University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Sunday, July 06, 2008 :: 04:34
Students may request a Leave of Absence [LOA] from the curriculum for personal or academic reasons. These LOAs may be short- or long-term depending on the nature of the request. All LOA requests must be pre-approved by the appropriate CSPE Committee. In the case of an emergency, the Dean of Students can grant an emergency LOA.
Graduation – Students granted a LOA will likely result in a delay in graduating as a result of when the missed rotation(s) is/are rescheduled. If the LOA delays graduation the student will be held to the promotion and graduation requirements of their new graduating class.
6-Year Rule – UNM SOM Policy states that students have 6 years to complete medical school. Certain types of leave may be counted toward the 6-year limit. Students granted a LOA are responsible for knowing if their 6-year time limit is affected.
Grading of delayed blocks – Students will be evaluated by the grading criteria in effect when the delayed clerkship or Phase III rotation is rescheduled. That is, if grading criteria change while the clerkship is floated, the new or current grading standards will be used.
Clinical Skills Performance Examinations – Students granted a LOA may be required to take the Phase II Performance Examinations out of sequence. Starting Phase III could be delayed due to scheduling of the required performance examination(s) associated with the delayed block(s).
Board review course – Students granted a LOA may have difficulty scheduling a board review course due to potential conflict between the review course dates and the new clerkship(s) dates.
Needlestick and Disability Insurance – Students granted a LOA must maintain both insurance policies throughout the duration of the LOA even if the LOA does not involve clinical activity.
Time off for residency interviews – Leaves may impact on time off for residency interviews as it reduces the number of free months in Phase III.
Financial Aid – Students on financial aid must meet with the SOM Financial Aid Manager in BMSB 147 to discuss how the LOA may affect current financial aid awards and charges, the repayment status of loans, and to plan for the timely disbursement of financial aid upon return to the curriculum.
Readmission to SOM - Students who are on LOA longer than 3 consecutive UNM sessions [i.e., Spring, Summer, Fall semesters] will be required to submit a UNM Readmission Application in order to reactivate enrollment status on main campus and to re-establish residency status for the purposes of assessing tuition.
Rescheduling of missed academic activities – The course director in consultation with CSPE and the Office of Student Services, will determine if the requested absence will result in an Incomplete grade or no grade given with the next block taken the next time offered (a one year leave of absence). If an incomplete is awarded the student must successfully complete the course within one year or receive an Unsatisfactory grade.
Promotion – Students granted a LOA will not be promoted to Phase II until all Phase I blocks and requirements have been completed. Therefore, eligibility to take Phase II clerkships prior to completing Phase I must be authorized by CSPE. A delay in scheduling Phase II clerkships may compromise the ability to schedule Phase III in a timely manner.
Rescheduling of rotation(s) – The Office of Student Services, in consultation with the clerkship directors and CSPE, will schedule the missed clerkships in any available clerkship time block and not necessarily the first or second block during the next academic year. The missed clerkship will be rescheduled so that no clerkship is overloaded, as this compromises the educational experience for all students. Rising Phase II students will have priority in scheduling Phase II clerkships, not students who have been granted a LOA.
Promotion – Students granted a LOA will not be promoted to Phase III until all Phase II rotations have been completed. Therefore, eligibility to take Phase III clerkships prior to completing Phase II clerkships must be authorized by CSPE. Direct Patient Care rotations and Preceptorship may not be taken until all Phase II clerkships have been completed. A delay in scheduling DPC rotations may compromise the ability to obtain appropriate letters of recommendation needed to apply for residency programs in a timely manner.
Students requesting a Leave of Absence must complete the following:
The forms are available in the Office of Student Services, BMSB 107, or via download.
Students will be notified of CSPE’s decision unofficially by email and formally by mail. CSPE’s decision may include but is not limited to: any stipulations they require prior to or while on LOA or for returning to the curriculum, how an LOA will affect the calculation of the 6-year rule, and the possibility of extending an LOA.
