1 - Academic/Professional Standing

Choose your policy below:

1a - Designation of Standing

The chairs of the Years 1, 2, and 3 Academic Performance Committees (APC), the DGSOM Registrar, and/or Associate Dean for Student Affairs are responsible for notifying the Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion (CASPP) of all circumstances which warrant consideration of a formal change in student academic/professional standing. CASPP shall review all questions of student formal academic/professional standing on a monthly basis, and will make all final determinations regarding changes in academic/professional standing.

Categories of Academic/Professional standing in the David Geffen School of Medicine are:

Good Academic/Professional Standing

• Successfully passed all courses or clerkships with no notices of poor course or clerkship related performance.
• Satisfactory clerkship or course evaluations with no notations of unprofessional conduct and no Physicianship forms.
• Uphold and adhere to the DGSOM UCLA Honor Code, Technical Standards, University policies, and UCLA Student Conduct Code.

Experiencing Academic/Professional Difficulty

The Experiencing Academic/Professional Difficulty designation is informal and removed by CASPP after the failed course, clerkship, USMLE exam, and/or professionalism issue is addressed and remediated. Students designated in this category are strongly advised to seek resources available to students, including academic and mental health services. Academic Support is available in the Student Affairs Office to assess students’ learning skills and provide any necessary assistance. The UCLA Center for Accessible Education (CAE) and Behavioral Wellness Resources can further assist with services and educational evaluations that promote academic achievement and reduce attrition and impediments to academic success. Students will receive this designation if any of the following occur:

• One course or clerkship failure, OR
• Two course or clerkship failures in one academic year, OR
• One or more notices of poor course or clerkship related performance, OR
• A grade of marginal performance in two or more courses in one academic year, OR
• A rating of "2 - Marginal Performance" in the Professional Attitudes and Behaviors section of the clinical clerkship evaluation from two clerkships, OR
• One failure of USMLE (Step 1, 2CK, 2CS) exam, OR
• Failure to meet USMLE policy, OR
• A cumulative of two (2) Physicianship forms, OR
• A violation of the DGSOM UCLA Honor Code, UCLA Student Conduct Code, OR
• Professional conduct deemed by CASPP and/or Associate Dean for Student Affairs to warrant this designation

Academic/Professional Probation

Academic/Professional Probation is a formal designation and is recorded on the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE). If placed on probation, the student will have 12 months to improve academic/professional standing. Failure to improve academic/professional standing by the end of the 12-month period will result in recommendation for dismissal.  Students will receive this designation if any of the following occur:

• Three course or clerkship failures in one academic year, OR
• Failure of retest exam, OR
• Two or more violations of the DGSOM UCLA Honor Code, UCLA Student Conduct Code, OR
• Professional conduct deemed by CASPP and/or Associate Dean of Student Affairs to warrant this designation, OR
• A cumulative of Three (3) Physicianship forms

Dismissal from the David Geffen School of Medicine

Students are recommended for dismissal if any of the following occur:

• Four course or clerkship failures in one academic year
• Failure to meet terms of remediation for a failed course or clerkship
• Failure to meet United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) policy
• Violation of the DGSOM UCLA Honor Code or UCLA Student Conduct Code, and/or unprofessional conduct deemed severe and egregious in nature as deemed by CASPP
• Failure to successfully complete the M.D. program within the 6-year time- to-degree requirement

1b - Appeals

Appeals process is as follows:

1. Requests to reconsider actions taken by the identified APC that affect the academic status of a student, including but not limited to requirements to correct deficiencies, suspension, and plans for remediation, must be submitted in writing to CASPP within 30 days of receipt of the action.
2. An appeal must cite the basis of the reconsideration and provide sufficient and detailed information to support the appeal. Disagreement with the determination of the identified APC is not sufficient cause to request an appeal. New evidence may not be presented in the appeals process unless the student can prove that it was unavailable during the identified APC deliberations.
3. If the student failed to disclose information or facts that were in his or her possession at the time of the meeting with the identified APC, the student is considered to have waived the right to raise those facts or information on reconsideration or appeal.
4. During the appeals process, CASPP will not reconsider the facts and statements on which the original decision was based but will only consider:
   • Whether new information that was unavailable during the identified APC deliberations has been discovered
   • Whether there is any evidence of discrimination as determined by the appropriate Institutional Office
   • Whether there is any evidence of a procedural error in the identified Academic Performance Committee's review that prejudiced the student’s ability to receive a fair hearing
   • Whether there is any evidence that the identified APC acted in an arbitrary or capricious manner.
5. CASPP may affirm or reject the identified Academic Performance Committee's determination, or refer the matter back to the identified Academic Performance Committee for further consideration.
6. If a request for appeal is denied by CASPP, the decision may be appealed to the Vice Dean for Education within 10 working days from the student’s notification of CASPP’s final decision.
7. CASPP decisions may be appealed solely on the basis of whether CASPP followed appropriate procedures in reaching its conclusions and formulating actions.  If the Vice Dean for Education concludes that CASPP did not follow appropriate procedures, he or she will remand the matter to CASPP for reconsideration.  The decision of the Vice Dean for Education is final in all matters involving fulfillment of academic, professionalism, or technical standards, and related remediation plans.
8. If the Vice Dean for Education upholds a recommendation of CASPP to dismiss a student from DGSOM, this decision may be appealed to the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) within 10 working days from the student’s notification.  The FEC will not reconsider the facts and statements on which the original decision was based.  Appeals to the FEC may be filed solely on the basis of: 
   • Whether there is any evidence of discrimination as determined by the appropriate institutional office
   • Whether there is any evidence of a procedural error in CASPP's review that prejudiced the student’s ability to receive a fair hearing
   • Whether there is any evidence that CASPP acted in an arbitrary or capricious manner