Charter Foundation Pathway (CFP) Policy

I. Purpose

The Charter Foundation Pathway (CFP) is a one-term academic onboarding pathway designed to prepare students for entry into the 4-Year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. The pathway is intended for students who require additional academic preparation due to:

• time away from formal education; 
• deficiencies in prerequisite coursework; or 
• the need to demonstrate readiness for the rigor of medical education. 

The CFP provides a structured, credit-bearing curriculum through which students demonstrate academic capability, scientific readiness, and professional suitability for medical training.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all students enrolled in the Charter Foundation Pathway. Students in the CFP are not enrolled in the Pre-Clinical Program and are not subject to the Pre-Clinical Progression Policy. Successful completion of the CFP results in eligibility for promotion to the 4-Year MD program.

III. Definitions

Charter Foundation Pathway (CFP): A one-semester preparatory academic program consisting of a prescribed set of foundational biomedical science and academic skills courses.

Promotion (CFP): Successful completion of all CFP requirements resulting in eligibility for entry into the 4-Year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.

Academic Progress Review Committee (APRC): The faculty committee responsible for reviewing student performance and determining promotion eligibility.

Committee for Academic Progress and Professional Standards (CAPPS): The committee responsible for review of appeals related to dismissal or denial of promotion.

Monitored Academic Status (MAS): An academic status applied at the discretion of the APRC where additional oversight is required.

IV. Program Structure and Course Requirements

The CFP is a one-semester program consisting of a fixed, prescribed curriculum totaling 18 credits.

All students must enroll in and successfully complete all courses listed below. No substitutions, exemptions, or elective variations are permitted.

The required courses are:

All courses are credit-bearing and graded in accordance with the Pre-Clinical Grading Policy. Students must complete the full course load within the defined academic term. Partial completion does not satisfy program requirements.

V. Promotion to the 4-Year MD Program

Successful completion of the Charter Foundation Pathway (CFP) results in promotion into the 4-Year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.

Promotion is granted only upon fulfillment of all academic and non-academic requirements defined in this policy and is subject to formal review and approval by the Academic Progress Review Committee (APRC).

VI. Promotion Requirements

Students must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for promotion into the 4MD:

A. Academic Performance

1. Minimum Weighted Mean Percentage Grade (WMPG) ≥ 80% 
2. Minimum science GPA ≥ 3.0 

B. Course Performance

1. Successful completion of all required CFP courses 
2. No grade below C (70%) in any course 

C. Comprehensive Examination

Successful completion of the Pre-Clinical Science Comprehensive Examination (PCSCE) with a minimum score of 75% 

D. Professional Standards

Demonstration of professionalism consistent with institutional expectations, including: 

1. adherence to academic integrity policies 
2. compliance with program requirements 
3. appropriate professional conduct 

VII. Alternative Outcomes

Students who do not meet full promotion criteria may be considered for alternative pathways (e.g., MD Ready), where applicable.

Students with:

• WMPG between 75–79%, and/or 
• Science GPA between 2.75–2.99 

may be recommended for entry to the MDReady pathways, to the Faculty Student Selection Committee (FSSC) of the School of Medicine, at the discretion of the APRC.

Promotion to the 4-Year MD program is not granted unless all criteria in Section VI are satisfied.

VIII. Failure to Meet Promotion Requirements

Students who fail to meet CFP promotion criteria may:

• be permitted to repeat the CFP once; or 
• be recommended for dismissal 

A direct entry CFP student may repeat the CFP only once. Students with a prior unsuccessful attempt in a related preparatory pathway (e.g., MD Start, MDReady) are not eligible for repeat enrollment in CFP.

Eligible students repeating the CFP must meet all promotion requirements upon completion of the repeat attempt. There is no waiver of the PCSCE requirement for students repeating the CFP.

IX. Comprehensive Examination (PCSCE)

The PCSCE is a required component of the CFP and serves as a standardized assessment of readiness for entry into the MD program.

Students must achieve a minimum score of 75%. Students may attempt the PCSCE a maximum of two times. Failure to achieve a passing score within the permitted attempts will result in a recommendation for dismissal.

X. Professional and Behavioral Standards

Students must meet all institutional expectations for professionalism, conduct, and academic integrity.

Failure to meet these standards may result in:

• denial of promotion; 
• dismissal from the program; or 
• other actions as determined by the APRC. 

XI. Governance and Decision-Making

The APRC is responsible for:

• reviewing student performance; 
• determining promotion eligibility; and 
• recommending outcomes. 

Promotion decisions are final.

XII. Relationship to Other Policies

The CFP is governed by:

• Pre-Clinical Program Assessment Policy (0426002) 
• Grading Policy (0426003) 
• Institutional Academic Integrity and Conduct policies 

The Charter Foundation Pathway represents an alternative pathway to promotion into the 4-Year MD program and operates independently of the Pre-Clinical Progression Policy.

The Pre-Clinical Promotion Policy (0426001) does not apply to students enrolled in the CFP.

XIII. Maximum Attempt and Timeframe

The CFP must be completed within one academic term. A maximum of two attempts is permitted for students with direct entry to CFP. 

Note: any student enrolled in CFP with a prior unsuccessful onboarding pathway attempt, e.g. MD Ready, MDStart, only has one opportunity at the CFP program.

Failure to successfully complete the program within the permitted attempts will result in dismissal.

XIV. Authority

Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences; reviewed every 3 years.

XV. Version History

0426005