VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

events, students and their guests waive any claim for injury and damage resulting from their participation in such events. Any other “release for liability” a student may sign for an activity may augment this release from liability but does not supersede or diminish that the student and their guests release and hold harmless VCOM, and its principals as stated above.

Appointed, Elected, and Other Extracurricular Memberships The purpose of attendance at VCOM is to gain the academic and professional skills to become superior Osteopathic physicians. Participation in events outside of the academic requirements is a privilege and should complement the student’s prescribed academic program. Therefore, students should use their discretion when participating in events outside of the academic requirement. Students must remain in good academic and behavioral standing to participate in all appointed or elected extracurricular leadership positions. Students may be asked or required to remove themselves from these roles by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and/or Campus Dean if they are seen to interfere with the student’s academic success. In addition, students may be removed from their role if the student has exhibited poor professionalism or may be removed for other related reasons at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs or the Campus Dean. Company Ambassadors/Representatives and Endorsements/Promotions VCOM students are not permitted to act as ambassadors/representatives for external companies on behalf of or in relation to their role as a medical student for VCOM, nor are they permitted to endorse, promote, or host company events, goods, or services, which includes setting up or sharing product discount offers. Students who are approached by a company regarding the above should direct the company to contact CIFSS, who will evaluate the need/interest in establishing a relationship with said company or sharing information regarding events, goods, or services from the company with students. In addition, student organizations may not endorse or promote a product, service, or company. Student organizations do not have the ability and may not sign agreements with third parties guaranteeing their sponsorship, use of their logos or access to VCOM students or the college. This does not apply to approved community partners for outreach or volunteer opportunities approved through the Office of Student Affairs. Student Academic Interns Student academic internship opportunities are available at VCOM in simulation, anatomy, and OMM for outstanding students who have demonstrated mastery of subject area content and who are believed to be able to contribute to the education of their peers, to the discipline in which they are serving as an intern, and to research in said discipline. Students serving as interns do so while also completing their own academic requirements; therefore, interns must be self-motivated with the ability to function independently and/or in a team-based, collaborative environment; must demonstrate honesty and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality; and must demonstrate interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Further, while each discipline may have additional requirements, at a minimum, all interns must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater, score an 86% or greater on the exams for the discipline/course they are interning in, pass all courses and portions of courses with a 70%, be in good academic and behavioral standing. AOA and State Society Membership VCOM enrolls all students in the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) and their choice of state osteopathic medical associations, which includes the Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association (VOMA), the North Carolina Osteopathic Medical Association (NCOMA), the

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