Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The academic requirements for the MD degree include the satisfactory completion of the MD curriculum at CUNY School of Medicine (CSOM). The progress of each student working toward the MD degree is monitored carefully, and the determination of satisfactory academic progress is reviewed annually. At the end of each academic year, students must have academic standing consistent with SOM’s curricular and graduation requirements.

Federal law and regulations require that all students receiving financial assistance maintain satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the successful completion of degree requirements according to established increments that lead to awarding the degree within published time limits. The following policy delineates the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress at CSOM, which apply to all matriculated students, whether or not they are recipients of financial aid.

Qualitative Measures of SAP

Each student at CSOM is required to complete successfully all of CSOM’s required courses, clerkships, and examinations in order to graduate with the MD degree. CSOM does not measure academic progress by means of a cumulative grade point average but rather with grades of Pass or Fail in Years I and II and in all electives, and with grades of Honors, High Pass, Pass, or Fail in clinical courses in Years III and IV Specifically, all courses in Year I must be completed with a grade of Pass for progression to Year II, and  all courses in Year II and the USMLE Step 1 must be completed with a grade of Pass for progression to Year III. All students are required to Pass all Year III core clerkships and, if applicable, elective experiences or approved activities to progress to Year IV. In the final year(s), students must complete all courses, clerkships or approved activities and Step 2CK and Step 2 CS with a minimum grade of Pass to meet graduation requirements.

NB: The completion of all courses, clerkships or approved activities with a minimum grade of Pass is not sufficient in and of itself to meet graduation requirements.

Maximum Time Frame

The normal time frame for completion of required course work for the MD degree is four academic years. Due to academic or personal difficulties or scholarly enrichment activities, a student may require additional time. In such situations, an academic plan may be established for the student that departs from the norm and that may require the repetition of all or a part of a year of study (i.e., subsequent to incomplete or unsatisfactory course work or an approved leave). To be making satisfactory academic progress, students ordinarily must complete the first two years of the curriculum by the end of the third year after initial enrollment; the remaining requirements of the curriculum ordinarily must be completed by the end of the sixth year after initial enrollment. Requests for exceptions are subject to review by the Student Academic Progress Committee (SAPC). The maximum time permitted for completion of the MD degree is six years. A student is eligible for institutional financial aid for a maximum of six years of enrollment, excluding time spent on approved leave of absence.

SAP and Leaves of Absence

A student may be granted a personal or medical leave of absence for a variety of reasons. The period of leave for which the student has been approved may be excluded from the maximum time frame in which an individual student will be expected to complete the program. However, under no circumstances will a student be allowed to take more than 10 years from the time of matriculation to complete the requirements for the MD degree, including leaves of absence.

Review and Notification of Lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress

During the annual review of a student’s SAP by the CSOM Registrar, progression to the next academic year is based upon a review of all grades, including withdrawals, incompletes and failing grades. Any student who has not achieved a minimum of a passing grade in all core courses/clerkships cannot progress to the next year.

The SAPC in consultation with the Registrar, will notify annually, in writing, all students who have not met the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress outlined above (Qualitative Measures and/or Maximum Time Frame). The notification will indicate the nature of the deficiency, any methods that may be available for correcting the deficiency, and any consequences that have resulted or may result, such as Monitored Academic Status (MAS), Academic Probation, or withdrawal. A student who fails to meet one or more of the standards for SAP (qualitative and/or time frame) is ineligible for financial aid beginning with the term immediately following the term in which the SAP requirements were not met, pending results of the appeal process, outlined below. A designation of MAS can occur for a variety of reasons and does not necessarily affect SAP if the student is still considered to be progressing toward the degree.

Appeals

Eligibility for continued financial aid will only be re-established if the student subsequently meets Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, or if the student successfully appeals the decision to the SAPC. The appeal must state the reasons for failing to meet SAP requirements, including, if applicable, special circumstances that contributed to the student’s failure to make satisfactory academic progress (e.g., an injury or illness of the student, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances), and the changes in circumstances that will allow the student to demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress at the next evaluation.

The assistance of the student’s advisor may be sought in the preparation of appeal. A student may also be required to submit a degree audit, course plan, and/or letter from the faculty advisor. All relevant materials will be presented to the SAPC. If the SAPC determines that the student’s appeal should be approved, the student’s aid will be reinstated.

Financial Aid Probation

Once an appeal has been approved, a student is placed on financial aid probation and is eligible for financial aid. The SAPC, in conjunction with the Deputy Dean for Medical Education and Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the student and the Registrar, will develop an academic plan for the student that will ensure, if followed, that the student is able to meet CSOM’s SAP standards by a specific point of time.

Ordinarily, this time frame will be for an academic year. The student is eligible for financial aid during the time frame stated in the academic plan. During this time, the student will be monitored on a semester basis to ensure that the conditions of the academic plan continue to be met. The academic plan will be reviewed by the SAPC when assessing a student’s status. At the end of the time frame stated in the academic plan, the student must have met the SAP standards. A student who does not comply with each SAP standard by the end of the financial aid probationary period is suspended from financial aid eligibility. A student shall be reinstated for financial aid eligibility when he/she has satisfactorily completed sufficient coursework to meet the standards of progress within the maximum time frames delineated above.