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DDS Academic Performance Policies

Academic Standing Policy

Awarding of the dental degree is contingent upon a student's 1) satisfactorily passing all work in the core curriculum, including patient care and clinical requirements, 2) satisfactorily passing a minimum of nine semester hours of elective course work; and 3) complying with all other requirements noted in this section.

Students' academic and patient care performance are reviewed at the end of each semester by the Academic Performance Committee. Apart from actions taken to remedy marginal or unsatisfactory performance, recommendations are made as to a student's academic standing based on the following guidelines.

Any semester GPA that is below 2.0 results in academic probation. Two consecutive semesters of academic probation are grounds for dismissal. Students must earn a 2.0 cumulative GPA over their entire enrollment in the School of Dentistry to graduate. The minimum GPA is 1.80 at the end of the first year, 1.90 at the end of the second year, and 1.95 at the end of the third year. With respect to students who are readmitted following dismissal or withdrawal, the didactic and clinical grades for the period of enrollment prior to withdrawal or dismissal are counted toward the cumulative GPA for purposes of determining eligibility to graduate. The final determination will be made by the dean.

The Academic Performance Committee approves promotions or dismissals at the end of each year. However, the committee reserves the right to dismiss or recommend reclassification of a student in the school at the end of any semester if the student does not, in the judgment of the committee, show sufficient promise to justify allowing the student to continue the study of dentistry, regardless of the student's grades. A student may be judged unacceptable for promotion or be dismissed or reclassified when the student has displayed repeated lack of professionalism with respect to the management of patients or in interactions with other students, staff, or the faculty. These factors are as important as academic standards in reflecting the student's developing capacity to deliver a high standard of health service.

Students will be named to the Dean's List for one semester following any semester in which didactic and clinical courses are taught and students achieve a 3.5 semester GPA with no grades lower than B and no failures or warnings in patient care. In addition, at the end of the third year, students achieving a 3.75 GPA in clinical courses for the entire year are named to the Dean's List.

Dangerous or disruptive student behavior will be dealt with according to the University's Policy on Extraordinary Disciplinary Emergencies. A student convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or violence that in any way compromises the student's ability to deliver patient care, or otherwise jeopardizes the welfare of patients, students, staff, or faculty, shall have patient care privileges suspended and be subject to dismissal from the School of Dentistry. The final decision for dismissal of a student will rest with the dean following review of recommendations from the Academic Performance Committee or Administrative Board, as appropriate.

Students are encouraged to seek counseling from advisers, faculty, and administrative officers on any problem interfering with acceptable academic progress. In any academic or disciplinary proceeding arising out of failure to meet the standards of the School of Dentistry, the degree to which the student has availed him or herself of counseling and the degree to which the student has established communication with the school's administration will be considered, though the seeking of such counseling or communication is not determinative.

Last modified: 05/01/2002 at 09:03:50