Academic Policies and Procedures

Participation in Special Environments

Education at VCOM takes place in special environments, such as the anatomy lab and clinical facilities that may contain hazardous physical and chemical environments. Working and studying in these special environments may require the student to make an informed decision concerning continued participation because failure to participate in required classes could result in dismissal. Examples may include, but are not limited to: students who believe they are allergic or sensitive to certain chemicals, students who are pregnant and are concerned about potential hazards to a developing fetus, or students who believe they are immuno-compromised or have increased susceptibility to disease. The student must decide upon their ability to participate prior to beginning school. For a student who develops problems or becomes pregnant after starting, their program may be delayed until the student has seen an allergist and has taken appropriate precautions to successfully complete the program, or the pregnancy is completed. If the student is unable to attend, he/she should obtain a medical withdrawal from the College.

Global Assessment and Grades

Examinations are given at regularly scheduled intervals within blocks and during finals weeks. Finals weeks do not include classes and are set aside for assessment purposes only. Students are assessed as to whether or not they are making academic progress on the basis of their performance of assignments, their achievements in written and practical examinations, and their evaluations in the clinical setting. The Promotion Board, in the process of determining eligibility for promotion or graduation, considers the results of the student assessments and reports concerning attendance, conduct and potential professional attributes.

Grading and GPAs

Grading Scale and GPAs

OMS-1, OMSII, OMS-III,
OMS-IV Module Grades

OMS-III AND OMS-IV*

Other Grades

A 90-100 Traditional Rotation Grades I Incomplete

B+ 85-89 H Honors IP In Progress

B 80-84 HP High Pass WM Withdrew-Medical

C+ 75-79 P Pass W Withdrew

C 70-74 UF Fail S Satisfactory

D 65-69 U Unsatisfactory

F <65

*both traditional grades and clinical modules/exam grades are assigned in MS-III and MS-IV (see below).

The grade point average (GPA) is the sum of earned grade points divided by the sum of block-hour credits passed and failed. Students are required to remediate all courses within a block where the student’s grade falls below 70 and above 65 (or a D). Students who do not successfully remediate these courses are awarded an F or failing grade. A student will only be given a C for a remediated course they pass with a grade above 70.

In cases where the grade falls within the F range, or there is a failed remediation of a D grade and the student is given an F for failure to remediate, the student will be referred to the Promotion Board to determine the appropriate action to be taken. All F scores go to Promotion Board.

Campus courses are eligible for the receipt of all traditional grading assignments. For the first two years, most courses have a traditional letter grade (A, B+, B, C+, C, and D, and F) and are calculated into the GPA.

For the third and fourth years, all rotations have both a “clinical modules/exam” grade which is the Honors, High Pass, Pass, Fail system; these grades are not calculated in the GPA. An example of a clinical rotation grade, with its two components is:

Clinical Rotation I

Pediatrics Rotation 180 hours High Pass

Pediatrics Modules/Exams 20 hours Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory

Students must pass both the “module” and “rotation” portions of the course. All failures must be repeated. Students who fail one or more rotations will be reviewed and acted upon by the Promotion Board.

No grade will be changed unless the instructor certifies to the Registrar, in writing, that an error occurred or that the remediation results in a grade change, or the Dean certifies a change based upon an appeal.

In addition to the policies above, students are taken before the Promotion Board and may be automatically placed on academic probation for the following reasons:

1) cumulative grade point average falls below 70 (C) at the end of the academic year, or
2) receives an “F” in a clinical experience, or
3) fails to score a 70 or above on the post rotation exam on the second attempt.

The record of each student on academic probation will be reviewed each block to evaluate the student’s potential for continuance. At the end of the academic year, the Promotion Board may recommend promotion to the following year, repetition of the year just completed, repetition of a specific course or system, make-up examinations, summer courses, or dismissal. In general, students are not allowed to repeat an entire course more than once. On rare occasion the Promotion Board or Dean may allow a student to repeat a block or course more than once.

Clinical Grading for Years Three and Four

Osteopathic medical students are assessed during the third year as described below:

1. Case modules: Are used for end-of-rotation self-assessments to provide the student a personal assessment to each specific clinical area within the completed rotation.

2. Post-rotation exams: Each student takes these exams to assure that the expected basic content or medical knowledge has been acquired. In addition to the experiences received in the clinical training sites, students are expected to read assigned texts and complete online curriculum to prepare for these exams.

3. Comprehensive exams: This exam is given at year end of OMS II and OMS III to evaluate long term retention. The student is provided feedback to identify areas of weakness.

4. Osteopathic Structured Clinical Performance Examination (OSCE) and standardized patient exams: These exams are given at end of OMS II and OMS III years. OSCEs and the simulated patient exams demonstrate the student’s ability to evaluate patients presenting with the most common disorders in the areas of:

Pediatrics including the developmental exam, most common pediatric illnesses and/or the neonatal exam;
Cardiopulmonary presentations including chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, arrhythmias, cardiac syncope, and advanced cardiac life support;
Abdominal pain;
Fever and seizure;
Neurological disorders including acute confusion, syncope, acute loss of motor and sensory functions, memory loss, and pain;
Musculoskeletal injuries, osteopathic structural exam and treatment;
Emergency presentations including trauma and cardiac emergencies; and
Psychiatric assessments including depression, anxiety, disorders presenting with dementia, psychosis, and addiction.

Exams include signs and symptoms to form the most common differential, the most common diagnostics to evaluate and narrow the differential, and the most common early management scenarios. These are examples; the individual objectives, as described for each clinical rotation, outline the possibilities within each discipline.

5. Formative Evaluation: Student competency based rating forms are used by the preceptor to evaluate each student as to their application of medical knowledge in the clinical setting. These forms are only completed by the clinical faculty member or preceptor. Performance on rotations will be evaluated by the precepting faculty. VCOM uses a competency based evaluation, which is based on the core competencies in each area. These include:

1) Medical knowledge;
2) Communication;
3) Physical exam skills;
4) Problem solving or clinical decision making;
5) Professionalism and ethics;
6) Osteopathic specific competencies; and
7) Additional VCOM values.

Student competency is judged on skills performance. Each skill is rated as to how often the student performs the skill (i.e.: never or infrequently, some of the time but less than half the time, greater than half the time, or the majority of the time, etc.).

Students who score less than a 2 overall will be required to repeat a rotation. In addition, repeated performance of a specific competency area—where many items performed in a specific category or across categories are rated as never, seldom, or scoring a 1–will be a reason for remediation at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Clinical Academic Affairs in consultation with the Clinical Chair, the preceptor, and the Promotion Board.

The required remediation will be based on the performance measure. In general, rotations should show a progression of improvement in performance. Those students who continually score in the 1 category or with an average of 2 consistently and do not improve over time may be interpreted as not making academic progress and, as a result, will be referred to the Promotion Board and possibly dismissal.

Clinical rotations with unsatisfactory performance will result in academic probation. Failure to perform satisfactorily on two or more clinical rotations may result in a repeat of the academic year or dismissal from the College. A Promotion Board will be called for this decision process.

Poor ratings in the professional and ethical areas will result in a Behavioral Board or Promotion Board depending on the severity of the measure. Poor ratings in this area must be accompanied by comments as to the exact nature of the rating.

Staff, patients, and/or standardized patients with whom the student comes in contact may be asked to evaluate the student’s communication and interpersonal skills. These evaluations are primarily completed in the ambulatory and testing setting.

6. Documentation: Students are required to maintain a log to identify the procedures performed, and the number of essential patient encounters. The faculty member will verify the information at the end of the rotation either online using a password signature, or by signing
the log.

Rotation Evaluations

Evaluation begins the first week. Students are instructed to request to be informally evaluated (“How am I doing?” “Are there things I should improve?”) at the end of each week in order to address the areas to improve. This provides the student an opportunity to improve while on the rotation and prevents being surprised by a poor evaluation at the end. Students bear the total responsibility to seek this feedback.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all clinical evaluation forms are either completed online or turned into the Clinical Affairs Office at the completion of each rotation. It is the student's responsibility to expediently inform the Clinical Affairs Office of any difficulty in obtaining an evaluation at the end of that rotation, not several months later.

The clinical affairs staff may assist the student in this process if a preceptor is negligent in his/her responsibility by refusing to complete the evaluation form; however, the overall responsibility to assure evaluations have occurred and to assure the form has been returned to the College or site coordinator remains with the student. Students are responsible for setting up a time for final evaluation during the final week of the rotation, requesting such a meeting at the beginning of the final week of the rotation. At this meeting, students should supply the preceptor with the evaluation form and an envelope addressed to the site coordinator.

It is VCOM policy that the student not leave the rotation without the evaluation being discussed and signed by the preceptor. If a rotation form is not completed and turned into the site coordinator or Director of Clinical Rotations within 90 days of the rotation, the rotation may be considered as not performed or failed. Students should check with the site coordinators to assure they have received the evaluation.

Making Academic Progress

Academic Promotion

In order for a student to be deemed as making academic progress in years OMS1 and OMS2, they must be passing all courses in the blocks, completing curricular requirements in the blocks, or meeting the requirements as set forth by the Promotion Board. See National Boards for additional academic progress requirements.

In order for a student to be deemed as making academic progress in years OMS3 and OMS4, they must successfully complete rotations and post-rotation exams, and/or meet the requirements as set forth by the Promotion Board. See National Boards for additional academic progress requirements.

Fourth year students can refer to the Graduation Requirements section in this Handbook for information about these requirements.

Academic Progress

Students who are experiencing difficulty with VCOM’s curriculum may be placed into a combination curriculum/remediation program (altered program). As long as students are making satisfactory progress they will remain in a full-time status.

An immersion program, approved and monitored by VCOM, may be offered to students who are having difficulty passing the COMLEX examinations. This program will last no more than 90 days and, while in this program, students will remain listed in a full-time status.

Students who are not making academic progress may be dismissed from VCOM.

IV b.5. Whether to require or suggest assessment for psychological/addiction problems. Such testing will be at the student’s expense.

IV c. For students who are considered at risk and failing to make academic progress or delayed in making academic progress through: one or more failed courses, multiple D grades requiring remediation totaling greater than 50% of the total contact hours in any block or cumulatively for that year, failure to remediate a D resulting in an F, failure to remediate a D in more than one course, or failure of two clinical rotations the Promotion Board may make one of the following recommendations:

IV c.1. Repeat of the failed course or courses with a D grade only, or

IV c.2 Repeat of an entire academic year, or

IV c.3. Recommend a program that will delay promotion until progress has been made through a delayed program or suspension.

IV d. Dismissal of the student may be recommended by the Promotion Board when the student demonstrates that he/she is unable to make academic progress. This includes:

IV.d.1. Multiple failing grades, more than one grade <65%.

IV.d.2. One failing grade <65%, or more than one grade within the D range in courses within the first block.

IV.d.3. Failing course grades, (one failing grade and a history of conditional grades within the D range) in two courses or greater, within one academic year.

IV.d.4. Multiple conditional grades where a student repeatedly receives conditional grades in many blocks and the Promotion Board determines the student is not achieving the expected academic progress.

IV.d.5. Failure of greater than two clinical rotations.

IV.d.6 Failure and evidence that demonstrate cumulatively that the student is not gaining the appropriate knowledge and/or qualifications to become an osteopathic physician.

V. All students who fail a course will be placed on academic probation. Students who have a D, or who have an incomplete or in progress grade will not be placed on academic probation except when more than one course is involved and the Promotion Board identifies that student to be significantly at risk or delayed in making academic progress (see IV b.).

VI. Following a Promotion Board meeting, the appropriate Associate Dean will present the Promotion Board’s recommendation to the Dean. The Dean will assure College policy has been followed. If policy has been followed, or pending legal counsel consultation, the Dean may choose to intervene or not to accept the Promotion Board’s recommendation.

VII. The appropriate Associate Dean will notify the student of the outcome of the Promotion Board meeting and any sanctions if applicable. Upon notification, the student may appeal the decision in writing to the Dean within seven calendar days of notification. The appeal should be based upon new and significant information. The Dean will normally reply in
writing within seven working days of receiving the appeal. In the case of an appeal, the Dean’s decision will be final.

Academic Probation

Any student who has a failing grade in a course or rotation and/or has been recommended by the Promotion Board will be placed on academic probation and will be so informed in writing by the appropriate Associate Dean or the Dean. The purpose of academic probation is to alert the student, faculty, and administration to the fact that the student has experienced difficulty and that special consideration might need to be given such as counseling, tutorial assistance, special scheduling, or other activities to help resolve academic deficiencies. The length of academic probation and any requirements will be set through the operations of the Promotion Board.

Promotion Board

The Promotion Board monitors the academic progress achieved by students throughout the academic program. The Promotion Board meets at the end of any block in which a student has achieved a failing grade, failed to successfully remediate a D grade resulting in an F, or when a delay in a student’s academic progress is identified. The Dean or the appropriate Associate Dean for the academic year involved may also call a meeting of the Promotion Board in cases where the academic progress of a student is affected by leaves of absence or other similar factors. Promotion Board meetings are not held for first time remediations resulting “in progress grade” for one course.

The Promotion Board is composed of the following voting members: the Associate Dean for Biomedical Academic Affairs, the Associate Dean for Clinical Academic Affairs, the Assistant Vice President for Student Services, one primary care clinical faculty member, one specialty clinical faculty member, and one biomedical faculty member. Faculty members are appointed by the Dean. Non-voting members who attend are: the student class president as the student representative, the Registrar, the Director of Clinical Rotations (when about a clinically related failure), the Director of Financial Aid (on an “on-call” basis), the Course Director, and the Assistant to the appropriate Associate Dean for the academic year involved who serves as the secretary/recorder.

The responsibility of the Promotion Board is to assess academic progress of students toward an osteopathic medicine degree.

Procedures for Calling and Conducting a Promotion Board

I. Promotion Board is held at the end of each block, after all grades have been determined by the Associate Dean for Biomedical Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean for Biomedical Academic Affairs (or the Dean in the case of COMLEX) will notify the appropriate Associate Dean if a student has:

I a. Failed a course or rotation,
I b. Attempted and has failed to remediate a course resulting in an F.
I c. Has three or more D grades in any block.
I d. Has a received a D or an F grade while the student has an outstanding F grade in any block.
I e. Has failed COMLEX 1 and is not eligible to be promoted to the fourth year by the
end of the third year, OR has not taken COMLEX 1 in the time frame required, OR
has failed COMLEX 2 or PE and is not eligible to graduate.

II. The appropriate Associate Dean will then convene the Promotion Board.

III. At a Promotion Board meeting, members/attendees have the following roles:

III a. The appropriate Associate Dean for the academic year involved will report on the academic progress of the student(s).

III b. The Associate Dean for Biomedical Academic Affairs will report on assistance that the student has received or been offered, including but not limited to tutoring or advising.

III c. The Assistant Vice President for Student Services will report on documentation that the Office of Student Services may have which may be relevant to the student’s academic progress.

III d. The Registrar will have the student’s entire academic record available (course evaluations, performance assessments and the student’s transcript) for the members to reference if needed.

Note on “IP” and “D” and “F” grades: A student who earned a “D” initially and is eligible to remediate the course will have the grade reported as In Progress (“IP”) on his/her transcript until remediation is attempted and a new grade is issued. The Registrar will report current “IP” grades to the appropriate Associate Dean at the time the “IP” is assigned. Once an “IP” grade has been officially changed to a letter grade on the transcript, the Registrar will not retain a record of “IP’ courses as part of the academic record. The appropriate Associate Dean, however, maintains a listing of previously satisfied D grades in courses and will report such to the Promotion Board for assessment of the student’s academic performance and progress.

Students who fail to remediate a “D” will have failed the course and receive an F. Students will also be given an F for any failed course. If a student is allowed to repeat a failed course, the F will remain on the transcript but will be replaced by a new grade (if remediated successfully). The word “repeat” will be reflected on the transcript.

The highest grade that can be given for a remediated course is 70%.

III e. The Course Director for the course(s) failed will be present at a Promotion Board meeting to explain course procedures, grading, and to clarify any remediation processes for that course only. He/she and the student representative will not vote and will be excused prior to deliberations.

IV. Following deliberations the Promotion Board may make the following recommendations to
the Dean:

IV.a. Award of a satisfactory grade (70%) and promotion to the next block.

IV.b. For students at risk for failing to make academic progress through multiple D grades which require remediation to achieve a passing grade (this may include students who have or have not previously been placed on academic probation) the Promotion Board may address any of the following in its recommendation.

IV b.1. Whether to require further coursework or to have the student repeat or satisfactorily perform additional clinical rotations.

IV b.2. Place, not place, or extend the student on academic probation.

IV b.3. Specify a timeline or manner in which remediation must occur.

IV b.4. Make a determination for dismissal procedures or repeat of academic year.

Special Meetings of the Promotion Board

I. The Dean may call a meeting of the Promotion Board to determine placement of a student who has taken an approved extended leave, or has been on suspension to determine where the student will pick up in the curriculum and if “make-up” is needed.

II. The Dean or the appropriate Associate Dean may convene the Promotion Board to meet about a student who has taken an unplanned leave, been brought before the Honor Council or the Professional and Ethics Standards Board, or about a student who has been temporarily suspended prior to a hearing to determine if there are issues related to academic progress. If the student’s academic progress will be affected, the Promotion Board will make appropriate recommendations to the Dean.

Recommendations for special meetings of the Promotion Board may include but are not limited to those specified in IV.b. or IV.c. The Promotion Board will not make recommendations about behavioral infractions but may refer the issue to the Honor Council or Professional and Ethics Standards Board, if appropriate.

Special meetings of the Promotion Board will be chaired by the appropriate Associate Dean and the role of voting and non-voting members will be the same as specified in item III. A course director will not be present at the meeting but a representative of the Honor Council, Professional and Ethics Standards Board or a similar representative may be invited to be in attendance to
clarify issues related to the specific case being discussed.

Withdrawal/Leave Procedures¹

Withdrawal

All requests for withdrawal must be made in writing to the office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Services and must follow the following steps:

A voluntary withdrawal is requested in writing through the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Services. The student must complete an Change of Status Form and return the form and any designated VCOM issued items to the Office of the Registrar before the student will be considered “withdrawn in good standing” .
The date for a voluntary withdrawal shall be the date of the student’s written request.
Upon receipt of the completed Change of Status Form and VCOM issued items, the student will be voluntarily withdrawn (in good standing) from VCOM and entitled to certain benefits, i.e., application for readmission or an official transcript if requested.
Any pre-approved leave of absence (to extend no longer than six months) will require completion of an Change of Status Form and may or may not require the return of VCOM issued items (depending upon the specific circumstances of the leave of absence).

The Dean, however, makes the final decision about withdrawals.

Students who discontinue their education at VCOM, for any reason, are required to complete an Change of Status Form.

¹ To see the complete policy on withdrawal and disciplinary sanctions, please refer to the Policy/Procedure section
on VCOM’s website: http://intranet.vcom.vt.edu/clinical.

Medical Leave of Absence

A medical leave of absence is granted to students who have an approved medical reason. Medical leave may last no longer than six months. For students who are in good academic standing, the Associate Deans will determine placement within the curriculum upon the student’s return from the approved medical leave of absence.

Medical Withdrawal

A medical withdrawal is granted to students who have an approved medical reason that exceeds six months. Students may apply for re-admission if granted a medical withdrawal. The Admissions Committee will determine acceptance; the Associate Deans will determine placement for all students who have withdrawn for medical purposes and are in good academic standing. The Promotion Board must meet about all students who are not in good academic standing.

Military Withdrawal

Military withdrawal is granted to students whose military reserve obligations may require a period of absence from the academic program when they are called to extended active duty. Readmission is guaranteed pending proof of compliance with the minimal technical standards and the Codes of Academic and Behavioral Conduct.

Personal Withdrawal

Personal withdrawal is granted to students who wish to voluntarily leave VCOM for personal reasons. Students withdrawing from VCOM are not guaranteed re-admission.

Involuntary Withdrawal

The Dean makes the final determination of any involuntary withdrawal.

Administrative Leave of Absence

An administrative leave of absence is granted by the Dean. It is available for up to six months as deemed appropriate and necessary.

Educational Leave of Absence

When accepted to a dual degree academic program (such as DO/MBA, DO/PhD), approved through VCOM administration, the student may be placed on an approved Educational Leave of Absence for up to one year.

Suspension

Suspension is defined as a temporary separation from the institution. The duration of the suspension will be determined by the Dean and may include recommendations from the Promotion Board or the Professional Ethics Standards Board, or VCOM’s Honor Code Committee. Students may be assigned independent studies during suspension to remain current; however, these independent studies do not replace course attendance or rotation requirements. If the terms set out under the suspension are not fulfilled and the period of suspension is six months or greater, the student may be dismissed from VCOM.

Dismissal

Dismissal from VCOM, imposed solely by the Dean, results from recommendations made by the Promotion Board, or the Professional and Ethics Standards Board, or other Dean decision.

Unofficial Involuntary Withdrawal

Any student who ceases to maintain academic attendance in VCOM will be considered for an involuntary withdrawal. For students who are maintaining academic attendance, VCOM will use the grade of IP to ensure attendance is recorded.

Overall Withdrawal Policies

Failure to complete an Change of Status Form and to obtain the proper signatures will result in a hold placed on all academic records. Tuition refunds will be based upon the schedule shown under the section on Refund Policy, either on the VCOM website at www.vcom.vt.edu or its College Catalog. Failure to provide documentation in a timely manner could result in a guaranteed readmission becoming void.

For any withdrawal—voluntary or involuntary—VCOM recognizes and follows the date of determination as defined by the U.S. Department of Education in its Code of Federal Regulations.

National Boards

Students are required to successfully pass the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners’ (NBOME) Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Levels 1 and 2, including the COMLEX Level 2 Physical Examination (PE) component. COMLEX Level 1 must be taken by September 1 or prior to beginning clinical rotations. All VCOM students are required to take a timed COMSAE or other approved mock exam 14 days prior to boards and must receive a passing score in order to maintain a release status to take COMLEX. Students identified to be at risk for failure of COMLEX 1 are required to meet with the Dean or her designate to formulate a plan of study, selection of boards preparation program, and determine a boards release date in January of the OMS3 year. Students must comply with the above as set forth by the Dean or her designate to maintain the board release date. Students who fail the COMSAE must follow a plan of study set forth by the Dean or her designate.

Students who are unable to demonstrate a passing timed COMSAE by September 1 will be required to complete an immersion program as set forth by the Dean or her designate and delay clinical rotations until October 1.

Students who fail to achieve 350 or greater on a timed COMSAE or other approved mock exam by August 17 will not be promoted the third year and will not be released to begin clinical rotations. Their status will then become suspended. The student will be on suspension until they can achieve a passing COMSAE score or for a period of six months. Students who have been unable to COMSAE while on suspension for a period of six months are subject to dismissal by the Promotion Board.

Students must take COMLEX Level 1 on or after the date approved by the Dean or her delegate.

Students must schedule to take COMLEX PE no earlier than July 1 following their completion of their OMS3 year. They can begin scheduling COMLEX CE as early as June prior to the fourth year but no later than September 30. Students who had difficulty with COMLEX Level 1 and/or students deemed to be at risk by academic performance as being high risk for failure by prior academics or prior Level 1 COMSAE failure will be required to enter a plan of study.

Procedures for registering for both exams will be provided to students from the Office of the Registrar or the student can access registration information by going to the NBOME’s website at: www.nbome.com.

Graduation Requirements

The degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is granted to and conferred upon candidates who:

1) Are of good moral, professional, and ethical character;
2) Have satisfied all academic requirements;
3) Have passed the COMLEX Levels 1 and 2 including the COMLEX PE component; and
4) Have settled all financial obligations with VCOM and its academic and clinical affiliates and collaborative partners.

To become eligible for graduation, each fourth-year student must have successfully completed all fourth year academic requirements and must have passed the written COMLEX Level 2 including the COMLEX PE component.

Professional and ethical competence is required for graduation. Students must demonstrate the ethical and professional qualities deemed necessary for success and continued study and practice of osteopathic medicine; the suitability for the practice of medicine by dutiful and responsible acceptance for patient care; and must demonstrate integrity in the conduct of clinical duties. Students may be dismissed from VCOM if any of these competencies are not met. Please refer to the Behavioral Policies and Procedures in this Handbook for more information.

A student must have completed all curricular requirements at VCOM, or a minimum of two years at VCOM and another eligible institution which is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) or Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), between the date of matriculation and graduation. In addition to this requirement, the student must have been enrolled at VCOM during their final two years of education.

A VCOM student must complete to the satisfaction of faculty, as determined by the individual course directors and clinical rotations supervisors and through the Promotion Board, all prescribed courses and clinical experiences to graduate. The Dean makes the final determination on any appeals from promotion board recommendations.

Students must meet with the Director of Financial Aid and Registrar to complete all required exit forms to receive a diploma. VCOM students must attend the commencement program to receive a diploma.

Grading Scale and GPAs
OMS-1, OMSII, OMS-III, OMS-IV Module Grades		OMS-III AND OMS-IV*		Other Grades
A	90-100	Traditional Rotation Grades		I	Incomplete
B+	85-89	H	Honors	IP	In Progress
B	80-84	HP	High Pass	WM	Withdrew-Medical
C+	75-79	P	Pass	W	Withdrew
C	70-74	UF	Fail	S	Satisfactory
D	65-69			U	Unsatisfactory
F	<65

Clinical Rotation I
Pediatrics Rotation	180 hours	High Pass
Pediatrics Modules/Exams	20 hours	Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory

VCOM Student Policies and Procedures Handbook 2008-2009