Dismissals

Students may be dismissed for failure to meet academic, technical, discipline, and behavioral standards

Behavior Dismissals
As future physicians, medical students should be aware that they are held to a high standard of behavior and professionalism. In the context of medical training, LSUHSC in Shreveport has an obligation not only to itself to maintain the integrity of its degree but also to protect the public interest. Technical Standards for behavioral and social attributes evolve as students move toward patient care. In the earliest stage of medical school, they may also include demonstrating a commitment to learning which includes attending assigned classes, meetings and examinations, and treating classmates, teachers, faculty members, and patients with respect. Failure to meet these standards will also be considered by student promotions committees in their reviews of students.

Academic and Technical Standards Dismissals
Promotions committees recommend to the Dean the dismissal of students who fail to meet the academic standards for promotion described in the Student Promotions Policies of the Faculty or the Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Progression and Graduation described in this catalog/bulletin.

Disciplinary Dismissals
In the event of Honor Code violations requiring the action of a Hearing Panel, their recommendations are forwarded to the Dean. The LSU School of Medicine Shreveport Student Honor Code, approved by the General Faculty on May 15, 1990 and revised on May 20, 1997 is published annually in the LSUHSC Shreveport School of Medicine Handbook (available at http://www.sh.lsumc.edu/student-affairs.) Student behavior must conform to the Honor Code expectation.

Appeal of Dismissal
Appeals of dismissals concerned with academic or technical standards are discussed here. Appeals of disciplinary dismissals are covered under Student Honor Code in the LSUHSC School of Medicine in Shreveport Handbook (available at http://www.sh.lsumc.edu/student-affairs).

A student dismissed from the School of Medicine may appeal the dismissal decision. The appeal must be made in writing to the Dean within 15 calendar days of notification of dismissal. Generally requests for an appeal should be based on information not previously considered.

If the appeal contains information not previously considered by the committee, the Dean may reconvene the promotions committee. The student, accompanied by a faculty advocate—if the student desires, may attend the promotions committee’s meeting to present the new information. The promotions committee will then deliberate, without the student and the advocate present, to consider the new information and may recommend to the Dean continuance or revocation of the dismissal decision, or other actions.

If the Dean feels no new information is presented in the student’s appeal, the Dean may confirm the dismissal decision or appoint a faculty committee composed of an elected faculty council member, an administrative council member, and three other faculty members; the Dean will designate the chair. The faculty committee will review the promotions committee findings and recommendation and the student’s appeal. The committee will convene a meeting to hear the student, accompanied by a faculty advocate—if the student desires. The committee will then deliberate without the student and advocate and recommend to the Dean continuance or revocation of the dismissal decision or other actions.

The Dean’s decision after an appeal is the highest level of due process. The decision may not be further appealed.

Leave Of Absence
A leave of absence may be granted by the Dean to a student who has no course grades of less than a "C," who is performing satisfactorily in ongoing courses, and who has no non-academic impediments. Leave may be taken for good cause, such as illness, extreme personal hardship, or other appropriate reasons. On rare occasions, the Dean may allow a leave of absence to a student who is performing poorly academically, when it appears that such performance may be related to illness, or other circumstances beyond the student’s control. Under such circumstances, the Dean may stipulate that upon return to medical school, the student must maintain a specified level of academic performance or otherwise risk dismissal from medical school. Students taking a short-term leave of absence must make arrangements with the faculty involved for completion of course work and other assignments.

Requirements For Graduation

1. Satisfactory completion of all course work and requirements specified in the curriculum.

2. Enrollment as a student in the School of Medicine while completing at least  the final two academic years of course work unless extraordinary circumstances have arisen. Specifically, third and fourth year rotations must be taken on campus or, with departmental approval, at affiliated institutions. The curricular requirements of the School of Medicine shall be adhered to in all cases.

3. Approval by promotions committee and recommendation by the faculty of the School of Medicine for conferring of the degree, Doctor of Medicine.

4. Satisfactory status concerning financial obligations to The LSU System.

5. Certification that all materials issued as returnable items have been accounted for in an acceptable manner.

6. Successfully complete Step 1 of USMLE. (See additional information pertaining to USMLE under Curriculum).

7. Health Sciences Center policy requires that all work toward a degree be completed within six calendar years. The time granted a student for a leave of absence will not be included in the maximum time period for completion of the program.

8. Sit for the USMLE Step 2 prior to graduation.

9. Attend Commencement, unless excused in writing, by the Dean.