Review of Academic Performance:
Foundations Level

Policy 565.20

Policy Statement

The Advancement Committee will review the total performance of each student at least twice within each curricular segment [Foundations (during Years 1 and 2), Clerkship, and Advanced Integration Levels] on the basis of grades and narrative comments by the course directors and satisfactory completion of global assessments and requirements. Specific procedures under which the committee operates for Foundations Level students are as follows:

  1. Students must satisfactorily complete the requirements of Foundations Level Year 1 to progress to Foundations Year 2 by vote of the Advancement Committee.
  2. Students must satisfactorily complete the requirements of Foundations Level Years 1 and 2 to progress to the Clerkship Level by vote of the Advancement Committee.
  3. All unsatisfactory academic performances in Foundations Level courses will be reviewed by the Advancement Committee at its earliest scheduled meeting, provided that the meeting date is no sooner than seven days from notification of unsatisfactory performance.
    Reasons for review by the Advancement Committee may include the following:
    1. Course failure
    2. Three course marginal passes
    3. Unsatisfactory academic progress despite a passing grade (course/level director referral)
    4. Any incomplete grades including failure to complete the end of course evaluations
    5. Subsequent unsatisfactory progress after previous referral to the Committee (additional marginal pass, incomplete, fail, or course director referral)

    In such cases the Advancement Committee may require a student to take certain actions including, however not limited to, remediating/repeating one or more courses, repeating an entire curricular segment, or the committee may dismiss the student from the Larner College of Medicine.

  4. In addition to the above, the Advancement Committee may determine that a student has not satisfactorily completed the work of Foundations even if there are no failures in individual courses. Such a determination may reflect consistent or collective marginally acceptable performance or deficiency in curriculum competencies. In such an event, the course director or curriculum level director will prepare in writing the specific allegations giving rise to the review and submit the statement to the chairperson of the Advancement Committee. On receipt of the statement, the chairperson shall inform the student in writing of the Committee’s pending review, the membership of the Committee and the specific allegations giving rise to the review of the student’s performance. In such cases the Advancement Committee may require a student to take certain remedial actions including, but not limited to, remediating/repeating one or more courses, repeating an entire curricular segment, or dismiss the student from the Larner College of Medicine.
  5. Remediation is a compact between the course director and the student in which the course director stipulates
    1. the requirements the student must fulfill to achieve the course objectives and
    2. the student agrees to allow the stipulated requirements to substitute for a full version of the course.
    If a student fails a course and wishes to remediate it, it is their responsibility to seek a remediation plan from the course director before appearing before the Advancement Committee. The content and requirements for a successful remediation plan is determined solely by the course director consistent with the objectives of the original course. It is the student’s responsibility to abide by the course director’s determination of what is required for successful remediation. If the student does not agree to this plan, remediation is not an option.
  6. Remediation for first year course failures or unsatisfactorily completed course blocks must take place before the end of the summer vacation period between the first and second years. Students failing courses in the second year of Foundations Level courses must remediate deficiencies prior to entrance into the Clerkship Level. Students may not remediate two courses simultaneously.
  7. Any student failing to successfully remediate a Foundations Level course will be dismissed from the Larner College of Medicine for unsatisfactory performance.
  8. A student may withdraw from a Foundations Level course following submission of a written request. Requests for withdrawal must be approved by the Associate/Assistant Dean for Students in consultation with the course director. The request must be made prior to the onset of the final examination in the course. The transcript grade of Withdrawn will be recorded for such a course unless the student’s cumulative grade in the course is failing at the time of withdrawal. In that event, the grade of Fail will be recorded. A student must remediate or retake a withdrawn course to complete the requirements of the Foundations Level. Requests to return to the curriculum following course withdrawals will be reviewed by the Advancement Committee, which may require a student to remediate/repeat the course, repeat a curricular segment or the committee may dismiss the student from the Larner College of Medicine..
  9. Students must pass the End of Foundations Level Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) in order to advance to the Clerkship Level. To be eligible to take the CSE, students must be making satisfactory academic progress. A student failing the CSE after one attempt must retake the exam. A student failing on the second attempt may, on a vote of the Advancement Committee, be allowed to remediate their performance or be dismissed.
  10. USMLE Step 1: The USMLE Step 1 Exam may only be taken after the successful completion of all Foundations Level courses and academic requirements. Students must take the USMLE Step 1 exam in order to advance to the Clerkship Level of the curriculum. Students are encouraged to take this exam by the Sunday one week prior to the start of MD-611 Orientation Bridge; however, they are required to take the exam prior to the start of MD-611 Orientation Bridge in order to begin the Clerkship Level with their class; failure to do so may result in entering the Clerkship Level with the following year’s class.

Applicability of the Policy

Foundations Level Students

Related Larner College of Medicine Policies

Related University of Vermont Policies

Not Applicable

Related Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Standard(s)

  • 9.4 Assessment System
  • 9.6 Setting Standards of Achievement
  • 9.9 Student Advancement and Appeal Process

History

  • 5/20/2014 Policy Adopted/Affirmed [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 5/24/2016 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 3/21/2017 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 6/20/2017 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 9/19/2017 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 12/19/2017 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 9/18/2018 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 6/18/2019 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 8/20/2019 Gender Neutral Language Edit [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 12/17/2019 Reformatted [Medical Curriculum Committee]
  • 8/18/2020 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]

Policy Oversight

Director of Foundations and Pre-Clinical Assessment; Associate/Assistant Dean for Students

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