VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

In any of the aforementioned circumstances, the student may be suspended effective immediately.

The Campus Dean may also evaluate whether the student is eligible to be considered for a Mandatory Medical Leave of Absence, instead of an Emergency Mandatory Suspension, if the behavior may be due to a medical condition. In such cases, the Campus Dean will follow Policy S003, VCOM Mandatory Medical Leave of Absence Policy and Procedures. Once suspended, the student is no longer eligible to participate in the curriculum or any type of clinical activity until a resolution has occurred. The Campus Dean (or designee) must notify the student verbally as soon as possible of the suspension (generally within 3 days of learning of the actions causing the concern and in writing by certified letter to the student’s address on record. The Campus Dean (or designee) must also notify any other parties, such as the student’s assigned clinical site, within 7 days of taking such action. As soon as reasonably practicable following an Emergency Mandatory Suspension, the Campus Dean will call for a Professional and Ethical Standards Board to be scheduled. Return from suspension for the allegation is determined by the Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s (PESB) recommendations to the Campus Dean and the Campus Dean’s subsequent decision, as described in the PESB section of this Handbook. Dismissals from VCOM are based on one or more of the following: (1) academic reasons – failure to make academic progress; (2) behavioral reasons – failure to act in a professional and ethical manner expected of a medical student and future physician; and infrequently (3) for failure to meet the technical standards of the college. Dismissal may only be imposed by the Campus Dean or Provost and is generally based on recommendations made by the Promotion Board or the Professional and Ethical Standards Board, or as a result of an individualized assessment by the Individual Assessment Team as applied to the technical standard assessment. Dismissal is made “with” or “without” the ability to reapply. • Any student who ceases to maintain the required academic attendance at VCOM will be considered for a dismissal according to this Handbook. Should a student miss 14 consecutive calendar days (including weekends and holidays) when the College is in session, without being granted an excused absence, the student will be reviewed for dismissal and the date of dismissal will be the first date the College became aware of the lack of the attendance. • A student who is unable to make sustained academic progress in the curriculum is required to become a future safe practicing physician and/or to meet the academic requirements and standards as set forth in this Handbook. • A student who demonstrates unprofessional and/or unethical conduct that is not consistent with: a) the code of ethics provided to medical students, b) the American Osteopathic Association Code of Ethics, c) the rules and requirements of this Handbook, or d) the rules and requirements of any professional organization having jurisdiction over the medical profession or that does not instill a sense of trust in the College’s academic or clinical care environments. • Cheating within the College’s academic program. • Conviction of a crime involving fraud, moral turpitude, or potentially creating a danger to others and that would reflect adversely on a physician and/or future physician. Dismissals are made for any of the following: Dismissal

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