Institutional Policy: DO-11

DO 11-1. Authority

W. Va. Code § 18B-1-6

DO 11-2. General

A student who has been dismissed is one with whom the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (“WVSOM”) has permanently terminated its association.  WVSOM may dismiss a student who fails to show satisfactory academic performance and/or conduct at any time throughout the entire academic program.

DO 11-3. Consideration for Dismissal

A student may be considered for dismissal from WVSOM if any of the following situations occur:

3.1

A student's cumulative grade point average is less than 70% at the end of any year.

3.2

A student fails one or more courses in one academic year.

3.3

A student earns failing grades in a course that was repeated at WVSOM or at an approved outside institution or fails a remedial program.

3.4 

Failure to maintain conduct appropriate to the medical profession (refer to Institutional Policy DO-01). Examples of inappropriate conduct include, but are not limited to:

3.4.1

Cheating, failure to support the Student Honor Code;

3.4.2

Breaching confidentiality;

3.4.3

Public intoxication (drugs or alcohol);

3.4.4

Disruptive behavior in classrooms, laboratories, clinics or hospitals;

3.4.5

Assaulting or threatening administrators, faculty, staff, or fellow students;

3.4.6

Harassment of administrators, faculty, staff or fellow students;

3.4.7

Discrimination, contrary to law or policy, or sexual harassment;

3.4.8

Poor clinical judgment (e.g., unsupervised advice to or treatment of patients), falsifying records, unauthorized use of equipment, supplies, etc.;

3.4.9

Stealing (e.g., books or test files, drugs, etc.);

3.4.10

Failure to resolve debts at WVSOM; and

3.4.11

Failure to follow a directive(s) of administration and/or faculty.

3.5

A student fails to cope with the physically taxing work load and/or fails to cope with stresses associated with medical school.

3.6

Failure to pass NBOME / COMLEX examinations in compliance with Institutional Policy DO-14: Promotion Requirement National Board Examination - Passage of COMLEX.  This policy requires passing COMLEX Level 1 for Promotion from Year 2 to Year 3 and passing COMLEX Level 2 for graduation.

3.7

Failure to pass an OSCE as described in Institutional Policy DO-15:  Promotion Requirement – Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

3.8

Failure to fulfill the requirements for graduation within a six-year period, inclusive of all time spent on any leave(s) of absence.  This Section 3.8 only applies to those students who matriculate after July 1, 2017.