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Charge

As written in the College of Medicine Bylaws, the charge of the medical student evaluation committee (SEC) is to: (1) Determine policies and procedures regarding the evaluation of medical student academic progress within the medical school curriculum; and (2) Review student performance, professionalism, and academic progress and make decisions regarding student advancement, probation, dismissal, graduation, and bestowing of honors.

The college of medicine has a shared responsibility with each individual student to produce excellent physicians. To that end, the college of medicine is committed to helping students achieve the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes to be successful physicians.

The criteria set forth in this document are guidelines for determining a student’s fitness to earn an M.D. degree. Each individual student case reviewed by the medical student evaluation committee will be considered on its own merits.

Committee Responsibilities

The medical student evaluation committee reviews the academic and professional record of all students in the college of medicine curriculum in accordance with college of medicine policies. The medical student evaluation committee is responsible for determining satisfactory progression of all curricular and graduation requirements. If deemed necessary, the medical student evaluation committee communicates informal notice of concern; as well as imposing formal probation or dismissal from the college of medicine.

In evaluating satisfactory progress in the college of medicine curriculum, the medical student evaluation committee reviews a student’s cumulative academic and professional behavior record. The medical student evaluation committee’s considerations include, but are not limited to, fundamental knowledge, ability to organize and logically present information, understanding and judgment, clinical skills, problem solving, and professional behavior.

Student Responsibilities

All college of medicine students are expected to take responsibility for successfully fulfilling the college of medicine educational program objectives.

All college of medicine students must adhere to college of medicine student policies, the UNMC policies listed in the Student Policies and Procedures section of the UNMC Catalog, policies found in the Student Policies section of the UNMC Policy Wiki, and other policies listed in the Policy and Procedures section of UNMC Policy Wiki that apply to students.

All college of medicine students must meet the technical standards set by the college of medicine, meet the curricular and graduation requirements set by college of medicine policies, and be professional according to UNMC and college of medicine policies.

Academic Policies and Requirements

Refer to the college of medicine policies linked below.

Professionalism

The college of medicine curriculum requires each student to demonstrate, and be assessed on, professionalism behaviors and skills. Professionalism expectations include, but are not limited to, attendance at regularly scheduled instruction, appropriate clinician patient relationships, effective professional communications and interactions with faculty, peers, and other members of the health care team.

Students will also demonstrate, and be assessed on, honesty, courtesy, and integrity in all phases of the curriculum, including the responsible use of social media and all forms of technology (click here to review the UNMC Social Media Guidelines). As integral members of a medical team, students are expected to be punctual, dependable, and receptive to instruction by faculty and staff, while exhibiting grooming, dress, and hygiene commensurate with these responsibilities. Students will demonstrate and be assessed for aptitude related to medical ethics and private health information, and confidentiality knowledge, all behaviors expected of a health care professional.

HIPAA and Patient Confidentiality

All college of medicine students must adhere to the Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information Policy.

When concerns of a breach of HIPAA/patient confidentiality arise, the medical school, through the office of admissions and student affairs, will initiate a process to assess the validity of the claims. The matter will also be forwarded to the UNMC Compliance Office for a separate and parallel investigation. If no violation of patient confidentiality is found by the office of admissions and student affairs, no further action will be taken by the medical student evaluation committee.

If patient confidentiality has been violated, the office of admissions and student affairs will refer the case to the medical student evaluation committee. The medical student evaluation committee will request that the student meet with a subcommittee of the medical student evaluation committee to review the student’s actions and intent, and the significance of the confidentiality breach. Subsequently, communication will be sent to the student outlining expectations and available resources.

Structure

Committee Composition

The voting members of the medical student evaluation committee are the chair, the vice-chair, ten (10) elected college of medicine faculty members, and a third/fourth year medical student.

The non-voting members of the committee are the senior associate dean for undergraduate medical education, the associate dean for admissions and student affairs, the two (2) assistant deans for student affairs, the associate dean for medical curriculum, the college of medicine conduct officer, the UNMC accessibility services director, and the UNMC ombuds program director. The associate dean for admissions and student affairs may invite administrative leadership or other members of the campus community to participate in committee meetings as needed. 

Medical student evaluation committee members are to adhere to the UNMC COM Conflict of Interest Policy and if necessary, should recuse themselves from formal decisions that require a committee vote.

Committee Charter

Click here to reference the medical student evaluation committee charter. 

Action

Meetings will be scheduled every month and may be conducted electronically, virtually, or in person. The committee may meet more frequently if needed. 

Reporting Procedure

Students may be referred to the medical student evaluation committee by the office of admissions and student affairs or the office of medical education for review. While reviewing a student’s academic and professional progress, the medical student evaluation committee may conduct an internal investigation, in coordination with the office of admissions and student affairs, to clarify circumstances and information that led to a student’s referral.

All actions of the medical student evaluation committee (e.g., graduation and bestowing of honors, notice of concern, probation, or dismissal will be forwarded to the associate dean for admissions and student affairs and the dean of the college of medicine.