Center for

Health Sciences

Grading System and Evaluation

Evaluation of achievement in a given subject is the official responsibility of the assigned instructor. Grading of achievement is based upon predetermined criteria that are announced to the students at the beginning of each course. For details regarding academic policies, please refer to the Academic Standards Handbook.

---

Academic Grading System

The grading standard for all College courses will be a numerical system ranging from 0 to 100 percent, with 70 percent as the lowest passing grade except for courses designated as pass/fail. Guidelines describing the method and factors involved in determining numerical grades will be presented in the course syllabus for each course.

 

Grades will be awarded based on students':

• Class preparations
• Class attendance and participation
• Examination scores
• Personal and professional conduct

A cumulative grade point average will be maintained for each student to be calculated as follows:

• The total number of credit hours attempted for which a permanent grade has been assigned (A, B, C, D or U) will be divided into the total grade points earned.

Course Evaluation and Grade Posting

Students are expected to uphold their professional responsibility by providing constructive course and instructor feedback throughout the curriculum. In the first and second years, this responsibility is fulfilled by completing course and instructor evaluations for specific courses, assigned and managed by the Office of Educational Development (OED). Each semester, students will be randomly assigned to complete evaluations for one to three courses, including the corresponding instructor evaluations. Completion of these evaluations is mandatory and must be completed and submitted within one week of their release, which occurs 48 hours after the final exam for the course. Failure to comply will result in a report to the Associate Dean of Curriculum and the submission of a Student Conduct Report (SCR). Continued non-compliance may result in the assignment of an "N" non-cognitive grade. Additionally, students may provide feedback on instructors during individual course events via a link available in Leo.

 

For third- and fourth-year students, submission of the Site Evaluation Form is a required component of each clinical rotation. This form must be completed and submitted within seven days of completing the rotation. Failure to meet this deadline may result in a reduction of one letter grade for the rotation, the requirement to repeat the rotation, or the assignment of an "N" non-cognitive grade.

 

Class Ranking 

While the Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated as above, class ranking and academic awards are based on numeric grades. Class rank does not include any pass/fail courses or optional electives. Rank is calculated based on the numeric grade earned multiplied by the credit hours in each course. Class rank is finalized at the end of the MS-II year, after which all Clinical Rotations are graded pass/fail. Because transfer students do not take the same 1st and 2nd year curriculum as the rest of their class, they are not ranked.

 

Dean's List 

Students in the first and second years of medical school who rank in the top 20% of the class are named to the Dean’s List. This award is based on the cumulative class ranking each semester in the MS-I and MS-II years.

 

Non-Cognitive Academic Evaluation

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the standards of the osteopathic medical profession. This expectation is embodied in the Requirements for Graduation “that the student exhibits the ethical, professional, behavioral and personal characteristics necessary for the practice of osteopathic medicine.” A non-cognitive academic evaluation of S (satisfactory) or N (needs improvement) is assigned in every course and rotation. Refer to the academic standards handbook for details.