The Clinical FPAP reviews professional behavior issues involving students enrolled in the Clinical Studies phase of the MD curriculum, including missed examinations, examination compliance issues, cheating, plagiarism, and other behavior contrary to the outcome objectives and expectations described in the Student Manual, Clinical Training Manual, and clerkship syllabi.
When appropriate, clerkship and examination noncompliance issues in the Clinical Studies phase may be referred to a Clinical FPAP hearing through the Office of the Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Studies.
An associate dean or assistant dean of clinical studies chairs the Clinical FPAP hearing. The panel includes at least 2 additional SOM faculty members appointed by the senior associate dean of clinical studies. All panel members, including the chair, are MD faculty of the SOM who have experience with the standards for promotion and progression outlined in the Student Manual and do not participate in student advising.
A quorum for the panel consists of the chair and at least 2 additional panel members. Decisions are reached by simple majority. In the event of a tie, the chair casts the deciding vote.
The panel may recommend referral of the student to an appropriate support service, application of an academic penalty, or completion of a specified or customized remediation pathway for infractions involving lapses in professional behavior. The panel may also recommend that a course or clerkship grade be held as incomplete (I) until the student demonstrates the required remediation outcomes.
The panel's recommendation is submitted to the senior associate dean of clinical studies for action and communicated to the student by the Office of the Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Studies.
Appeal Process
A student may appeal the outcome of the Clinical FPAP process. The appeal must be submitted in writing and clearly describe the sequence of events and circumstances relevant to the matter considered by the panel.
Appeals must be submitted to the Office of the Senior Associate Dean at Ask-ClinStudies@sgu.edu within 5 business days of the date the outcome is communicated to the student.
The senior associate dean of clinical studies reviews the appeal, and the Office of the Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Studies communicates the decision to the student.