The Pulse

Administrative Policy: Academic

COM – Academic Promotion, Progression and Graduation Requirements

Policy Number: 3349-AC-432
Effective Date: 07/01/2024
Updated: 07/01/2026
Reviewed: —
Responsible Department: Medical Education, COM
Approval Authority: COM Curriculum Committee
Responsible Office: Office of the Dean and Medical Education, COM

A. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to clearly delineate the promotion, progression, and graduation requirements of the College of Medicine’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) Curriculum.

B. Scope

The scope of this policy is limited to the MD Curriculum. Additional requirements may be defined for students in accelerated tracks in dual degree programs. Additional or different requirements may also be imposed by the COM Committee on Academic and Professional Progress (CAPP) or as part of an academic intervention, i.e., a learning contract.

C. Definitions

  1. “Promotion” refers to the act of formally moving a student from one level of training to another, acknowledging that the student has completed all of the requirements for the current level of training (e.g., changing a student from M1 to M2). Promotion decisions are made by the COM CAPP prior to the start of each academic year.
  2. “Progression” refers to the act of formally allowing a student to continue in their current level of training, acknowledging that a student has met criteria for continued study at that cohort level of training, for example, a student who has passed their United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 CK exam may continue progression in the M4 year.
  3. “Graduation Cohort” refers to a group of students based on their anticipated graduation year assuming on time progression at all levels. Examples are Class of 2024 or Class of 2028.  Students in each cohort level of training, for example M1, will be designated as part of the same Graduation Cohort.  Students may move into a different Graduation Cohort due to delays in promotion or progression or due to a leave of absence.

D. Policy Statement

  1. Decisions regarding Promotion and Progression are made by the COM CAPP following standards set by the Curriculum Committee.
  2. Final Promotion decisions are made by the COM CAPP prior to the start of the subsequent academic year.
  3. Progression decisions are made on an ongoing basis following guidelines set by the Curriculum Committee and defined in the COM CAPP rubric published in the student handbook each academic year.
  4. The COM CAPP recommends a list of graduates to the Board of Trustees in early spring of each Graduation Cohort’s M4 year.
  5. Throughout their time in the COM and throughout the curriculum, students must demonstrate consistent and ongoing professional behaviors, as specified by the Student Honor Code and the COM Educational Program Objectives.
    1. Students who have lapses in professionalism may be required to undergo remediation to ensure they are better able to consistently demonstrate the values of the profession.
    2. Students who successfully remediate lapses in professionalism may be granted permission to progress in the curriculum.
  6. Throughout the curriculum, students must meet and maintain credentialling requirements to participate in their clinical activities so as to Progress in the curriculum. Failure to meet or maintain credentialling requirements may result in delays in Progression within the curriculum.
  7. Students who do not meet academic standards for their courses or other Progression or Promotion criteria may be referred to COM CAPP to determine whether they are eligible to Progress or be Promoted in the curriculum.
    1. The COM CAPP may set additional academic requirements or modify a student’s schedule or timeline to Progress in the curriculum.
    2. The COM CAPP may mandate a leave of absence, require a student to repeat a course or year of the curriculum, or establish other conditions for Progression in the curriculum.
    3. Decisions which result in delayed Progression may be appealed as described in the student handbook.
  8. The following additional specific requirements must be met for Promotion and Progression in the MD curriculum:
    1. Requirements for Progression in M1 Year
      1. Students must successfully pass a sufficient number of M1 courses to Progress in the M1 year, as defined by the COM rubric published in the student handbook.
    2. Requirements for Promotion from M1 to M2 year
      1.  Students must successfully complete and pass all M1 courses.
      2. Students must make satisfactory progress in achieving Educational Program Objectives as defined by the Curriculum Committee, including meeting expectations for all Professionalism Educational Program Objectives.
    3. Requirements for Progression in M2 Year
      1.  Students must successfully pass a sufficient number of M2 courses to Progress in the M2 year, as defined by the COM CAPP rubric published in the student handbook.
      2.  Students must take the Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSE) at the designated times and attain the required score set forth by the Curriculum Committee.
        1. Students must take and achieve a passing score on the CBSE according to the USMLE Step 1 Flow Chart approved annually by the Curriculum Committee, with exception of extraordinary circumstances as approved in writing by the Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education.
    4. Requirements for Promotion from M2 to M3
      1.  Successfully complete and pass all M2 courses.
      2.  Students must make satisfactory progress in achieving Educational Program Objectives as defined by the Curriculum Committee including meeting expectations for all Professional Educational Program Objectives.
      3.  Take and meet standards for CBSE.
      4.  Pass USMLE Step 1.
        1. The deadline to take USMLE Step 1 is the second Friday in May of the M2 year.
        2. Students awaiting Step 1 results will be permitted to begin the M3 year on a conditional basis.
          1. Requests for postponement of the Step 1 must be made to and approved by COM CAPP, and will only be granted for exceptional circumstances.
          2. Requests to delay taking Step 1 beyond the deadline should be made no later than five (5) business days prior to this deadline.
        3. Students who do not achieve a passing score on USMLE Step 1 will be reviewed by COM CAPP, who is responsible for making the decision regarding the opportunity to retake the Step 1 examination. Students who are approved to retake the examination must do so by the third Tuesday of December or by a date specified by COM CAPP. All COM CAPP academic standards, conditions of leave of absence and return to the curriculum apply.
    5. Requirements for Progression in M3
      1.  Students must successfully pass sufficient M3 courses as defined by the rubric published in the student handbook and overseen by COM CAPP.
    6. Requirements for Promotion from M3 to M4
      1.  Students must successfully complete and pass all required M3 clerkships and courses.
      2. Students must make satisfactory progress in achieving Educational Program Objectives as defined by the Curriculum Committee, including meeting expectations for all Professionalism Educational Program Objectives.
    7. Requirements for Completion of USMLE Step 2 CK
      1. Students may take USMLE Step 2 CK prior to beginning the M4 year, but must successfully complete and pass all prior to taking the exam.
    8. Requirements for Progression in M4
      1.  Students must successfully pass required M4 courses and electives.
      2.  Students must take and successfully pass the USMLE Step 2 CK.
        1. USMLE Step 2 CK must be taken by September 1 of the M4 year, regardless of the residency match calendar.
        2. Requests for postponement of the USMLE Step 2 CK
          1.  All requests for postponement of the examination must be made to and approved by COM CAPP.
          2.  Requests to delay USMLE Step 2 CK beyond the set deadline should be made no later than five (5) business days prior to the deadline.
        3. Students who do not achieve a passing score on USMLE Step 2 CK will be reviewed by COM CAPP. Decisions regarding retake, timing, and interruptions of training will be decided by COM CAPP. All COM CAPP academic standards, conditions of leave of absence and petition to return to the curriculum apply.
  9. Graduation Requirements
    1. The granting of the MD degree is contingent upon the approval by the Board of Trustees as recommended by the COM CAPP, Office of the University Registrar, and the COM Dean.
    2. The recommendation of COM CAPP is based upon the following criteria:
      1.  All students must achieve at least a passing grade in all courses and complete all curricular requirements required by the faculty for the MD degree.
      2.  All students are required to take Step 1 and Step 2 CK of the USMLE and achieve a passing score on these examinations as determined by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).
      3.  All students must demonstrate consistent and ongoing professional behaviors as outlined in the Student Honor Code and the COM educational program objectives.
    3. The recommendation of the Office of the University Registrar is based upon the following criteria;
      1.  A completed degree audit of all required courses/exams;
      2.  An absence of any outstanding library materials or fines;
      3.  A completed Financial Aid exit counseling session and all associated documentation; and
      4. Being in good standing with Student Accounts/Bursar.

Academic Year 26-27 Algorithm

Click to enlarge.

See caption for the description of this diagram.

Alt text for people using a screenreader

Flowchart titled “AY26-27 Algorithm” shows decision paths for student placement or required action based on course failures, CBSE scores, and M1/M2 history. The chart uses color-coded boxes and arrows. A legend appears in the lower right, showing four colors used throughout the chart: blue for CBSE exams or retakes, light green for higher-score or qualifying-score pathways, light pink for AIMS enrollment or referral-related items, and yellow for Step 1 deadline/action items.

On the left side, a large light-pink shaded section is labeled “Enrollment in M3 Clinical Study Elective — First Block.” At the top of this section are two starting criteria: “D&T3 course failure”* and “≥ 2 M1/2 course failures.”* Both point by arrows to “AIMS 1 Enrollment.” From there, the path moves down to a blue box labeled “CBSE Final — Apr 22.”

From CBSE Final Apr 22, the pathway splits based on score. If the score is ≤ 63, the student goes to “CBSE Retake — May 6.” After that retake, the path again splits. A score of ≤ 63 leads to a light-pink box labeled “CAPP referral.” A score of ≥ 64 leads to a yellow box labeled “Step 1 by May 14.” That yellow box then points to “M3 Clinical Study Elective — First Block.” If the original CBSE Final Apr 22 score is ≥ 64, the student goes directly to “Step 1 by May 14,” and then to “M3 Clinical Study Elective — First Block.”

The middle and right portions of the chart show a second pathway beginning with a blue box labeled “Pre-CBSE — Feb 19.” That pathway splits into two score groups. A score of ≤ 49 appears in a light-pink box. A score of ≥ 50 with “Any M1/M2 history” appears in a light-green box. The chart also includes a separate condition labeled “0-1 M1/2 course failures,”* which connects into the central pathway leading to a blue box labeled “CBSE Final — Mar 24.”

From CBSE Final Mar 24, the path splits based on score. A score of ≤ 58 leads to a light-pink box labeled “AIMS 1 Enrollment.” A score of ≥ 59 leads to a light-green box labeled “AIMS 1 OR 2 Enrollment.” From there, the student proceeds to a yellow box labeled “Step 1 by May 14.”

Students routed to AIMS 1 Enrollment from the March 24 CBSE pathway proceed to a blue box labeled “CBSE Retake — Apr 22.” That retake then splits by score. A score of ≤ 63 leads to “CAPP referral.” A score of ≥ 64 leads to the yellow action box “Step 1 by May 14.”

Overall, the image presents an academic progression algorithm for determining whether students proceed to Step 1 by May 14, receive AIMS enrollment, take or retake the CBSE, receive a CAPP referral, or enroll in the M3 Clinical Study Elective during the first block.

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CONTACT

Alysia Mulhollen
Administrative Specialist
Phone: 330.325.6354
Email: amulhollen@neomed.edu

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