STANDARDS FOR SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS FOR MAINTENANCE OF FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENTS PURSUING THE M.D. DEGREE AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Federal law and regulations require that all students receiving assistance through programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act must maintain satisfactory academic progress in the course of study being pursued. These regulations are described in the Federal Register published on October 6, 1983. The policy which follows represents the standards for satisfactory academic progress for students pursuing the M.D. degree at Howard University.

The academic requirements for the M.D. degree include satisfactory performance in all required and elective courses of the curriculum approved by the faculty of the College of Medicine. Students must also pass Step 1 and Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The Committee on Student Promotions, Graduations and Prizes meets at the end of each grading period to review the academic performance of each student.

The normal time frame for completion of the required course work for the M.D. degree is four academic years of full-time study. The College of Medicine faculty determines what constitutes full-time study. A student, because of academic or personal difficulties, may receive approval from the Committee on Student Promotions, Graduation and Prizes to pursue an alternative schedule. A student assigned such a schedule must satisfactorily complete all courses and/or tutorials in which enrolled.

To be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress, the student must complete the first two academic years within thirty-six (36) months and the last two academic years with twenty-four (24) months. The Committee on Student Promotions, Graduations and Prizes will monitor the progress of each student at the end of each grading period to determine that the student is making sufficient progress to meet these time limits as specified. A student not making sufficient progress to meet these time limits will be deemed not to be making satisfactory academic progress.

Grades in the College of Medicine are reported as H(Honors), S(Satisfactory), U(Unsatisfactory), I(Incomplete), or W(Withdrawal). A freshman or sophomore student who has earned one or two academic deficiencies may be permitted to enter the Summer Directed Study Program and upon successful completion of the program is deemed to be making satisfactory academic progress if the student's progress is sufficient to meet the time limits as specified by these standards. A freshman or sophomore student who has earned three or more academic deficiencies within an academic year, or who has other academic difficulties or personal problems, may be allowed to repeat a year of study. A student who is repeating a year of study is deemed to be making satisfactory academic progress if the student's progress is sufficient to meet the maximum time limits as specified by these standards. A student who fails the USMLE Step 1 examination on his or her second attempt may be permitted by the Committee on Student Promotions, Graduations and Prizes to enroll in a special program of review and evaluation in preparation for a third and final attempt. A student while in this special program is deemed to be making satisfactory academic progress if the student's progress is sufficient to meet the maximum time limits as specified by these standards.

A student may be granted a leave of absence for a variety of reasons. The period of time during which the student has been approved for a leave of absence will be excluded from the maximum time for completion of study as specified by these standards.

The period of time students are not enrolled, following withdrawal for reasons of health with the approval of the University Student Health Center, shall be excluded from the maximum time for completion of study as specified by these standards. Students who otherwise withdraw must be approved for readmission by the College of Medicine. The period of time the student was not enrolled following withdrawal shall be excluded from the maximum time for completion of study for those approved for readmission.

Transfer students are judged to be making satisfactory academic progress at the time of initial enrollment. A determination will be made at the time of entrance as to the remaining years of financial aid eligibility. This determination will be coordinated by the Office of the Dean, College of Medicine, and the Howard University Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment.

A student failing to meet one or more of the standards of progress may be placed on financial aid probation. The student, while on financial aid probation, may receive student aid for one academic year. At the conclusion of the probationary period, the student must have achieved compliance with each standard. A student who does not achieve compliance with each standard by the conclusion of the probationary period is suspended from financial aid eligibility. Notification to the student of probationary status and financial aid suspension will be coordinated by the Office of the Dean, College of Medicine, and the Howard University Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment. A student shall be reinstated for financial aid eligibility at such time as that student has satisfactorily completed sufficient course work to meet the standards of progress.

The College of Medicine will respond to mitigating circumstances which may arise in individual situations. Students may appeal loss of eligibility for financial aid to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions. After review, the appeal, together with a recommendation from the College of Medicine, will be referred to the Howard University Director of the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment. A final decision will be made by a subcommittee of the University-wide Financial Aid Committee.

The Howard University Director of the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment shall have primary responsibility for enforcement of this policy as directed by the University-wide Financial Aid Committee. The Director shall ascertain prior to the time of each disbursement of funds and prior to certification of a financial aid application that the student is in compliance with this policy.

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