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School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical School

Policies and Procedures

Requirements for Continuation in the Program

Students can be dismissed from the Program for any of the following:

  • Consistent (three semesters or more) failure to maintain a class rank in the upper two–thirds of the class. Students will receive a warning when they fall out of the top one–half of the class.
  • Failing either the M1 or M2 year and having to repeat all or part of either year.
  • Failing a required component of the Ph.D. degree so that the degree cannot be completed in that Department or Program.
  • Activities that are grounds for dismissal from the School of Medicine (honor, moral or legal).
  • Failure to pass Step I of the USMLE exam after two attempts.

Students can appeal any attempt at dismissal to an M.D./Ph.D. panel composed of students and steering committee members and/or a university grievance or appeal committee.

Promissory Note

All students sign a promissory note on admission to the Program. Upon successful completion of the Program and graduation, the note is destroyed. However, if the student is dismissed from the Program for one of the reasons listed above, they will be required to pay back to the University the value of all of the expended resources (tuition and stipend) with interest.

Transition

  • Students cannot transition from M2 to Graduate Phase without having themselves, their thesis advisor and the Department Chair sign a Transition Form.
  • Students cannot transition from Graduate Phase to M3 without signing an Intent to Transition Form, having their committee and Dean of Graduate Studies sign a completed thesis, and taking a course is basic life sciences (BLS).

Graduation and Degrees

  • A student has officially earned the degree of Ph.D. when all requirements have been fulfilled and the thesis is approved and received in final form. However,
  • Both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees are formally awarded at the same time, at graduation in May.
  • Some students who finish their M3 year in August can graduate in December and receive both degrees at that time, since the M4 year is not required, but most choose to wait until May.