Required Courses Drop Policy

PURPOSE
To outline the processes involved in, and implications of, dropping a required course.

AUDIENCE
All medical students

LCME STANDARD
8.6 Monitoring of Completion of Required Clinical Experiences
8.8 Monitoring Student Time

POLICY

Definitions

  • Required Course: Courses in the pre-clerkship, clerkship, and post-clerkship phases which are required to be passed to meet graduation eligibility.
  • Drop: Disenrollment from a course at least 15 days before the course begins.
  • Late Drop: Requesting disenrollment of a course within 14 days of the course, or after the start of a course.
  1. Students are not allowed to drop a required course without prior approval from the Committee on Student Promotions, who will consult with the course director(s) and make a final determination.
  2. Reasons for dropping a course might include personal/family emergencies or academic difficulties prior to starting the course that is being dropped.
  3. A course cannot be dropped, once started, purely for academic reasons pertaining to the enrolled course.
  4. Dropped required courses must be completed to earn the medical degree.
  5. Dropped required courses may extend the time to graduation.

PROCEDURE

  1. Students who are considering dropping a course must approach the course director(s) and the Curriculum Manager to discuss the reasons for considering dropping and review all its implications. It is recommended that students also meet with their academic coach and specialty advisor to review all its implications specific to their career track.
  2. If approved by the course director(s), students will be required to meet with the Associate Dean for Students and complete the Course Drop form and submit to the Committee on Student Promotions for final approval.
  3. Credit for work completed, if any, and the mark/grade assigned, will be determined by the course director(s).

RESPONSIBILITY
Committee on Student Promotions

REFERENCES
UC Davis School of Medicine Bylaws and Regulations, Regulation 76 (C) Drop Policy

RELATED POLICY/POLICIES
Remediation Policy
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

POLICY OWNER
Committee on Student Promotions

REVIEWED BY
Associate Dean for Students
Committee on Student Promotions*
Committee on Educational Policy
Curriculum Managers
Curriculum Steering Advisory Committee

REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
May 2024, 3-year cycle

* Indicates the Policy Owner