a. Students can apply to the Office of Student Affairs for an approved extended absence when an extenuating circumstance may result in missed educational activities that span a minimum of six (6) consecutive business days or a maximum of fifteen (15) consecutive business days within a semester.

II. Extended Absence Contract

a. Students on an Approved Extended Absence must review and sign an Extended Absence Contract (EAC).

b. The Extended Absence Contract provides structure, uniformity, and communication between the student, faculty, and administration, and all Student Services departments for these extended absences.

c. The Extended Absence Contract (EAC) must be signed and approved by all parties at least 14 days prior to the anticipated absence, or within 48 hours of the onset of an emergency or unexpected circumstances.

d. Any Approved Extended Absence that extends beyond the fifteen (15) consecutive business days will require an official Leave of Absence. If the extended absence converts to a Leave of Absence, students will be required to get counseled by the Office of Student Financial Services for considerations and implications of a LOA.

e. All appropriate parties affected by the Approved Extended Absence will be required to provide input on the coursework missed and the plan for completion of the missed work, including deadlines for completion.

f. WAUSM reserves the right to impose an Administrative Leave of Absence if the Approved Extended Absence must be extended and the student does not petition for a personal leave of absence.

III. Leave of Absence (LOA)

a. For students who anticipate being unable to participate in all course requirements or activities for a period of time beyond fifteen (15) consecutive business days, the student must petition for a Leave of Absence.

b. A student who requests a leave of absence is responsible for all academic work scheduled until the request is approved.

c. Students considering a leave of absence (LOA) must notify the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs (ADSA), if the student is currently enrolled in semesters 1-5, or the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs (SADSA) if the student is enrolled in semesters 6-10 or the Medical Advancement Preparatory Program (MAPP), as early as possible to discuss the reason for the leave, the steps to initiate the leave, the conditions of return from leave, potential consequences of taking a leave, and, if pertinent, alternatives to a leave of absence. Students are also required to meet with the Director of Financial Aid prior to submitting the request for LOA to fully understand the impact of leaves on financial aid and scholarships.

d. After discussion, if the student feels that a leave of absence is the best option, they must complete and submit the Leave of Absence Approval Form to [email protected]. The LOA Form can be found in Canvas, in the Student Hub under Student Affairs Forms.

e. If the leave is approved, the student is withdrawn from all courses. A grade of WP (Withdrawal Pass) or WF (Withdrawal Fail) appears on the official transcript.

f. In emergency situations, the ADSA or SADSA, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, may bypass some or all of the below steps to ensure campus safety or patient safety in the clinical sites, and/or the safety of other students, faculty and staff. Nothing in this or other policies shall be construed to prevent WAUSM from requiring students to always meet the university/program essential eligibility requirements and technical standards, and the policies and procedures that assure campus safety.

g. A student who is repeatedly absent may be placed on an Administrative Leave of Absence (ALOA) or administratively withdrawn at the discretion of the University without the ability to reapply for admission.

h. A student may return earlier than the established anticipated return date when the conditions of return are met earlier than anticipated and must be approved by the ADSA or SADSA as appropriate.

i. If the student goes on leave and incurs a financial balance, all financial obligations to WAUSM must be satisfied prior to their return.

j. When the leave of absence expires, students that have not yet been in communication with the ADSA or SADSA regarding plans for their return will be contacted. Students that choose not to return may withdraw from WAUSM; if WAUSM is unable to contact the student, then the student will be administratively withdrawn from the program in lieu of a withdrawal.

k. Students going on leave are reminded that all degree candidates, whether currently registered or not, are expected to maintain a satisfactory standard of conduct.

l. Students must complete all registered credit hours and associated coursework and requirements by the end of the semester in which the extended absence occurs.

m. Students may not be on LOA at the time they take a USMLE examination. Being officially enrolled is a prerequisite for a student to be certified as eligible to take Step 1 and 2 CK.

IV. Types of Leave of Absence

a. Administrative Leave of Absence (ALOA)

i. An ALOA is a WAUSM-mandated leave to address a single or multiple academic, professionalism, or other deficiencies.

ii. Reasons for an Administrative Leave of Absence include, but is not limited to:

1. Failure to abide by WAUSM policies, including, but not limited to, those related to student behavior and conduct, and the WAUSM technical or professional standards.

2. A student may be placed on an Administrative Leave of Absence, in cases where the student becomes so disruptive as to interfere with the academic pursuits and other activities of the academic and/or clinical community.

3. If a student is experiencing personal or medical circumstances but refuses to petition for a personal leave of absence and WAUSM’s administration believe it is in their best interest to go on a leave. Or, if a student demonstrates inability or unwillingness to carry out substantial selfcare obligations such as participation in their own healthcare, compliance with healthcare visits, rehabilitation, or monitoring programs.

4. Health and safety reasons and/or substance misuse.

5. Financial reasons.

6. A student may be required to take an ALOA if it is believed that the student poses a risk to themselves or others.

7. In severe circumstances that warrant an interruption in the student’s education.

8. WAUSM is concerned for the general safety, health, and well-being of the campus community including students, faculty and staff and the safety and well-being of patients. On occasion, a student may experience circumstances that significantly limit their ability to function safely or successfully as a student, or the student may no longer meet the minimum technical and/or professional standards of the program. In these cases, WAUSM may place such a student on an ALOA.

iii. For students placed on an ALOA for disciplinary reasons, the result of the adjudication process will determine when a student is allowed to return.

iv. The Office of Student Affairs will advise the student to take a personal leave of absence. If the student is unwilling to take a student-initiated Personal Leave of Absence, the Office of Student Affairs will place the student on an Administrative Leave of Absence.

b. Educational Leave of Absence (ELOA)

i. An Educational Leave of Absence is a voluntary leave to pursue research, an externship, a degreegranting program outside the School of Medicine, or any other career advancing activity. AnEducational Leave of Absence is generally not granted for a period beyond one year. The 12-month period begins on the first day of the student’s leave of absence. An Educational Leave of Absence may only occur during semesters 6-10.

c. Personal Leave of Absence (PLOA)

i. The SADSA may grant a personal leave of absence. If the leave is due to medical reasons, the student must provide the appropriate medical documentation, including but not limited to, a letter from the treating physician clearly stating the nature of the medical condition and reasons it requires a leave of absence. The SADSA may require additional information to determine the appropriate timeframe for return. The SADSA reserves the right to require a second opinion if the reason for the medical leave is not common for the medical condition or to confirm that a medical condition exists or if theSADSA believes a second opinion is warranted.

ii. In cases of PLOA for medical / health reasons:

1. The student must provide to the OSA a letter / documentation from the healthcare provider directly involved in the student’s care supporting the need for a PLOA.

V. Leave of Absence Extension

a. Students who feel that they need more than a 12-month LOA may request an extension. The student must provide written documentation to the ADSA or SADSA for the extension, leave length, the rationale for the extension and provide documentation supporting the need for additional time, when appropriate.

VI. Return from LOA

a. Students must complete and submit the Return from LOA Form to the Office of the University Registrar 30 days prior to their return. The Return from LOA Form can be requested through the Office of the Registrar at [email protected].

b. The ADSA or SADSA, in consultation with appropriate University officials, faculty, and staff will determine the conditions for return from leave, the requirements to remain in active status once the student returns from leave and the system for student monitoring upon return.

c. Upon return from a leave, the ADSA or SADSA, in consultation with all pertinent parties will determine the student’s placement within the curriculum. The return may require repeating, or auditing of classes or clerkships / electives already taken.

d. In the case of medical / health reasons, students need to provide documentation from the health care provider directly involved in the student’s care that they are fit to return to studies. The student may be required to comply with the healthcare provider’s prescribed treatment as a condition for returning from PLOA.

e. In the case of ALOA, the student must provide documentation that the circumstances necessitating the ALOA have been satisfactorily addressed and/or remedied, and they are clear to return.

f. In the notification letter, students will be advised of the documentation and the required source of that documentation to satisfy WAUSM’s requirements to return.

g. If any changes have been made to the curriculum and/or requirements, the student must adhere to university curriculum and requirement policies in effect at the time of their return.

h. Upon return, the student must meet financial obligations in effect at the time of their return.

Note: A student who is granted a Leave of Absence for which the effective date for the leave is on or after the first day of the semester and they are enrolled in the WAUSM Healthcare insurance will remain enrolled in the health insurance for the semester when the leave was taken.

Duty Hours and Industry Relations Policy

This policy serves to describe an acceptable learning environment where faculty, students and residents are shielded from industry bias and are provided with an appropriate learning environment. This policy incorporates standards of practice comparable to those adopted by US medical schools. Rotating WAUSM medical students cannot exceed 80 average hours a week over a 4-week period with duty periods of 16 hours or less. A minimum of 8 duty-free hours must be allowed between scheduled duty periods. We abide by the ACGME duty hours.

I. WAUSM recognizes the possibility of conflict of interest or apparent conflict of interest in interactions with corporations, representatives of corporations and other individuals supported by medically related industries. At the same time, WAUSM recognizes that several medically related industries provide appropriate and legitimate support for educational and patient care activities.

II. Duty hours for medical students while on clinical rotations will be:

a. Medical students cannot be assigned clinical duty of more than 80 hours per week average, over a four-week period.

b. Maximum Duty Period Length: Duty periods must not exceed 16 hours in duration.

c. Minimum Time Off between Scheduled Duty Periods: Students should have 10 hours free of duty between scheduled duty periods.

III. If a student encounters a violation of the duty hours policy, they should report this violation to the Office of Student Affairs.

Extramural Elective

Many fourth-year students are interested in participating in electives at other institutions across the US or internationally. These extramural electives allow students to explore different specialties or sites. Many opportunities exist but a certain amount of research and preparation goes into the process of applying for and securing extramural electives.

Established electives at LCME accredited medical schools, ACGME accredited residency training programs, and military facilities will be approved, if the elective can be accommodated in the student’s schedule.

All other extramural electives (i.e., private practices, independent healthcare organizations or hospitals/ clinics not affiliated with an accredited training program, out-of-network VT locations) must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Clerkship Educational Affairs to ensure they meet the appropriate goals and objectives that are expected from a 4th year rotation.

i. Students pursuing extramural electives must first complete the Extramural Electives Approval Form and submit to the Clerkship Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee.

Note: Requests for extramural electives must be submitted at least 90 days prior to start date. Requests for international extramural electives must be submitted at least six months in advance of your proposed travel date. Credit will not be given for extramural electives that have not been preapproved by WAUSM.

ii. Include with the Extramural Electives Approval Form a letter of acceptance from the program director at the host institution (email, or screenshot from the host institution will be accepted) that identifies the student’s name, elective name, and elective dates.

iii. The student must provide contact information for the individual at the host institution who will facilitate review and signature on behalf of the host institution.

iv. The Clerkship Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee oversees the review and approval processes.

v. To ensure a productive and safe learning environment, students and faculty should discuss the following, particularly for international electives and electives in non-traditional environments:

• Potential risks to the health and safety of patients, students, and the community

• The availability of emergency care

• The possibility of natural disasters, political instability, and exposure to disease

• The need for preparation prior to, support during, and follow-up after the elective

• The level and quality of supervision

• Any potential challenges to the code of medical ethics adopted by WAUSM

vi. An affiliation agreement is required to participate in any extramural elective. If WAUSM does not have or cannot establish an affiliation agreement with a site, then the student will not be permitted to attend the extramural elective.

vii. The student should contact the other clinical site to obtain their visiting student application information, fill out the application, and obtain any necessary supporting documents (i.e., transcript, certification of student status letter, processing fees, etc.). Host site application requirements may vary. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they research each site and have all documentation necessary for their application.

viii. A final WAUSM assessment/evaluation form must be received for a grade to be recorded and credit to be awarded. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that evaluations are returned.

ix. Students are responsible for all application fees, travel, food, and housing expenses associated with extramural electives.

x. Programs must verify that elective experience meets requirements for credit by their specialty board and/or any Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements for credit for the elective.

Visiting Students

WAUSM will consider visiting students after the graduation of the charter class.

2023

ACADEMIC CATALOG

The academic catalog describes the educational program and activities available at WAUSM. WAUSM’s curriculum is designed to build a solid foundation and positions students for success.

2023

STUDENT HANDBOOK

The information contained in the student handbook serves as a guide for students throughout their academic, clinical,  and extracurricular life as members of the WAUSM community.

OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY

REGISTRAR