Student Evaluations

The complete academic history of each student is recorded in the Office for Student Affairs. Grades in the first year are pass and fail. The grades used in 2003-4 for the second year are as follows: A, B, C, D, and F. The letter grades A, B, and C may be qualified by the use of pluses and minuses at the discretion of the department which assigns the grade. The grade of D is indicative of an academic deficiency that must be removed in a manner recommended by the Student Promotions Committee, such as passing a reexamination. A grade of F is given for failure in a course and usually means that the student must clear his record by repeating the course at the University, or elsewhere, or by doing special work and successfully passing a reexamination as determined by the Student Promotions Committee. Both the initial grade of D or F and the grade received on the reexamination or in the repeated course are recorded on the student's grade card in the Office for Student Affairs and appear on the transcript in the University Registrar's Office. The occurrence of multiple D's or F's is serious and may mean either repetition of the year's work or dismissal from the school.

In the Clinical Clerkships, letter grades (A, B, C, D, and F) are assigned on the basis of 1). subjective evaluations of the student's ward work and knowledge as assessed by attendings and residents, 2). performance on an oral exam in Surgery, and 3). score on a written exam, usually a National Board of Medical Examiners subject examination, but sometimes one prepared by the department. In addition to letter grades, narrative evaluations are requested of the attendings and residents who have had contact with the student. Generally these are instructive and are used by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in compiling the "Medical School Performance Evaluation."

For fourth year electives and the Neurology Clerkship, students are graded on a pass/fail basis, and are evaluated on their general level of performance on a scale of 1-4. A student must satisfactorily complete 28 elective credits and the 4 weeks of the Neurology Clerkship to graduate.

No class ranks are reported. A ranking of students on the basis of grades received in principles of medicine courses and in clinical rotations is compiled for internal use for selection to Alpha Omega Alpha, the Medical Honor Society. This ranking serves as one factor in considering students for election to the society. The ranking is solely for internal use and is not made available to any other parties.

to Student Handbook