VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Additionally, failure to show up for a scheduled rotation is not only considered an unexcused absence but is also considered a failed rotation resulting in an “F” grade for the rotation. Student who receive an “F” grade for the rotation as a result of not showing up for a scheduled rotation will be brought before the Promotion Board. Students who choose to travel internationally in-between rotations must notify the Office of Clinical Affairs of their plans. These students assume the risk of travelling internationally during a short timeframe with little to no room to accommodate issues that may delay their scheduled return to the curriculum. Any days absent from the rotation for this reason will be recorded as unexcused. Consequences for Not Meeting the Requirements of the Attendance Policy The Office of Clinical Affairs maintains all attendance data. Students who have repeated requests for excused absences on exam, OMM workshop, or required curricular days or whose total number of absent days is deemed excessive, are required to meet with the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs or the Associate Dean for OMS 4 and GME. If a student is believed to be abusing the excused absence policy, they may be referred to the Honor Code Council. If a student has absences that cause him/her not to meet the hours required by the rotation for multiple rotations, even if approved as an excused absence, he or she will be brought before the Honor Code Council. The student should be aware that if found guilty by the Honor Code Council or PESB, the findings will become part of the permanent record of the student as reported on the Medical Student Performance Evaluation. Students should also be aware that excessive unexcused absences may be presented as evidence during Promotion Board Hearings. VCOM follows the Department of Education withdrawal policy guidelines, which require that a student must be withdrawn from the academic program after missing 14 consecutive calendar days (including weekends and holidays) after the student’s last date of attendance. Leave of Absence Policies and Procedures Leave of Absence A Leave of Absence (LOA) is defined as a temporary interruption in a student’s program of study that will not exceed 180-days within an academic year or 12-month period, with reasonable expectation that the student will return from the LOA and that the student is capable of returning to the curricular program, meting the technical standards, and being successful upon the return. Approved LOAs allow students the ability to pause their education at VCOM to seek treatment for medical or psychological conditions, see to personal or family concerns, fulfill military obligations, complete external coursework/research, and/or address academic or behavioral issues. A student granted permission to take a Leave of Absence will not be enrolled at VCOM for the duration of the leave. Students who request an absence from the academic program that will exceed 7 days will be required to request an LOA. Leaves of Absence may only be granted by the Campus Dean. An LOA from VCOM may not extend beyond 180-days within an academic year or 12-month period. Once a student has been granted an LOA for a specific reason (academic, administrative, medical, military, or personal), the reason for their LOA may not change during the period of their LOA. Further, if the student is not ready to request a return to the curriculum within the 180-days of the LOA, the student may not request an extension of the LOA or request an additional LOA for a different reason. Instead, should an LOA need to extend beyond 180-days,

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