Graduate Programs

• Podiatric Medicine - D.P. M.

Policies

---

Academic Dismissals

The following will lead to academic dismissal:

1. Two or more failures (in any combination of courses or rotations) in one academic level during the same academic year. Academic level is defined as 801xx, 802xx, 803xx and 804xx/805xx courses and rotations. Also, additional or multiple failures (in any combination of courses or rotations) while on academic probation or with outstanding failures on the student's record, regardless of the academic year or academic level, will result in academic dismissal.
   1. Students in their first year will be academically dismissed for multiple 801xx failures (courses or rotation) within the same academic year.
   2. Students in their second year will be dismissed for multiple 802xx failures (courses or rotations) within the same academic year.
   3. Students in their third year will be academically dismissed for 803xx failures (courses or rotations) within the same academic year, or for multiple outstanding 803xx failures (courses or rotations) across multiple academic years.
   4. Students in their fourth year will be academically dismissed for multiple outstanding 804xx failures (courses or rotations) across multiple academic years.
2. A failure in a course or clinical rotation (including remedial) during a semester in which the student is on academic probation and/or with a failure still outstanding on their academic record.
3. An overall GPA below 2.400 at the end of the spring semester of the student's second year.
4. Three failures on APMLE Part I.
5. Failure on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OCSE) in combination with one or more failures in any other 803xx rotation or course.
6. Failure on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OCSE) combined with a failure on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) remediation.
7. Failure on the second attempt on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OCSE) for students who were dismissed for failing the first attempt along with any additional 803xx failure (course or rotation) and were reinstated to repeat all 803xx rotations and any outstanding failures on their record.
8. Failure on the third attempt on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OCSE) for students who were dismissed for failing the first attempt and the remedial attempt and were reinstated and required to repeat all 803xx rotations.
9. Failure in a remedial course or rotation.

Outstanding failures are defined as courses or rotations that have not been successfully remediated or repeated with a grade of C or better (or a grade of S for S/U courses or rotations).

Students without a previous dismissal on their record are eligible to apply for reinstatement.

The following students are not eligible for readmission or reinstatement:

1. Students with two dismissals, academic or non-academic, on their record.
2. Students who have taken and failed APMLE Part I three or more times without passing.

Students seeking reinstatement who will not be able to complete the program in six academic years must receive an exception from the Council on Podiatric Medical Education in order to be considered for readmission or reinstatement.

Academic Probation

Students readmitted or reinstated with failures on their transcript are placed on academic probation until all failures are successfully repeated or remediated with a minimum C or S grade. In addition, students with any outstanding failures on their record will be placed on academic probation. The academic probation status will be noted on the student's record, including the official transcript. Any failure while on probation will result in academic dismissal.

Reinstatement

Students seeking reinstatement to the college must contact the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research. Any student who has been dismissed two times from the college, academically or for non-academic reasons, is ineligible for reinstatement consideration at any time.

Students meeting one of the following are not eligible for reinstatement consideration until one year from the date of dismissal:

1. Students who have been officially dismissed from the college for academic reasons who have not been offered reinstatement by the Academic Readmission / Reinstatement Committee.
2. Students who have been dismissed for any reason other than academics.

Students who have been previously academically dismissed and are seeking reinstatement to the program will have their request considered by the Academic Readmission / Reinstatement Committee. The decision of the committee for these students is final.

Students applying for reinstatement who have been previously dismissed for reasons other than academics will have their request considered by the college dean. The decision of the dean for these students is final.

Students readmitted or reinstated with failures on their transcript are:

1. Placed on academic probation with a notation being made on their transcript.
2. On academic probation until any failures have been resolved with a minimum C or S grade.
3. Subject to academic dismissal if any course or rotation is failed while on academic probation.

Academic Readmission and Reinstatement Committee

The Academic Readmission / Reinstatement Committee meets with eligible students who are reapplying to the program.

Students required to appear before the committee include those who have been academically dismissed and students who had previously withdrawn from the program with failing grades (U, F, WF, SF, or NF) on their transcript.

In all matters, the committee reviews the student’s application for readmission / reinstatement and ultimately renders a decision concerning the student’s ability to successfully complete the podiatric medicine program.

Membership of the Academic Readmission Committee is as follows:

Voting members

• College of Podiatric Medicine faculty (with four faculty members present for each readmission hearing)
• Academic associate dean of academic affairs (or designee)

Non-voting members

• Director of academic operations and institutional research (or designee)
• Director of educational resources (or designee)

Hearing Procedure

• Request
  • A written request from the student is submitted to the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research and shall include a statement of facts summarizing the basis for the appearance. Such requests must be submitted by the deadline specified.
• Preparation for Hearing
  • A written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing will be given to the committee members and the student requesting the hearing.
  • At the scheduled meeting, all committee members will be presented with a copy of any written statements prepared by the student and access to the student’s academic file.
• Hearing
  • The student must be present at the requested hearing and may make an oral and/or written presentation to the committee.
  • Attorney or legal counsel for any parties involved may be present in the room during a hearing, but may not participate directly in the hearing. The legal counsel may only advise his/her client. The office of academic services and institutional research must be notified at the time of the request for an appeal if the student intends on having legal counsel present at the hearing.
  • Letters in support of the student must be submitted in advance of the hearing.
  • The student (and legal counsel) is excused from the room prior to deliberation.
  • The committee shall deliberate and formulate a decision in the absence of the involved parties. Votes shall be by anonymous ballot. There are two decision options:
    • Offer the student readmission to the program or
    • Deny the student readmission to the program.
  • The committee’s decision is final.
  • Students who are denied readmission or reinstatement are not eligible to appear before the committee again until:
    • One year from the date of the most recent reinstatement hearing for students who were academically dismissed.
    • A minimum of five months from the date of the most recent readmission hearing for students who withdrew with failing grades (WF, F, NF, SF, or U).

(Students who are denied readmission or reinstatement may request that the above time periods for a reinstatement/readmission hearing be waived due to extreme circumstances or to present new information not previously available to the committee. Students wishing to be considered for an early hearing must submit the request in writing along with all relevant supporting documentation to the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research. These requests will be reviewed by the Academic Readmission and Reinstatement Committee who will then make a decision to approve or deny the granting of an early hearing. This process will include only a committee review of the submitted written documentation. The student will not make an appearance and will not be permitted to present information, verbally or in writing, outside of what is officially submitted for review. Should an early hearing be granted, the process will follow the Hearing Procedure as detailed above. A granting of an early appearance is not a guarantee of being readmitted or reinstated by the committee. Should the committee vote to deny that an early hearing be granted, the original eligibility timelines listed above remain in effect. The decision of the committee to grant or deny an early appearance is final.)

Privacy of Records and Hearing

• The committee will act in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) regarding the information of a student’s record.
• All proceedings of a hearing are confidential. No member of the committee shall disclose any of the subject matter or discuss these matters with anyone except members of the committee.

Academic Performance and Student Organizations

The College of Podiatric Medicine offers a number of student organizations, fraternities and sports clubs to serve the student population. Student organizations, fraternities and clubs are subject to college policies. The Office of Student Affairs has the right to review and revoke the privilege to continue as a recognized chapter of any organization or fraternity. A full listing of organizations is available on the College of Podiatric Medicine website.

Each organization, fraternity or club has elected positions in which members of the College of Podiatric Medicine student body may hold office. In order for students to participate and hold office in any position — including, but not limited to, president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, director of clinical affairs, race coordinator, delegate — they must be in good academic standing. Specifically, students must have a minimum 2.500 overall GPA with no academic failures to run and/or hold an elected position within any organization, fraternity or club. In addition, students must pass boards on their first attempt.

Academic records will be checked fall and spring semesters and after boards results are posted. Students who fall below the academic minimums or fail to pass boards on their first attempt will be removed from their position within a particular club, organization or fraternity so that they may focus on academic and/or boards performance.

In addition, students who receive two or more professionalism deficiencies will be removed from any position within a particular club, organization or fraternity.

The college's Office of Student Affairs will send a formal notification to those students who fail to meet the minimum requirements to hold office.

American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (APMLE)

All podiatric residency programs require passage of APMLE Part I and Part II — written examination and the Clinical Skills Patient Encounter (CSPE) examination (if available) — prior to the beginning of the residency.

Eligible students are required to take the APMLE Part I and both portions of Part II — written examination and the Clinical Skills Patient Encounter (CSPE) examination (if available) — the first time the examinations are offered, and every subsequent time as necessary.

Students who do not take APMLE Part I the first time offered automatically will be placed into Pathway I. Students who fail APMLE Part I on the first attempt and do not take the examination the second time offered automatically will be placed into Pathway II. Students missing a required administration of APMLE Part I still will be given the opportunity to take the examinations three times before being subject to dismissal from the program.  Students who do not take the examination the first time that it is offered, and every subsequent time as necessary, will be subject to a professionalism deficiency evaluation.

Students who do not take both portions of Part II — written examination and the Clinical Skills Patient Encounter (CSPE) examination — the first time the examinations are offered, and every subsequent time as necessary, will be subject to a professionalism deficiency evaluation.

Students who do not pass APMLE Part I will not be eligible to take Part II. Those students will be under the college’s Board Part I Failure Policy (see below).

College of Podiatric Medicine Board Part 1 Failure Policy

Students who fail APMLE Part I on their first attempt will be placed into Pathway I and will continue with third-year classes. For August and September, students will be removed from clinic and enrolled in PCS 80001 to prepare for the required retake in October. Pathway I students will continue in their non-rotation courses.

Pathway I students will return to clinic beginning with their October clinical rotation. Students will only be excused from clinic the day of the October APMLE Part I reexamination. Students will be required to attend all other days for the October rotation, including the first day of the rotation.

1. Pathway I – Passage: Students who pass the October APMLE Part I retake examination will continue in classes through March and clinic through April. In May and June, these students will complete the CLI 803xx clinical rotations that were missed in August and September. Beginning with the July rotation, these students will begin CLI 804xx clinical rotations. These students will lose one optional clerkship elective month and will be required to complete a CLI 804xx rotation in April of their fourth-year summer semester. Please note, this schedule is contingent on a student not having to remediate a third-year course or rotation. Students who are required to remediate a third-year course or rotation will follow the schedule detailed in the remediation policy. Pathway I students making up a clinical rotation for reasons other than failure will be required to complete the rotation in July before beginning 804xx clinical rotations in August.
2. Pathway II – Failure of Second Attempt: Students who fail the October APMLE Part I retake exam will continue in all classes and clinic rotations as originally scheduled. Beginning in April, along with their scheduled clinic rotations and other academic requirements, students also will be enrolled in PCS 80002 to prepare for the required APMLE Part I July retake examination. In July, Pathway II students will sit for the APMLE-1 retake examination. Students who fail the July retake examination will be dismissed from the college and will be ineligible for reinstatement consideration at any time. Students who pass APMLE Part I on the third attempt will continue with their regularly scheduled courses and rotations.

All students, currently or previously enrolled, are subject to the policy on the maximum three attempts for APMLE Part I.

Non-enrolled students who have taken APMLE Part I three times without passing are not eligible for consideration of readmission or reinstatement regardless of whether or not the examination was passed on subsequent attempts.

Non-enrolled students are not eligible for sponsorship by the College of Podiatric Medicine to sit for the APMLE Part I examination regardless of previous number of attempts.

Attendance

Classroom and Laboratory Attendance

Attendance is expected of all students; and the course coordinator may require, at their discretion, compulsory attendance in a course. This includes any or all laboratory sessions, lectures or demonstrations. When the instructor does not state attendance as a compulsory requirement, students remain responsible for all material covered in that course, including all examinations, quizzes and projects. A student's eligibility to complete make-up work is at the discretion of the course instructor.

Mandatory in-person attendance is required at all scheduled examinations and assessments.

Clinic Attendance

Attendance is mandatory at all scheduled college-approved internal/external clinical rotations and clerkship programs. Absences must be excused by the rotation coordinator or clerkship director.

Clinical make-up days may not be completed during regularly scheduled course lectures, labs or assessments.

Students missing clinic without prior approval must contact the Academic Support staff by email at cpmas@kent.edu, with the rotation coordinator copied, no later than 8:00 a.m. on the day of absence.

• Students are required to complete one make-up day for each excused clinic day missed.
• Students are required to complete three make-up days for each unexcused clinic day missed.

Students requesting that an absence be excused are required to submit relevant documentation at the time of the request (advance requests) or prior to their return to clinic (absences due to emergencies (including family emergencies) or illness). A doctor's note is required for illness-related absences. If documentation is not provided, the absence will be considered unexcused.

Days missed to illness, or for any other reason, without supporting documentation will be considered unexcused. The decision to approve or deny a request for an excused absence is at the discretion of the rotation's coordinator or clerkship director.

Students requesting an excused absence ahead of time should contact the rotation coordinator or clerkship director at least two weeks before the clinical absence. Students are responsible for contacting the rotation coordinator for any unplanned absences and for making days up one day in advance.

Make-up days will be assigned to students with the following deadlines in mind:

• Make-up days for CLI 803xx-level rotations must be completed no later than the end of April of the third-year summer term or before the start of CLI 804xx rotations. The date and time of the make-up days will be assigned. Students are not permitted to progress to any 804xx-level rotations or courses with an incomplete mark, failing grade or outstanding make-up days for any 803xx-level rotations or courses.
• The dates and locations for CLI 804xx make-up days will be assigned.

Personal Days

Third-year students will be allowed the opportunity to have two personal days off per academic rotation year (not per rotation month) during their third-year KSUCPM clinical rotations. These personal days may be used for residency visitations or significant personal events with proof of attendance. Please note, personal days may only be taken during CLI 803xx rotations.

Two personal days may not be used in succession for third-year rotations.

A personal day is one calendar day. Splitting into half days is not permitted.

Personal days may not be used during:

• Third-year Simulated Patient I (80380)
• Third-year Surgical Skills and Simulated Patients II (80316)
• Third-year Foot and Ankle Surgery I and II (80312, 80313)
• Third-year Wound Care
• Primary Care VA
• Month of December
• First and/or last day of rotation
• Day before or day of an exam
• Day before and after holiday weekends
• Day before Board/Retake Board Exams
• Mandatory Clinical Orientation Day
• Examination days

Two-week advanced clinical absence request must be submitted to rotation coordinator and cpmas@kent.edu.

Students are NOT granted personal days for any situation that gives an unfair advantage or luxury to one student in comparison to other students in any of the third-year rotations.

Personal day(s) may be used for sick day(s) with a doctor’s note. (Additional sick days will be treated under current attendance policy) (Students will be responsible for the materials missed with any absence)

The rotation coordinator may limit the number of student requests if multiple requests are submitted for the same day.

APMLE Part II and Centralized Residency Interview Program (CRIP)

The APMLE Part II examination and CRIP (and additional residency interviews) affect clinical attendance requirements in the following ways:

• All students are required to report to their January clinical location on the first day.
• Students are given time off only on the day of APMLE Part II and are required to report to clinic the day before and the day after the exam.
• For CRIP and residency interviews outside of CRIP, students are required to provide to their clinical site travel documentation and interview schedule in advance of the days missed. Only days in which a student has interviews scheduled or is traveling will be excused.

All of the above applies to clerkships, senior medicine rotations and program core rotations at the college's clinics or at external locations.

Clinical Attendance for Rotations at External Facilities

External rotations follow the schedule of the facility, not the college. This includes closures due for any reason, including closures for inclement weather, holidays and class breaks.

When rotating at an external facility as part of any rotation, if the external clinical site remains open even though the college is closed (holidays, inclement weather, etc.), students are required to report to clinic as scheduled.

External rotations are those that are held at outside facilities in which students rotate for a variety of third- and fourth-year clinical rotations. These rotations include, but are not limited to, third-year and fourth-year Department of Veteran Affairs rotations, clerkships, senior medicine, foot and ankle surgery and wound care. Students may also be scheduled at external sites during any other rotation at the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic.

Clinical schedules at external facilities may include evenings, weekends, holidays and other days when the university or Independence location is closed. If the university or Independence location is closed for any reason, you must report to the external experience as their schedule dictates.

Clinical Attendance for Pathway I Students: APMLE Pathway I students will only be excused from clinic the day of the October APMLE Part I reexamination. Students will be required to attend all other days for the October rotation, including the first day.

Clinical Attendance for Pathway II Students: APMLE Pathway II students only will be excused from clinic the day of the July APMLE Part I reexamination. Students will be required to attend all other days for the July rotation at the discretion of the rotation coordinator.

Academic Presence Verification

In compliance with federal regulations, all course and rotation coordinators are required to verify student academic presence for every student in the university-determined reporting system. The method of how academic presence (i.e., participation in the course) is verified is at the sole discretion of each coordinator and may differ from course to course or rotation to rotation. The meeting of academic presence requirements as determined by the coordinator is mandatory for all students.

Students who do not meet academic presence verification requirements:

• will receive a professionalism deficiency;
• will receive an NF (Never Attended–Fail) or SF (Stopped Attending–Fail) mark for each course in which the requirement was not met; and
• may lose their federal financial aid for that particular term.

Background Checks and Drug Testing

Mandatory Background Checks

Incoming students are required to complete a background check prior to matriculation (dates and deadline to be assigned).

Current students are required to complete FBI and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) background checks at the following schedule:

• February of the second-year spring semester (date to be assigned)
• February of the third-year spring semester (date to be assigned)

Background check reports will be made available electronically to the College of Podiatric Medicine.

Students and applicants have the right to review the information reported by the designated company for accuracy and completeness and to request that the designated company verify that the background information provided is correct. Prior to making a final determination that will adversely affect the applicant or student, the college will provide the applicant or student the opportunity to address any issues or discrepancies found in the report.

If an FBI or BCI background check comes back with a discrepancy or the statement, "may not meet employment conditions," the student is required to provide the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research with a detailed summary report. Discrepancies in background check reports are subject to review by the college dean and could result in a student's dismissal or rescission of admission offer from the College of Podiatric Medicine.

Please note, some clinical programs may require specific background checks and/or additional documentation.

Drug Testing

Incoming students are required to complete a drug test prior to matriculation (dates and deadline to be determined by the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research).

Current students are required to complete a drug test prior to the beginning of the third-year fall semester (dates and deadline to be assigned).

Drug test results are subject to review by the College of Podiatric Medicine. Positive drug screens will be cause for review by the dean on a case-by-case basis and could result in a student's dismissal or rescission of admission offer from the College of Podiatric Medicine.

Please note, additional drug tests may be required in the event of a positive result, a negative dilute or if required by a program for the completion of a clinical rotation.

Cheating and Academic Dishonesty

Students found responsible for cheating or academic dishonesty in any form on any examination, quiz, assignment or on anything related to the College of Podiatric Medicine curriculum will automatically be given a failing grade (0.000, F grade) for that specific academic item. This will also result in disciplinary actions to be taken, including possible dismissal from the program.

Clerkship and Senior Medicine Rotations

Information on clerkship and senior medicine rotations, including the selection process, can be obtained by contacting the college's Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research.

Clerkships

Clerkships are mandatory rotations that students schedule through AACPM’s Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Clerkship website in the months that are allotted. There are seven months scheduled that are strictly for clerkship rotations. Of these seven months, students are required to complete six months of clerkship rotations. If eligible, students may choose to take one of the seven months allotted for a clerkship as an elective month. If students decide to take this elective by not filling the month with a clerkship, they will have no clinical responsibility for the month, though they may visit programs or complete clinical make-up days if they wish. Note: Clerkship rotations or an elective month off cannot be scheduled during any month in which a core rotation is scheduled.

Senior Medicine

The date of the selection of senior medicine rotations will be determined by the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research. A list of available rotation spots will be sent to each group along with a deadline for student selections. If an agreement on senior medicine selections within a student group cannot be reached by the group members, the final determination will be made by random selection by a representative of the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research.

Senior medicine rotations may include out-of-state locations and facilities not within the immediate area of the college. The Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research and the college administration will determine which locations will be considered mandatory (i.e., all spots available at those locations will be required to be filled by students in each group). An approved list of senior medicine options will be distributed to each of the groups with a deadline for the finalization of selections.

The number of spots for each senior medicine rotation is limited within each group. The number of available spots at each location is determined by numerous factors, including facility preference and availability and the number of students in that particular group.

Students wishing to complete their senior medicine rotation at a location not on the college's approved list will be given the opportunity to submit a request with the names of the facility and doctors and a narrative rationale as to how this experience will meet the requirements of the rotation and benefit the student academically. After review, the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research and the college administration will either approve or deny the request. This decision is final. The deadline for submitting a request to complete the senior rotation medicine at a location not on the approved list will be determined by the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research. No request will be considered after this deadline.

Completion of Clerkship and Senior Medicine Rotations

Once a student selects a clerkship or a senior medicine rotation, the student is required to attend that specific rotation for the month chosen. Schedule changes, including dropping rotations or switching months, are not permitted. Students who do not attend a scheduled rotation will be required to make up the rotation in April of the student's fourth year (location and specifics of make-up rotations will be assigned). Students will also receive a professionalism deficiency evaluation. This applies to all senior medicine and clerkship rotations, including private practice office rotations.

In rare cases, schedule changes or rotation exceptions may be permitted provided that the student can demonstrate extreme and unforeseen circumstances that will prevent the completion of a particular rotation. Students who wish to be considered for this type of schedule change must submit the request in writing along with supporting documentation to the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research before reaching out to other locations and facilities. If the request is denied, the student will be required to attend the rotation as scheduled.

Feedback and Surveys

At the conclusion of each clerkship and senior medicine rotation, students will receive a link via e-mail to a rotation feedback survey. The completion of the rotation feedback survey for each rotation by the deadline given is mandatory. Students who miss the deadline will be subject to a professionalism deficiency evaluation.

Patient Logs

Students are required to submit in Typhon a patient log for every patient encounter experienced (observed, assisted or performed) during each clerkship and senior medicine rotation. Patient logs for each rotation must be completed and entered into Typhon by 8:00 a.m. on the Monday following the conclusion of the rotation. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a professionalism deficiency evaluation and possible failure on the rotation. For further information on what types of encounters are required to be logged during a particular clinical rotation, students should contact the coordinator for that specific rotation.

Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic (CFAC) Shadowing

Students should contact the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research for assistance regarding shadowing opportunities in the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic (CFAC).

All students are required to shadow in one or both of the CFAC during their first and second year in the program. A schedule will be distributed to all students at the beginning of the academic year or will be listed in the syllabus of a course requiring the shadowing experience. These shadowing experiences are considered mandatory. If this requirement is not met and all scheduled sessions not attended, the student will be subject to academic and disciplinary actions.

In addition to the required CFAC shadowing, students in all years are encouraged to visit clinical programs when they can find the free time in their schedules to do so.

If visiting a program outside of an assigned (registered for college credit) clinical rotation that will consist of hands-on experiences rather than just observational, students must notify the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research prior to the hands-on experience taking place, or immediately following.

Clinical Affiliation Agreements

For external clinical rotations completed during the third and fourth year, the college has executed affiliation agreements with facilities where students rotate. Students are subject to the requirements listed in these agreements for any approved rotation. Student visitations are observation only and not for college credit, and therefore, not considered approved rotations.

A list of all facilities with which the college has a current affiliation agreement is available by contacting the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research. Affiliation agreement status is subject to change at any time.

Students may review, in person only, the affiliation agreement for any facility in which they will be completing an external clinical rotation. To do so, please contact the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research.

College and Clinical Incident Reporting

A college and clinical incident report needs to be completed when any of the following occurs:

• A student or faculty member is involved in an accident, is injured or becomes ill at a clinical site.
• A hospital incident report is completed that involves a student or faculty member.
• A student or faculty member is involved in an accident, is injured or becomes ill at any College of Podiatric Medicine academic laboratory.

The college and clinical incident report must be completed by the student and/or faculty member involved in an accident or injury occurring at a clinical site on the day the incident occurs. The student and/or faculty member involved will follow the policy and protocols at the site in which the incident occurred and pay any expenses incurred from the incident. Kent State University and the College of Podiatric Medicine are not responsible for payment or reimbursement.

The college and clinical incident report must be sent within 24 hours of the incident to the Public Safety Manager. All completed college and clinical incident reports will be sent to and stored in the Office of the Assistant Dean of Clinical Education and Research, the Office of Compliance and Risk Management and the online reporting system.

Clinical Rotations

For all clinical rotations, students are randomly assigned to a group. This assignment determines the specific clinical schedule for each student, including the monthly order in which students complete each rotation. Requesting a specific group or schedule or switching groups once assigned is not permitted.

The policy and procedures for clinical education are in place to assure quality care and education. Students must conform to these policies and procedures to ensure that educational outcomes are met and quality patient care is delivered.

No student may proceed to any fourth-year rotation without having first completing all prior courses and clinical rotations. A student may not continue onto fourth-year courses or rotations with a failure or grade or incomplete in any third-year course or clinical rotation.

Students are only permitted to be registered for one clinical rotation per month. Students are not permitted to complete a remedial course or rotation during the same month as a scheduled course or clinical rotation.

Clinical Remediation and Make-up Months

All fourth-year remedial rotations will take place at an assigned location starting in April in the fourth-year summer semester without exception. The dates of the rotation will be based on the AACPM national clerkship calendar.

Make-up rotations for non-academic reasons (e.g., leave of absence) will take place in April at an assigned location during the fourth-year summer semester. The dates of the rotation will be based on the AACPM national clerkship calendar.

The location of a remedial or make-up rotation will be assigned to the student by the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research

Clinic Rotation Groups and Schedule

Students will be randomly assigned into groups twice – once for third-year clinical rotations and once for fourth-year clinical rotations. Switching of groups and/or rotation months is not permitted.

Patient Logs

Students are required to submit in Typhon a patient log for every patient encounter experienced (observed, assisted or performed) for every clinical rotation (external and core rotations). Patient logs for each rotation must be completed and entered into Typhon by 8:00 a.m. on the Monday following the conclusion of the rotation. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a professionalism deficiency and possibly failure on the rotation.

For further information on what types of encounters are required to be logged during a particular clinical rotation, students should contact the rotation's coordinator or the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research

Course Exemptions

To be considered for a course exemption, students must file a request by contacting the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. The request will be considered by the college’s senior associate dean and the appropriate division head. Requests for a course exemption are handled on a case-by-case basis, and the college's decision is final. Student requests for course exemptions will only be considered prior to matriculation.

Eligibility for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Degree

All candidates for the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree must have achieved the following:

1. Maintained satisfactory academic performance with no grade below a C, no Unsatisfactory (U) grade and no Incomplete (IN) marks;
2. Demonstrated clinical competence through completion of the performance objectives;
3. Been verified as being in good disciplinary standing;
4. Satisfactorily completed all academic requirements, including clinical rotations and externship/clerkship program requirements, with a minimum C grade or Satisfactory (S) grade on all courses and rotations;
5. Satisfactorily passed the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE);
6. Fulfilled all responsibilities and financial obligations to the college and to the university; and
7. Taken and passed the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (APMLE), Part I, taken both sections of Part II (written examination and the Clinical Skills Encounter – CSPE examination) and released the score reports to the college.

To be eligible for graduation in May, candidates must have met all of the above requirements by the end of the fourth-year summer semester. Attendance at the graduation ceremony is required.

All students must successfully complete the graduation requirements in no more than six academic years. Exceptions for students with extenuating circumstances must have the approval of the Council on Podiatric Medical Education.

Essential Requirements for Student Education

Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine is committed to the admission and advancement of all qualified students. College policy prohibits discrimination against anyone solely based on race, sexual orientation, gender, Veteran status, color, national origin, religion, age, handicap or disability. 

The faculty and administration have adopted the following technical standards and essential requirements that must be met by all students for progression and graduation. These technical standards expected of students seeking the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine reflect the college's highest commitment to the safety of its students and patients, and recognize the essential functions of the profession of podiatric medicine. 

The following standards and requirements describe the academic abilities and non-academic qualifications that are essential to the program of instruction, are directly related to the licensing requirements, and are directly related to those physical abilities, mental abilities, skills, attitudes and behaviors that students must demonstrate or perform at each stage of their education to ultimately ensure patient safety. 

Technical Standards and Essential Requirements for Student Education at Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine

Visual Observation and Integration
Candidates and students must be able to observe demonstrations, video materials, slides through a microscope and computer screens. They must acquire information from written documents, radiographs, photographs, charts and diagrams. They must be able to observe a patient accurately close at hand and at a distance to assess asymmetry, range of motion and tissue/texture changes.

Communication
Candidates and students must be able to communicate effectively in oral and written formats, and in settings where time span is limited. This includes communication in classroom, clinical and laboratory settings. Candidates must be able to accurately elicit information in a timely and efficient manner. Candidates must be able to describe a patient's condition to the patient and to others in the diagnosis and treatment process.

Other Sensory Capacities
Students must independently be able to take an oral history, do stethoscopy and communicate while wearing a surgical mask. Students must also have sufficient somatosensory capacity to palpate pulses, use a tuning fork and assess skin temperature. 

Motor Functions
Candidates and students must have sufficient motor function to undertake classes, laboratories and demonstrations, to provide general patient care as well as emergency treatment to patients. This includes cadaver dissection, microscopy, aseptic technique and safe handling of microbiological specimens. Also included is the motor capacity for chart and prescription writing, palpation, percussion, auscultation and other diagnostic maneuvers. All of these tasks must be done in a timely and efficient manner within prescribed time limitations relative to the context of a practicing physician. Examples of common daily treatments include, but are not limited to, palliative care of foot and ankle problems, injections, orthotic impressions, taking and processing of pedal radiographs, and performance of soft tissue and osseous tissue surgical procedures. Examples of emergency treatments include CPR, administration of intravenous medications, the opening of obstructed airways, and hemostasis techniques.

Intellectual, Conceptual, Quantitative and Integrative Abilities
Candidates must have sufficient cognitive abilities and effective learning techniques to assimilate the detailed and complex information presented in the medical student curriculum. Candidates must engage in critical thinking and problem solving. They must be able to learn through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to, classroom and lab instruction and exams; small group, team and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of reports and use of computer technology. Candidates must be able to consistently, quickly and accurately measure, calculate, interpret, reason, memorize, analyze, synthesize and transmit information across modalities. Candidates must be able to demonstrate these skills and procedures under pressure and in a timely fashion across a range of conditions and time frames. They must be able to recognize and draw conclusions about three-dimensional spatial relationships and logical sequential relationships among events. These skills and abilities are fully defined by the faculty and explained in course syllabi. 

Behavioral and Social Attributes
Candidates must demonstrate the maturity and emotional stability required for full use of their intellectual abilities. They must accept responsibility for learning, exercising good judgement and promptly completing all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. They must understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within both the law and ethical standards of the medical profession. Candidates must be able to work effectively, respectfully and professionally as part of the healthcare team and to interact with patients, their families and health care personnel in a courteous, professional and respectful manner. They must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and long work hours, to function effectively under stress and to display flexibility and adaptability to changing environments. 

Candidates must be able to work effectively, respectfully and professionally with faculty, staff and student colleagues. They must be capable of regular, reliable and punctual attendance at classes and in regard to their clinical responsibilities. Candidates must be able to contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments; accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes. 

Involvement in Invasive and Exposure-prone Procedures
Candidates and students must be qualified to be personally and actively involved in invasive and exposure-prone procedures without being a danger to patients, other health care professionals or fellow students, faculty and staff. They must demonstrate adherence to the universal precautions as defined by the Center for Disease Control. As part of the technical standards and essential requirements to matriculate at the college, the following statement shall apply: If the student is HIV seropositive, the student may be restricted by the State Medical Board of Ohio from performing procedures required for graduation. If the student is HBV and/or HCV positive and does not demonstrate noninfectivity, the student may be restricted by the State Medical Board of Ohio from performing procedures required for graduation. Any questions regarding these requirements should be directed to the senior associate dean.

Examination Policy

1. No books, papers, notes, calculators, cell phones, watches, tablets and similar electronic devices, pens, pencils, markers, food, drink, backpacks or any other personal items are permitted in the room during an examination. Hats and outerwear (coats) are not permitted. Clothing or accessories that interfere with the proctor's full view of the student's eyes are not permitted. Any clothing layers that are removed before or after the examination begins must be given to the proctors to be placed in the front of the room until the completion of the examination.
2. The use of cell phones or any other forms of electronic communication during any examination is strictly forbidden. No electronic communication devices are permitted in the room.
3. Students are expected to be waiting outside of the classroom 15 minutes prior to the start of the examination, but cannot enter the room until the academic support staff or proctors give permission.
4. Students arriving late to the examination, not to exceed 30 minutes, must receive permission from the course coordinator (or designee) to start the examination late. No student, even those approved to begin late, will be given extra time to complete an examination.
5. Students will not be permitted to leave the classroom less than 30 minutes following the start of an examination.
6. Students arriving 30 minutes or more after the scheduled start of an examination will automatically receive a score of 0.00 points for the exam, unless they can demonstrate that they have a valid reason to receive an excused absence from the course coordinator.
7. Students arriving late for a laboratory exam must receive permission from the course coordinator (or designee) to take the examination. No student, even those approved to begin the laboratory examination late, will be given extra time to answer questions.
8. For students not on an approved leave of absence, only the course coordinator can grant an excused absence for an examination (didactic, lab, clinical). Supporting documentation must be submitted when requesting an excused absence.
9. Students who miss an examination receive 0.00 points. Students are responsible for contacting the course coordinator within 24 hours of the administration of the examination to request an excused absence. The course coordinator’s decision is final.
10. Failure of a student to secure an excused absence or to make up all approved eligible assessments, assignments, and examinations by the assigned deadlines will result in 0.00 points.
11. Students are responsible for checking the accuracy of all posted scores within seven calendar days of posting or receipt. No challenge will be considered or adjustments made after that period.
12. Students found responsible for cheating or academic dishonesty in any form on any examination, quiz, assignment, or on anything related to the College of Podiatric Medicine curriculum will automatically be given a failing grade (0.000 points, F grade) for that specific academic item. This will also result in disciplinary actions to be taken, including possible dismissal from the program.

Make-Up Examinations

Approved make-ups must be completed within 10 school days of the student's return.

For make-up examinations, students will be contacted prior to their return by the Office of Academic Support with their makeup schedule. If the student is for any reason not contacted by the Office of Academic Support prior to or immediately upon their return, the student is required to contact in writing each of their instructors by the end of the second day (no later than 3:00 p.m.) of their return.

For assignments or assessments other than make-up examinations, students must contact in writing the appropriate course coordinators within two school days (no later than 3:00 p.m. on the second day) of their return to school to determine their eligibility for a makeup. If a make-up is granted for an assignment or assessment, the faculty member will determine the date of the make-up, not to exceed ten days from the student's return. In some cases, the Office of Academic Support, at the discretion of the faculty, may include non-examination assessments or assignment make-ups with the schedule sent prior to the student's return.

For all make-up examinations, assessments, quizzes, etc., if the student has any questions or concerns once they receive their make-up schedule, they must contact their course coordinator as soon as possible but not after the make-up takes place or after the scheduled date for the make-up.

Students should be prepared to complete make-up examinations, assessments, and assignments as early as the first day of their return. Multiple make-ups may also be scheduled on the same day.

If the instructor determines that there is insufficient time to complete the make-up assignments and examinations due to conflicts with other scheduled examinations, the make-up assignments and examinations must be taken within two school days of the conclusion of the regularly scheduled examination period.

Failure to adhere to the aforementioned timelines will result in the loss of students' eligibility to complete missed assignments and examinations, resulting in 0.00 points for all missed assignments and examinations.

Make-ups take precedence over all other academic responsibilities. Prearranged travel is not a sufficient reason for missing a scheduled make-up.

This policy covers all examinations and any other assessments in any form (e.g., quizzes, lab activities, case studies, projects). Timing, in regard to the 30-minute rule, will be adjusted accordingly for non-examination assessments.

HIPAA Training

All students are required to complete HIPAA training. The method of delivery for the training as well as the dates and deadlines for completing training will be assigned by the Office of academic Operations and Institutional Research. Failure to complete HIPAA training by the assigned deadline will result in a professionalism deficiency evaluation and a delay in the student’s entry into clinical rotations.

Immunizations

In order to ensure that all students are protected against preventable communicable illness, the following requirements must be met prior to matriculation or within 60 days of classes starting. In addition, students must maintain compliance while enrolled in the College of Podiatric Medicine. Students who fail to maintain compliance may be removed from the classroom and/or clinical settings (including clerkships) until the student can provide proof of compliance.

Students are required to receive all required immunizations (see list below) and will not be allowed on clinical rotations, including clerkships, if all immunization requirements are not met. Students who are allergic to a vaccine ingredient, or who may have a medical condition that prevents the administration of a vaccine, must provide supporting documentation.

All incoming students must provide documentation of the immunizations listed below prior to orientation or within 60 days of matriculation

Required Immunizations for Podiatric Medicine Students

First Year

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)
  • One Tdap vaccine within the past 10 years. Td will not be accepted.
  • Must be current all four years.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • One dose if born before January 1, 1957; two doses if born on or after January 1, 1957. Minimum four weeks apart between Dose 1 and Dose 2.
  • Positive Rubella titer required OR
  • Positive Rubeola IgG Titer, and Positive Mumps IgG Titer
• Hepatitis B
  • Three doses required. Dose 1 to Dose 2: minimum four weeks apart; Dose 2 to Dose 3: minimum eight weeks apart (and at least 16 weeks after first dose) AND
  • Hep B sAB Titer - Positive
  • The Hepatitis B series can take up to six months to complete. Students are advised to begin this series upon admission to the program.
• Varicella
  • Two doses required. Minimum four weeks apart between Dose 1 to Dose 2 OR
  • Positive Varicella Zoster IgG Titer
• Influenza (Vaccination required annually)
• Tuberculosis screening (PPD)
  • Two TB skin tests (PPD) performed in the 12 months prior to starting classes, with the second PPD performed less than three months prior to the start. These must be done in the United States OR
  • A blood test, Interferon Gamma Release Assay (Quantiferon-TB Gold In-Tube or T-Spot), performed less than three months prior to starting class.
    • An IGRA is required for this with past BCG vaccine who have tested positive with a PPD, unless they have a positive IGRA in the past.
    • A chest x-ray is required for the positive TB testing (PPD or IGRA).
    • Provide copies of reports for chest x-rays, blood tests, TB treatment statement, and PPD results.

Continuing students are responsible for obtaining the following immunizations so they remain compliant with Podiaric Medicine requirements:

Second Year:

• Influenza
• Tuberculosis screening

Third Year:

• Influenza
• Tuberculosis screening

Fourth Year:

• Influenza
• Tuberculosis screening

Below is a list of strongly recommended immunizations for first-year Podiatric Medicine students:

• Meningococcal;
• Hepatitis A
• Human papillomavirus (HPV2, HPV4)
• Polio

Some clerkships/externships may require additional immunizations. Please check with the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research to determine if there are any additional immunization requirements.

Immunization requirements are subject to change.

Incomplete Mark

Refer to the policy in the University Catalog for information on the process and deadline for the Incomplete mark for a graduate course.

Lecture Capture

It is a violation of copyright law to copy, download or print any portion of any recorded lectures.

Leave of Absence Procedure

For the university policy on Leave of Absence for Graduate Studies, please refer to the Academic Policies section of this Catalog.

A leave of absence is an excused absence from the scheduled course, lab/workshop and/or clinical responsibilities. A leave of absence is considered to be a minimum of five consecutive days, up to a maximum of 30 consecutive or nonconsecutive days per academic year. In rare instances of severe illness and prolonged hospitalization, students may be approved for a one-time extension of leave for an additional 30 calendar days per academic year. Students who are granted a leave of absence due to medical reasons will be required to submit appropriate documentation before their return from a leave of absence is approved.

Below are the procedures for requesting an official leave of absence.

1. Student files the leave of absence form and supporting documentation with the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research.
2. Once the leave of absence is approved, the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research will notify all appropriate faculty and staff members of the student's leave and the intended return date.
3. Upon returning from the approved leave of absence, the student will submit a completed return from a leave of absence form along with any required supporting documentation to the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research. Once the return is approved, all appropriate faculty and staff members will be notified.

Any requests for a leave of absence longer than 60 consecutive days will be viewed as a “withdrawal” from the college.

It is important to note that even though a currently enrolled student is on a leave of absence, the granting of the leave does not constitute a waiver of the student’s responsibility for tuition, fees or academic and graduation requirements.

Upon returning from a leave of absence, students are required to make up any eligible missed assignments or examinations within 10 school days of their return.

For make-up examinations, students will be contacted prior to their return by the Office of Academic Support with their make-up schedule. If students are, for any reason, not contacted by the Office of Academic Support prior to their return from a leave of absence, they are required to contact in writing each of their course coordinators by the end of the second day (no later than 3:00 p.m.) of their return.

For eligible missed labs/workshops, assignments or assessments other than make-up examinations, students must contact in writing the appropriate course coordinators within two school days (no later than 3:00 p.m. on the second day) of their return to school to determine their eligibility for a make-up. If a make-up is granted for a lab/workshop, assignment or assessment, the faculty member will determine the date of the makeup, not to exceed ten days from the student's return. In some cases, the Office of Academic Support, at the discretion of the faculty, may include non-examination assessments or assignment make-ups with the schedule sent prior to or immediately upon the student's return.

For all make-up examinations, assessments, quizzes, etc., if students have any questions or concerns once they receive their make-up schedule, they must contact their course coordinator as soon as possible, but not after the make-up is completed or after the scheduled date for the make-up.

Students should be prepared to complete make-up examinations, assessments, labs/workshops and assignments as early as the first day of their return. Multiple make-ups may also be scheduled on the same day.

Make-ups take precedence over all other academic responsibilities. Prearranged travel is not a sufficient reason for missing a scheduled make-up.

If the course coordinator determines that there is insufficient time to complete the make-up assignments and examinations due to conflicts with other scheduled examinations, the make-up assignments and examinations must be taken within two school days of the conclusion of the regularly scheduled examination period at a time and date determined by the instructor. It is fully up to the course coordinator's discretion as to whether or not the two-day extension is warranted.

Failure to adhere to the aforementioned timelines will result in the loss of students' eligibility to complete missed assignments and examinations, resulting in 0.00 points for all missed assignments and examinations.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Students in April of their third year summer term are required to take and pass an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) that covers multiple areas and topics, including podiatric medicine, podiatric surgery and biomechanics. The OSCE also includes simulated patients, medicine and oral case studies.

Students must have an overall pass rate of 70 percent on all sections combined in order to pass the OSCE. Students who fail the OSCE on the first attempt with an outstanding failure (course or rotation) on their academic record are academically dismissed. Students who fail the OSCE in April without additional outstanding failures on their academic record (course or rotation) are dropped from their May clinical rotation to remediate the failure through scheduled meetings with content experts for the subject area(s) they failed. These students will take the OSCE examination a second time at the end of May. Students passing will progress to 804xx / 805xx rotations. Students who fail the OSCE on the second attempt are academically dismissed from the program.

Students in Pathway I take the OSCE two months later than other students once all 803xx courses and rotations are successfully completed with a minimum C or S grade. Students making up 803xx rotations for reasons other than or in addition to Pathway I take the OSCE once all 803xx courses and rotations are successfully completed with a minimum C or S grade. Please note, this does not apply to students remediating a failed 803xx course or rotation. (See below for more information on remediation.) All other policies stated above regarding OSCE remediation taking place the month immediately following a failure on the OSCE and dismissals due to multiple failures apply to these students.

Students required to remediate an 803xx course or rotation are not eligible to do so until they have taken and passed with a minimum C or S grade all other 803xx courses and rotations and have taken and passed the OSCE.

Students dismissed for failing the OSCE twice (first attempt and remedial attempt taken the month immediately following the original failure) or for failing the OSCE once with additional outstanding 803xx (course or rotation) failures on their record have the right to apply for reinstatement, provided the student has not been previously dismissed, academic or otherwise.

Students reinstated after failing the OSCE once along with any other 803xx failure(s) (course or rotation) are required to successfully repeat (S grade) all 803xx rotations before taking the OSCE a second time. This second attempt takes place once all 803xx rotations and any outstanding course failures are successfully repeated (minimum C or S grade). Students reinstated after failing the OSCE and any other 803xx rotation or course who then fail the OSCE on their second attempt (original attempt and attempt after being reinstated) are dismissed from the college without eligibility for reinstatement.

Students reinstated after failing the OSCE twice (first attempt and remedial attempt) are required to repeat and pass (S grade) all 803xx rotations before taking the OSCE a third and final time. Students reinstated after failing the OSCE and the OSCE remediation who then fail the OSCE on the third attempt are dismissed from the college without eligibility for reinstatement.

Professionalism Deficiency Evaluation

Introduction

Professional behavior is always expected of students on campus, in clinic, during college events and while on outside rotations. If a student's behavior is deemed unprofessional — either by a member of the college staff, a faculty member, guest lecturer, independent contractor, patient or external rotation supervisory personnel — the student will be subject to a professionalism deficiency evaluation and potential professionalism standard sanctions, up to and including dismissal from the program. Some behaviors or actions that occur in relation to a course, rotation or in a classroom/lab setting may be subject not only to academic consequences outlined in the syllabus, but also to professionalism standard sanctions.

Process

The individual initiating the professionalism deficiency must complete a Professionalism Deficiency Evaluation form and submit it to the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research. When possible, the student will be apprised of the professionalism deficiency concern. The student will receive a copy of the professionalism deficiency evaluation form from the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research within 24 hours (one business day) of submission of the form. Within 72 hours of receiving the form, the student may provide a written statement or arrange for an in-person statement to the committee. The Professionalism Deficiency form and any previous professional behavior conduct files the student may have will be sent to the Professionalism Standards Review Committee.

The Professionalism Standards Review Committee will convene within three business days of receiving all required information. The committee will:

1. Review the complaint and any supporting documentation including a written or in-person statement by the student.
2. Conduct an investigation, which may include personal interviews and analysis of video or audio recordings and electronic/computer data, etc.
3. Determine appropriate consequences, as indicated below under Committee Determinations.

The committee’s determination will be sent to the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research. The office will then notify the student via the student's Kent State email and copy the college dean.

Committee Determinations

1. The magnitude of the professional deficiency warrants dismissal from the program (even for certain first-time professional deficiencies), with one of the following options:
   1. The student will not be considered for readmission to the College of Podiatric Medicine.
   2. The student will be permitted to reapply and will be considered for re-admission to the College of Podiatric Medicine for the following academic year (if eligible).
   3. The committee may require additional conditions to be met to establish eligibility.
2. The magnitude of the professional deficiency warrants one or more of the following severe sanctions:
   1. Failure of an assessment (e.g., examination, quiz, practical)
   2. Failure of a course or rotation.
   3. Preclusion from participation in certain clinical rotations.
   4. A letter of reprimand from the college dean related to the professional deficiency, which becomes part of the student’s permanent file and will be included with all externship and residency applications.
3. The magnitude of the professional deficiency warrants one or more of the following lower-level sanctions:
   1. The student is issued a warning notice of the deficiency, which does not become part of the student’s permanent record but remains in the student's professionalism file in the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research.
   2. The student must meet with one or more members of the college administration regarding the professional deficiency.
   3. The student must attend and participate in a professional behavior remediation course or complete a professional behavior remediation project.
   4. The student must make-up one or more days of a clinical rotation.
   5. The student is dismissed or receives a severe sanction(s) listed above due to chronic/multiple lower-level professional deficiencies.

Expectations for Professional Behavior

The following is a list of general expectations for all students regarding professional behavior:

1. The student adheres to institutional, clinical and hospital policies and regulations.
2. The student demonstrates reliability and responsibility.
   1. Examples that do not demonstrate this expectation include, but are not limited to, missing assigned deadlines or not attending mandatory classes, college meetings or events; arriving late to clinic lab or rotation; not having white coat for clinic; wearing a soiled or stained white coat; wearing wrong color scrubs; not having the instruments; and poor grooming and hygiene.
3. The student demonstrates maturity.
   1. Examples that do not demonstrate this expectation include, but are not limited to, using inappropriate loud or foul language; making gestures that could be construed as inappropriate; damaging or disrespecting others’ property; theft; and not adhering to published policies.
4. The student demonstrates the ability to accept criticism and to take appropriate steps to correct shortcomings.
   1. Examples that do not demonstrate this expectation include, but are not limited to, arguing or harassing a faculty member about a grade or examination; and asking a faculty member to change a grade despite not having earned the grade through the student's merit.
5. The student communicates professionally and appropriately, either verbally, online or in writing.
   1. Examples that do not demonstrate this expectation include, but are not limited to, sending inappropriate emails that contain lewd or lascivious content; and using social media in a way that compromises the student's professional identity.
6. The student demonstrates honesty and integrity.
7. The student demonstrates respect for members of the college community.
   1. An example that does not demonstrate this expectation includes, but is not limited to, harassing another individual either verbally, physically or through electronic means.
8. The student demonstrates respect for patients and individuals involved in all clinical settings, either on campus or at external locations.
9. The student demonstrate appearance, etiquette and grooming appropriate for the setting that demonstrates professionalism.

Registration for the College Podiatric Medicine

All students must complete a registration each year. Students who fail to complete registration requirements by the assigned deadline are subject to a professionalism deficiency evaluation. Students will not be promoted to the following grade level / academic year until registration requirements are fulfilled. Once the academic year concludes, students who have not submitted the required registration paperwork for the subsequent academic year will be withdrawn from the program.

Remediation and Mandatory Academic Counseling

Students may remediate an F (fail) or U (unsatisfactory) grade by receiving a satisfactory grade after remediation of the course or clinical rotation. Both the initial grade (F or U) and the satisfactory grade (no higher than the C grade) received after remediation are noted on the transcript. However, the original F or U grade is not calculated into the GPA provided that the student receives a passing grade (C or S) for the remedial course or rotation. Students who fail a remedial course or rotation will have both the original and remedial grades calculated into their GPA. 

Students who do not attend a scheduled CLI 803xx or 804xx rotation and have not been approved for a rotation exception schedule change will receive an NF (Never Attended–Fail) mark and will be required to remediate the failure. These students also will be placed on academic probation until the NF mark is remediated by receiving a passing grade (S or C). An NF mark in a clinical rotation follows the same GPA and transcript policy as detailed in the previous paragraph. Students with an NF mark along with any other outstanding failures on their record will be academically dismissed.

Any student with one course or rotation failure will be placed on academic probation until the requirement is successfully (C or S grade) remediated. Failure in a remedial course or rotation will result in academic dismissal, as will any failure in an additional course or rotation prior to the successful (C or S grade) completion of remediation.

Remediation of the failed course or rotation will take place during the four-week period detailed below. Please note, the four-week remediation period may continue into the next academic year.

• Students in their first year will begin remediation immediately following the summer term.
• Students in their second year will begin remediation immediately following the spring semester.
• With the exception of Pathway I and II students, remediation for students in their third year will take place in May of the third-year summer term. Non-Pathway I and II students making up an entire third-year clinical rotation for non-academic reasons will remediate a failure in June after the successful completion of all 803xx coursework and clinical rotations. If making up multiple third-year clinical rotations, students will remediate the month after all 803xx courses and rotations are successfully completed.
• Remediation for APMLE Pathway I and II students will take place in July once students have successfully completed all 803xx level clinical rotations and coursework. Pathway I students making up an additional 3xx level clinical rotation (for non-academic reasons) will remediate in August once they have successfully completed all 803xx clinical rotations and coursework. Please note, students in their third year (including Pathway I students) who need to make up or remediate a combined total of four or more clinical rotations or courses will be delayed in starting fourth-year clerkships and rotations to the extent that they will not graduate on time at the end of the fourth-year summer term and may have their entry into residency delayed.
• Remediation for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) will take place the month immediately following the student's first attempt and failure. For full details regarding the OSCE schedule and eligibility for remediation, please see the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) policy.
• Remediation for students in their fourth year will take place in April of the fourth-year summer term.

In addition to standard tuition, students are subject to an additional fee for remediation.

Students are not permitted to begin remediation until all other courses and clinical rotations from that academic level have been successfully completed. Academic level is defined as 801xx, 802xx, 803xx and 804xx.

Students are advised that remediation takes precedence over all other educational responsibilities. Remediation is conducted in a manner determined by the course coordinator. This includes the specifics of the delivery of the remedial course or rotation and the format of all assessments and examinations. Prearranged travel is not a qualified excuse to be absent from any scheduled meeting or examination.

Students are required to meet the following GPA requirements during the first and second year (effective for students whose first semester of coursework in the Podiatric Medicine program is fall 2016 or later):

• First Year:
  • Minimum 2.500 GPA at the end of the first-year fall semester;
  • Minimum 2.500 overall GPA at the end of the first-year spring semester; and
  • Minimum 2.500 GPA at the end of the first-year summer term.
• Second Year:
  • Minimum 2.500 overall GPA at the end of the second-year fall semester; and
  • Minimum 2.400 overall GPA at the end of the second-year spring semester.

Students falling below the minimum GPA following the first-year fall semester, first-year spring semester, first-year summer term or second-year fall semester will be required to participate in mandatory academic counseling.

Students with below a 2.400 GPA at the conclusion of the second-year spring semester will be academically dismissed from the program.

Student Conduct

A finding of responsibility for violating college or university policy will lead to a review by the dean of the college and may result in summary dismissal from the program. The decision of the dean is final. 

Student Malpractice Insurance Coverage

Podiatric Medicine students are covered by the college's malpractice insurance policy for all official clinical rotations (i.e., registered for college credit).  

Students are encouraged to visit clinical programs when they can find the free time in their schedules to do so. If visiting a program outside of an official clinical rotation that will consist of hands-on experiences rather than just observational, students must notify the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research prior to the hands-on experience taking place, or immediately following.

Technical Standards and Essential Requirements for Student Education in the College of Podiatric Medicine

The College of Podiatric Medicine is committed to the admission and advancement of all qualified students. College policy prohibits discrimination against anyone solely based on race, sexual orientation, gender, veteran status, color, national origin, religion, age, handicap or disability.

The faculty and administration have adopted the following technical standards and essential requirements that must be met by all students for progression and graduation. These technical standards expected of students seeking the degree of doctor of Podiatric Medicine reflect the college's highest commitment to the safety of its students and patients, and recognize the essential functions of the profession of podiatric medicine.

The following standards and requirements describe the academic abilities and non-academic qualifications that are essential to the program of instruction; are directly related to the licensing requirements; and are directly related to those physical abilities, mental abilities, skills, attitudes and behaviors that students must demonstrate or perform at each stage of their education to ultimately ensure patient safety.

• Visual observation and integration: Candidates and students must have sufficient vision to observe demonstrations, video materials, and slides through a microscope and computer screens. They must acquire information from written documents, radiographs, photographs, charts and diagrams. They must be able to observe a patient accurately close at hand and at a distance to assess asymmetry, range of motion and tissue/texture changes.
• Communication: Candidates and students must be able to communicate effectively in oral and written formats, and in settings where time span is limited. This includes communication in clinical and laboratory settings. Candidates must be able to accurately elicit information in a timely and efficient manner. Candidates must be able to describe a patient's condition to the patient and to others in the diagnosis and treatment process.
• Other sensory capacities: Students must independently be able to take an oral history, do stethoscopy and communicate while wearing a surgical mask. Students must also have sufficient somatosensory capacity to palpate pulses, use a tuning fork and assess skin temperature.
• Motor functions: Candidates and students must have sufficient motor function reasonably required to undertake classes, laboratories and demonstrations, to provide general patient care as well as emergency treatment to patients. This includes cadaver dissection, microscopy, aseptic technique and safe handling of microbiological specimens. Also included is the motor capacity for chart and prescription writing, palpation, percussion, auscultation and other diagnostic maneuvers. All of these tasks must be done in a timely and efficient manner within prescribed time limitations relative to the context of a practicing physician. Examples of common daily treatments include, but are not limited to, palliative care of foot and ankle problems, injections, orthotic impressions, taking and processing of pedal radiographs, and performance of soft tissue and osseous tissue surgical procedures. Examples of emergency treatments include CPR, administration of intravenous medications, the opening of obstructed airways and hemostasis techniques.
• Intellectual, conceptual, quantitative and integrative abilities: Candidates must have sufficient cognitive abilities and effective learning techniques to assimilate the detailed and complex information presented in the medical student curriculum. Candidates must engage in critical thinking and problem solving. They must be able to learn through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to, classroom and lab instruction and exams; small group, team and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of reports; and use of computer technology. Candidates must be able to consistently, quickly and accurately measure, calculate, interpret, reason, memorize, analyze, synthesize and transmit information across modalities. Candidates must be able to demonstrate these skills and procedures under pressure and in a timely fashion across a range of conditions and time frames. They must be able to recognize and draw conclusions under pressure and in a timely fashion across a range of conditions and time frames. They must be able to recognize and draw conclusions about three-dimensional spatial relationships and logical sequential relationships among events. These skills and abilities are fully defined by the faculty and explained in course syllabi.
• Behavioral and social attributes: Candidates must demonstrate the maturity and emotional stability required for full use of their intellectual abilities. They must accept responsibility for learning, exercising good judgement and promptly completing all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. They must understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within both the law and ethical standards of the medical profession. Candidates must be able to work effectively, respectfully and professionally as part of the healthcare team and to interact with patients, their families, and health care personnel in a courteous, professional and respectful matter. They must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and long work hours, to function effectively under stress and to display flexibility and adaptability to changing environments.
• Involvement in invasive and exposure-prone procedures: Candidates and students must be qualified to be personally and actively involved in invasive and exposure-prone procedures without being a danger to patients, other health care professionals or fellow students. They must demonstrate adherence to the universal precautions as defined by the Center for Disease Control. As part of the technical standards and essential requirements to matriculate at the college, the following statement shall apply: If the student is HIV seropositive, the student may be restricted by the State Medical Board of Ohio from performing procedures required for graduation. If the student is HBV and or HCV positive and does not demonstrate non-infectivity, the student may be restricted by the State Medical Board of Ohio from performing procedures required for graduation. Any questions regarding these requirements should be directed to the senior associate dean.

Test Review Procedure

Students may review an examination by appointment only with the course coordinator, and only for a period extending two weeks following the conclusion of the exam cycle. Students wishing to receive an extension to the two-week period must contact the course coordinator prior to the deadline in order for their request to be considered. The course coordinator will determine the manner in which all reviews take place.

Transfer and Advanced Standing Admissions

Advanced Standing is credit(s) granted by a college to a student for studies completed elsewhere (i.e., another podiatry college or accredited medical school). Students will only be considered for Transfer and Advanced Standing prior to matriculation.

Candidates interested in transfer/advanced standing admission must meet the criteria for initial admission as outlined in the academic requirements section and follow the procedures outlined below:

• Submit a statement to the Office of Enrollment Management / Admissions requesting transfer/advanced standing consideration.
• Provide an official transcript of academic performance in all undergraduate, graduate and professional programs of study, domestic and international. If there was international institutional enrollment, reports from a recognized foreign credentialing agency must be jointly submitted for full consideration.
• Provide a letter of status from the academic dean or dean of student affairs at the College of Podiatric Medicine or other accredited medical school currently being attended. Official transcripts must indicate minimum 3.500 GPA from previous podiatric college for transfer consideration.

Withdrawal from the College of Podiatric Medicine

To discuss withdrawing from the podiatric medicine program, please contact the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research.

Students withdrawing will receive the following grades:

• Courses that fall within the university drop/add period will be dropped from the student's transcript with no grades being assigned.
• Courses prior to seven weeks of course instruction and after the university drop/add period will be assigned the W mark.
• Courses after seven weeks of course instruction, but before the university deadline to withdraw from a specific course, will be assigned the WP (withdraw passing) or WF (withdraw failing) mark.
• Courses after the university deadline to withdraw from a specific course will be assigned the SF (stopped attending - fail) grade.

Refer to the Office of the University Registrar website for registration deadlines.

Students are not permitted to withdraw from individual courses. Any withdrawal will be a complete withdrawal from Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree program.

NOTE: The official date of withdrawal is the date on which the student begins the withdrawal process.

A student who leaves the college without proper notice or without following the withdrawal policy automatically will be withdrawn from the college after two attempts to contact the student.

Readmission

Students seeking readmission to the college are instructed to contact the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research.

Students who previously withdrew in good academic standing with no failures (F, U, SF, or NF) or WF grades are not required to appear before the Academic Readmission / Reinstatement Committee in order to be readmitted to the program. These students should contact the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research to discuss readmission options.

Students who previously withdrew with failures (F, U, SF, NF) or WF grades are required to appear before the Academics / Reinstatement Committee to request readmission. These students should contact the Office of Academic Operations and Institutional Research to discuss the readmission process.

The following students are not eligible for readmission or reinstatement.

1. Students with two dismissals, academic or non-academic, on their record.
2. Students who have taken and failed APMLE Part I three or more times without passing.

Students seeking readmission or reinstatement who will not be able to complete the program within six academic years must receive an exception from the Council on Podiatric Medical Education in order to be considered for readmission or reinstatement. 

College of Podiatric Medicine Faculty

• Belovich, Stephanie J. (2012), Associate Professor , Ph.D., Kent State University, 1999
• Blazer, Marie M. (2012), Associate Professor, D.P.M., Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 2004
• Butler, Nick R. (2012), Assistant Professor, D.P.M., Kent State University, 2015
• Connors, James C. (2016), Associate Professor, D.P.M., Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine , 1999
• Dalman, Mark R. (2016), Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Akron, 2014
• Donovan, Jacqueline K. (2022), Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Kent State University, 2012
• Farnkopf, Ian C. (2016), Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Kent State University, 2022
• Jahan, Israt (2023), Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Gifu University, 2007
• Johnson, Rachel E. (2012), Associate Professor, D.P.M., Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 2008
• Kawalec, Jill S. (2012), Professor and Division Head, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, 1997
• Moore, Joshua L. (2023), Professor, D.P.M., Des Moines University, 2009
• Osbourne, Abe G. (2012), Associate Professor and Division Head, D.P.M., Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 1990
• Osher, Lawrence S. (2012), Professor, D.P.M., Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 1982
• Petrozzi, Rocco A. (2012), Associate Professor , D.P.M., Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 2003
• Salameh, Ahlam I. (2023), Assistant Professor, B.A., The Hashemite University, 2003
• Siesel, Kathy J. (2012), Associate Professor, D.P.M., Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 1989
• Spencer, Scott A. (2012), Associate Professor, D.P.M., Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 1987

Clinical Education (CLI)

General Medicine (GMD)

Podiatric Biomechanics/Orthopedics (ORT)

Preclinical Sciences (PCS)

Podiatric Medicine (PMD)

Podiatric Surgery (SUR)