Exam Rescheduling

Policy Statement
Reason for Policy
Procedures
Forms/Instructions
Additional Contacts

Additional Details
Definitions
Responsibilities
Appendices
FAQ
Related Information
History

Effective: January 1, 2006
Last Updated:

Responsible Office:

Policy Owner:

Policy Contact:

Policy Statement

Students who are unable to sit for a scheduled examination may, with appropriate approval, reschedule that examination.

Rationale

Medical students are expected to put their studies as a top priority. The Medical School recognizes, however, that students (and physicians) must balance their strong commitment to medicine with their commitments to their families and communities, and that they must engage in the self-care practices that will allow them to be healthy and fully engaged with patients and with the profession of medicine.

Reason for Policy

Policy outlines when students may reschedule an exam due to illness or an emergency or in order to participate in another personal or professional activity.

Procedures

For Preclinical Courses:

Students who meet the criteria listed below and are requesting the rescheduling of an exam must complete the attached form and submit it to a Pre-Clinical Program Coordinator.
Students must provide any relevant documentation, such as an official schedule for an academic conference, or note from a health care provider for an illness.
The completed form must be submitted as much in advance of the exam as possible.
Requests are reviewed by the Director of Curriculum.
Students will be notified by the Office of Curriculum via email as to whether or not their request has been approved.
Decisions may be appealed to the Associate Dean for Students and Student Learning.

For Clinical Courses:

All exam rescheduling is managed by Clerkship Directors.

Criteria

For a request to be approved, it must meet one of the following criteria. Decisions on exam rescheduling will take into account prior rescheduling requests and student academic standing.

For an academic conference—Students may petition to change an exam date in order to make a presentation or attend an academic conference. The time and date of the meeting must conflict with the time and date of the exam to be considered, with limited consideration for travel time.
Religious holidays and restrictions—Students will be allowed to change exam date for significant religious holidays and other days with work restrictions.
Significant family events—Students may petition to change an exam date to attend a significant family event, such as a wedding. In order for the request to be approved, the scheduling of the event must be out of the student’s control.
Significant extra-curricular activities—Limited consideration will be given to requests to reschedule exams in order to participate in significant extra-curricular activities. The activity must represent a longstanding commitment by the student. The event itself must conflict with the exam. Only very limited consideration will be given for travel time.
Illness, personal crisis or family emergency—Students are allowed to reschedule exams due to their own illness, the illness of a family member or another family emergency, or personal crisis. Documentation from a health care provider is required in the case of illness, documentation from appropriate sources will be required for emergency/crisis situations. In case of illness or emergency in the pre-clinical years, notify Anne Edvenson at 612-625-8902 immediately. For the clinical years, notify the clerkship director or coordinator.