Student Code of Conduct
Approved: 09-18-2020
- Policy - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport (LSUHSC-S) students should explicitly uphold the basic principles of behavior that constitute the highest standards of academic, professional and ethical conduct, as described in the Student Code of Conduct. Agreement to the Code of Conduct by signature is required of each student before completing registration to enter the medical school. The Code of Conduct is not intended to be a mere listing of matters that constitute infractions but is intended to be a declaration made by each student to uphold the high standards of integrity and honesty of the medical science professions.
Students are responsible for complying with all policies/procedures, rules, regulations and other information outlined in LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport Chancellor’s Memoranda (CM-21): Chancellor’s Memoranda - LSU Employee Intranet (login required).
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Purpose - The Student Code of Conduct exists to assist in providing the best possible learning and living environments for all students.
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Scope - This policy applies to all School of Medicine students.
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Procedure/Process -
Student Responsibilities
The LSUHSC-S is dedicated to providing its students, residents, faculty, staff, and patients with an environment of respect, dignity, and support. The diverse backgrounds, personalities, and learning needs of individual students must be considered at all times in order to foster appropriate and effective teacher-learner relationships. Honesty, fairness, evenhanded treatment, and respect for students’ physical and emotional well-being are the foundation of establishing an effective learning environment.
Students are responsible for complying with all policies/procedures, rules and regulations and other information published by LSUHSC-S.
Students are expected to:
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Exhibit the highest standard of personal, academic professional and ethical behavior.
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Treat faculty, staff, peers, clients, patients, and others with dignity and respect.
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Abide by the Code of Conduct that applies to their specific professional discipline.
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Abide by all federal, state and local laws.
Students who violate any of the above when involved in any school or school-related activity/function, whether on or off campus, will be subject to disciplinary action. Any disciplinary action imposed by the School of Medicine may precede or follow a course independent of any penalty imposed by any off-campus authority. The judgment and action of the School of Medicine relates to the violation as an indication of professional behavior and fitness for the role of a physician rather than as a criminal or civil offense.
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Students must notify the Office of Student Affairs of any citations, arrests or convictions (other than minor traffic violations) within five (5) business days after the charge of an offense. Failure to do so and subsequent notification during a required background check may result in disciplinary action including dismissal.
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If at the time of graduation unresolved criminal charges or proceedings are pending against a student which, in the sole opinion of the Dean if sustained would prevent the university from conferring a degree of medicine, the Dean shall withhold the degree until such time the matter is resolved. An appeal of this decision may be made to the Chancellor for cause. In the event the student is exonerated, or the charges are dropped, the degree will be conferred.
Misconduct for which students are subject to discipline is outlined, but not limited to the categories below:
Academic Dishonesty
To obtain an unfair advantage by (a) cheating on examinations or other academic work (b) unauthorized collaboration on an academic assignment; (c) retaining, possessing, memorizing, using, or circulating previously given examination materials, where those materials clearly indicate that they are to be sequestered; (d) intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student’s academic work.
Furnishing false or misleading information to any University office, official, faculty member, staff member, or student acting in an official capacity, or giving false or misleading testimony or other falsified evidence at any campus disciplinary proceeding.
Forgery, alteration, falsification or misuse of any University document, record, or instrument of identification. To misrepresent or falsify research data. To misrepresent or falsify data or results concerning a patient’s clinical status or to break the confidentiality of any person in treatment or rehabilitation
Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administrative, or disciplinary proceedings of the University. This includes public service or other authorized University activities on or off the University premises.
Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion and/or other conduct, which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person. Speech protected by the first amendment is not a violation of this provision, although statements which reasonably threaten or endanger the health or safety of any person are not protected speech
Breach of computer security or unauthorized use of computer facilities, including but not limited to: Unauthorized entry into a file; Unauthorized transfer or copy of a file; Unauthorized use of another individual’s username and password; Use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty, or staff; Use of computing facilities to send obscene or abusive message; Negligence in protecting passwords.
Malicious treatment, harassment, threat or intimidation of others, including sexual harassment.
Mistreatment and abuse of students by faculty, residents, staff or fellow students is contrary to the educational objectives of the LSUHSC in Shreveport and will not be tolerated. Mistreatment and abuse include, but are not limited to, berating, belittling, or humiliation; physical punishment or threats; intimidation; harassment or discrimination based on race, gender, sexual preference, age, religion, physical or learning disabilities; assigning a grade for reasons other than the student’s performance; assigning tasks for punishment or non-educational purposes; requiring the performance of personal services; or failing to give students credit for work they have done. Sexual harassment in any form is not condoned and policies and procedures governing this type of mistreatment is covered under LSUHSC-S Title IX policies and procedures.
Failure to report violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
Behavior, which is determined to be unprofessional.
Serious violations of the Student Code of Conduct may warrant dismissal from the School of Medicine. The procedures for investigating and adjudicating allegations of unprofessional behavior, academic dishonesty, or violations of the Student Code of Conduct are discussed in the section entitled “Addressing Unprofessional Behavior.”
Statement of Professionalism
Approved: 7-16-21
- Statement - Professionalism is the basis of medicine’s contract with society. It demands placing the interests of patients above those of the physician, setting and maintaining standards of competence and integrity, and providing expert advice to society on matters of health. [ABIM Foundation, Medical Professionalism in the New Millennium: A The Physician Charter, 2005, https://abimfoundation.org/what-we-do/physician-charter]
Professionalism is a core value of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport (LSUHSC-S) and is instilled in all institutional activities. It is a principal competency in medical education, validated by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The LSUHSC-S School of Medicine’s Education Program Objectives are aligned with LCME Standards and ACGME Competencies and integrate various aspects of professionalism accordingly.
Professionalism involves relationships and interactions between all those involved in medical education and the delivery of patient care including learners, faculty, and staff at all locations. It also pertains to research endeavors and collaborations with for-profit companies, not-for-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and other outside entities. Professional behavior is transferable to all facets of an individual’s life, including behavior during curricular and extracurricular activities.
Medical students are expected to develop and exhibit the following humanistic qualities that are essential to the practice of medicine:
Accountability: Demonstrate personal responsibility and self-awareness (e.g., accepting a commitment to service; accepting consequences of one’s behavior; admitting mistakes and learning from them)
Compassion: Display empathy; listen attentively and respond humanely to the needs of patients Conscientiousness. Demonstrate a high degree of dependability by taking initiative, meeting commitments, approaching work carefully, completing tasks thoroughly, asking for help when needed, and accepting responsibility for mistakes
Duty: Complete assigned duties; set and achieve realistic goals; follow policies; respond promptly when called; accept inconvenience in meeting the needs of patients; advocate the best possible care regardless of ability to pay; volunteer one’s skills and expertise for the welfare of the community; seek active roles in teaching and professional organizations
Excellence: Aspire to exceed expectations by setting high standards, establishing goals for personal improvement, and striving to continuously learn and share products of that learning with others
Integrity: Demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, ethical behavior, and exemplary moral character (e.g., trustworthiness, academic honesty, discretion/confidentiality, personal conduct, appropriate dress, and organizational citizenship)
Life-long Learning: Commit to providing the highest quality of health care through lifelong learning, education, and reflection
Respect: Treat patients, their families, and other professional colleagues with dignity; show respect for patient privacy and autonomy; value diverse perspectives and talents; display sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse society
Social Responsibility: Demonstrate an unselfish regard for others (altruism); advocate for quality in the care of patients; recognize and address the social determinants of health as applies to patients and communities; advocate for reducing disparities in health care
Teamwork: Collaborate with others to achieve a common goal; show concern for and provide assistance and support to others; interact dutifully; respect authority
- Purpose - The purpose of this statement is to define explicit and appropriate professional behaviors.
- Scope - This statement applies to medical students, faculty, resident/fellows, and staff at all locations.
- Implementation -
Admissions
Teaching students about important attributes of professional behavior begins with the admissions process. In the technical standards for admission to the School of Medicine (which all students must acknowledge receipt before matriculation), expectations for professional behavior are declared as follows:
“Candidates must possess the emotional health required for full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients. […] Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that shall be assessed during the admissions and education processes.”
Orientation
Orientation includes multiple events that reinforce professionalism. A session on the School of Medicine’s Student Code of Conduct outlines the standards of conduct expected of students; students acknowledge receipt of the Student Code of Conduct, which is placed in their permanent file. Additionally, the Office of Student Affairs gives talks on professionalism, the learning environment, and reporting concerns or violations of professionalism.
White Coat Ceremony
During the White Coat Ceremony, students take an oath to uphold professional standards founded on highest standards of integrity, ethical behavior, and exemplary moral character as they advance toward full participation in the profession of medicine. Coursework The School of Medicine provides formal instruction on and assesses expected aspects of professional behavior as students progress through the entire curriculum.
Gold Humanism Honor Society
LSUHSC-S School of Medicine has a chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society for which students are nominated by their peers for exemplary professionalism. This recognition occurs in a ceremony, is announced in a school-wide communication, and appears in the graduation program.
- Assessment - Assessment of professional behaviors in students occurs regularly throughout the four-year curriculum. The pre-clerkship curriculum provides many opportunities to observe and evaluate professional behavior (e.g., classroom, OSCEs, laboratories, small group, exams, etc.). In all the clerkships, objectives for professional behavior are explicitly expressed, and a significant element in each clerkship evaluation form addresses professionalism.
Student Mistreatment & Learning Environment Policy
Approved: 07-16-2021
- Policy - LSUHSC-S School of Medicine shall provide and maintain a safe and effective learning environment in which students, residents, fellows, faculty, and staff work together to educate and learn in a manner that promotes the highest level of patient care, and the institution shall respond to allegations that disrupt this safe and effective learning environment in a systematic way that protects the student.
- Purpose - The purpose of this policy is to outline the school’s commitment to promote a positive learning environment, to define student mistreatment, and to delineate the process for reporting mistreatment.
- Scope - This policy applies to all members of the university community.
- Procedure/Process -
Commitment to a Positive Learning Environment
LSUHSC-S strives to create a learning environment that is safe for patients and welcoming to learners, where all individuals involved in the health care endeavor are treated with respect and are made to feel that they belong. A positive learning environment for medical students includes the following features:
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Treat students with respect (e.g., address the student by name, provide constructive feedback in ways that foster student effort, call attention to micro-aggressions as a bystander, etc.)
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Include students in the team (e.g., give students meaningful work, include students in clinical discussions, etc.)
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Help students learn (e.g., give real-time feedback, impart clinical knowledge, provide learning objectives at the beginning of session/rotation, etc.)
Description of Student Mistreatment
LSUHSC-S adopts the Association of American Medical Colleges’ definition of mistreatment which is any behavior that shows disrespect for the dignity of others and unreasonably interferes with the learning process. Mistreatment comes in many forms including, but not limited to, verbal abuse, public humiliation, physical punishment or threats, intimidation, assigning a grade for reasons other than the student’s performance, assigning tasks for punishment or non-educational purposes, requiring the performance of personal services, failing to give students credit for work they have done, sexual harassment, and harassment or discrimination based on race, gender, sexual preference, age, religion, or physical or learning disabilities.
The following are specific examples of types of mistreatment and are not inclusive:
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Offensive remarks/names related to sexual orientation
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Offensive sexist remarks or names
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Denial of opportunities based on sexual orientation, gender, race, or ethnicity
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Subjection to unwanted sexual advances
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Racially or ethnically offensive remarks
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Assigning a grade for reasons other than performance
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Public humiliation
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Harassment
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Request to perform personal services
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Physical harm or threat of physical harm
Process for Reporting Mistreatment
LSUHSC-S does not tolerate mistreatment of its students by any individual at any of its educational or training sites. The institution responds in a systematic manner to rectify incidents of student mistreatment. Students may report and resolve incidents of mistreatment in a variety of ways. Students may choose to discuss concerns directly with any individual felt to have demonstrated mistreatment at a time and setting conducive to a candid and respectful conversation. This approach is not always a comfortable or viable option. Alternatively, students may also bring concerns about mistreatment to the Office of Student Affairs for guidance and possible resolution. Such informal consultation will be confidential, unless precluded by safety of the student or institutional policy.
In addition, all students are asked to evaluate the learning environment and report any incidences of mistreatment that they experienced or witnessed on course/clerkship evaluations. Furthermore, all clerkship directors inquire about the learning environment and potential mistreatment at the time of mid-clerkship feedback.
If a concern related to mistreatment has not been resolved, individuals may file a formal written complaint using any of the following resources:
Reports may be made anonymously and will be handled confidentially whenever possible. The exception is Title IX reporting. LSUHSC-S has an obligation to maintain an environment free of Title IX offenses (including sex discrimination, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and retaliations); thus, faculty and staff have mandatory reporting and response obligations and may not be able to honor a complainant’s request for confidentiality in those situations.
Investigating and Resolving Mistreatment
The Associate Dean for Student Affairs shall refer formal allegations of mistreatment to the appropriate committee or administrator for investigation and resolution as follows:
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Student-to-Student Mistreatment - Professionalism Committee
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Resident/Fellow-to-Student Mistreatment - Graduate Medical Education Office
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Faculty-to-Student Mistreatment - Ad hoc committee appointed by the Dean of the School of Medicine
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Hospital Staff-to-Student Mistreatment - Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs and appropriate hospital administrator
These groups and individuals ensure that reports of mistreatment are thoroughly investigated in a fair and timely fashion and recommend corrective action. Corrective measures and/or disciplinary actions imposed on those individuals who have been found to be in violation of this policy shall be commensurate with the severity and/or frequency of the conduct and shall be adequate and sufficient to prevent such conduct in the future. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs will document complaint resolution information and inform complainant of outcome within 30 days of receipt of the complaint.
Prohibition of Retaliation
LSUHSC-S does not tolerate threats, other forms of intimidation, and retaliation against a student for bringing a complaint of mistreatment or for assisting another in bringing a complaint. No individual who in good faith reports or complains of mistreatment or provides information relevant to a mistreatment investigation or proceeding may be subjected to retaliation. Retaliation against those reporting mistreatment or participating in an investigation of mistreatment is regarded as a form of mistreatment. Complaints of retaliation shall be handled in accordance with the process for reporting mistreatment outlined in this policy or, if applicable, may be forwarded to the appropriate University administrator for handling
Incidence Management
Malicious Accusations
A complainant or witness found to have been dishonest or malicious in making allegations at any point during the investigation may be subject to disciplinary action. Colleagues who on good faith assist others in raising a complaint of mistreatment by offering advice, moral support, or giving testimony or documentary evidence in support of a complaint of mistreatment are protected.
Student’s Rights
Students have rights as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and all appropriate federal, state and local laws. Primary among those is the right to a fair and impartial hearing, if the student is accused of misconduct or violating university regulations. LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport has existing policies and procedures that relate to the following: financial aid; sexual harassment; final grade appeal; parking; illegal drugs; alcohol; firearms/weapons; a student’s access to records, and privacy; computer/internet/email use; dress and professional conduct; health insurance; and liability insurance. Issues that relate to these specific policies, which may be found on the LSUHSC-S website, should be addressed to the appropriate office.
Mistreatment and abuse of students by faculty, residents, or staff is contrary to the educational objectives of the LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport and will not be tolerated. Mistreatment and abuse include, but are not limited to, berating, belittling, or humiliation; physical punishment or threats; intimidation; sexual harassment; harassment or discrimination based on race, gender, sexual preference, age, religion, physical or learning disabilities; assigning a grade for reasons other than the student’s performance; assigning tasks for punishment or non-educational purposes; requiring the performance of personal services; or failing to give students credit for work they have done. Additionally, students have the right to file a complaint for alleged mistreatment.
Addressing Unprofessional Behavior
Approved: 09-18-2020
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Policy - Professional behavior is expected of School of Medicine students throughout their matriculation in the medical school curriculum. Professional conduct includes, but is not limited to, a responsibility to patients, peers, faculty members, staff, and oneself. It also includes responsibility for self-education and self-improvement, timeliness, attendance, and active participation in course activities. It remains the student’s sole responsibility to conduct him/herself in a manner that supports and promotes the high standards of integrity and honesty required in the medical science professions. Ignorance of a violation cannot be a defense for the accused.
Professional behavior is considered when grades are assigned by Course or Clerkship Directors in all basic science and clinical courses. Students may be disciplined (including probation or dismissal) for unprofessional behavior, even if such unprofessional behavior did not affect the student’s grade. Expectations for professional behavior increase as a medical student moves into the clinical rotations and assumes responsibility for patient care.
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Purpose - The purpose of this policy is to create and sustain a collaborative professional environment that supports teamwork and results in high quality patient care and safety.
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Scope - This policy applies to all School of Medicine students.
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Procedure/Process -
- Reporting Unprofessional Behavior
Faculty, staff, residents, or students may report any allegations of breaches of medical student professional conduct directly to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs or by completing and submitting the Medical Student Professionalism Complaint Reporting Form.
As a first step, the reported student will be required to meet with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at which time correction and remediation of the poor professional behavior will be addressed. In most instances, the issue will be resolved in this setting.
If the Associate Dean determines that no further action is warranted, a record of the professionalism complaint will be maintained in the Student Affairs Office. If no other professionalism issues occur throughout the student’s medical school career, no record of the incident will be recorded in the student’s permanent file. However, If the student accumulates more than two (2) professionalism complaint forms, the student may be referred to the Professionalism Committee for further action.
If the Associate Dean determines that the behavior warrants more serious review, such as in cases where the unprofessional behavior is repetitive or egregious, the student will be referred to the Professionalism Committee.
If it is determined that a referral to the Professionalism Committee is warranted, the Associate Dean then arranges for a written summary of the complaint to be provided to the Chair of the Professionalism Committee and to the student.
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Professionalism Committee
The purpose of the School of Medicine Professionalism Committee is to enhance and encourage medical student professional behavior, to review-in strict confidence-instances of substandard medical student professional behavior, to determine correction or remediation for this behavior including, in certain cases, a recommendation to the Dean of the School of Medicine for dismissal.
The Professionalism Committee is a standing committee of the School of Medicine composed of twelve (12) members, including a Chair and Vice-Chair. The Committee is composed of a diverse group of clinical and basic science faculty who have demonstrated exemplary behavior at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport. Additional member(s) who are ex-officio, non-voting members of the Committee include the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Director for Student Affairs. Committee members serve for 3-year term staggered terms, with the option for renewal of an additional term.
Upon receipt of a written complaint, the Chair or Vice-chair will be responsible for scheduling a Professionalism Committee meeting and notifying the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. In turn, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs will notify the student via email of the date, time, and location of the meeting. The student shall be given at least seven (7) days’ notice of the date, time, place for such meetings, and the name of the Chair of the Professionalism Committee.
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Professionalism Committee Meeting Procedures
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A quorum of seven (7) members is required for meeting and decision making of the Professionalism Committee
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Professionalism Committee meetings shall be conducted in private. Admission of any person to the meeting shall be at the discretion of the Professionalism Committee Chairperson. All procedural questions are subject to the final decision of the Professionalism Committee Chair.
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If more than one student is the subject of the complaint, then the Chair, in his or her discretion, may call for separate meetings to be conducted for each student.
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A student who is the subject of a complaint brought before the Professionalism Committee may ask the Director for Student Affairs or another member of the medical school community to accompany and advise him or her throughout the process. The advisor’s function is not to serve as an advocate but, instead, as a liaison with the School to help the student understand how the Committee functions and how best to address the complaint before the Committee.
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Students are responsible for presenting all information related to the complaint to the Professionalism Committee. Advisors are not permitted to participate directly in any meeting before the Professionalism Committee.
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The subject student may submit a written statement prior to the Professional Committee meeting to assure that the Committee has adequate information. If the student believes that other community members have relevant information, he or she should indicate such in the written statement. The Chair has the discretion to decide which, if any, community members should be contacted and or appear at the Professional Committee meeting.
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The Professional Committee, at the discretion of the Chair, may invite faculty, students, administrators, or other members of the community who may have information that is relevant to the matter under review to share such information with the Committee. Ordinarily, the names of such community members, and, if applicable, written statements from them, will be provided to the student in advance of the Professional Committee meeting.
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After hearing all student and complainant presentations, the Professionalism Committee shall determine whether the student has violated the Student Code of Conduct. The Committee’s determination shall be made based on whether it is more likely than not that the student violated the Student Code of Conduct.
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The Professionalism Committee shall decide on the appropriate sanction or remediation plan, if any, that is needed.
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The Professionalism Committee Chair or the Vice-Chair shall convey in writing the Committee’s final decision within seven (7) days of completion of the Committee’s meeting to the student, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Material related to the Professionalism Committee process is maintained confidentially in the student’s academic file. The Association for American Medical Colleges (AAMC) requires that professionalism issues that rise to the level of review and sanction by a professionalism committee must be reported in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).
If the student demonstrates a pattern of recidivism or fails to complete the required remediation plan as outlined, the matter will be returned to the Professionalism Committee. The Professionalism Committee will then submit its decision for additional action, that may include dismissal, to the Dean of the School of Medicine for final determination and action
- Appeal Procedure
As a matter of right, a student may appeal the decision of the Professionalism Committee. An appeal must be made to the Dean of the School of Medicine within ten (10) working days of the Professionalism Committee’s decision. In general, requests for an appeal should be based on information not previously considered.
The Dean of the School of Medicine, or his/her designee, shall decide within ten (10) working days after receipt of appeal whether further action should be taken.
Once a decision is made, the Dean, or his/her designee, will notify all parties of the decision. The decision of the Dean, or his/her designee, shall conclude the matter.
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