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Academic Information

Accreditation

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the accrediting body for the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.

General Rules

• The University of Maryland School of Medicine authorities reserve the right to make changes in requirements for admission, curriculum, standards for advancement and graduation, fees and rules and regulations.
• Matriculants are required to accept the provisions of the Judicial Board, as well as the school's Essential Requirements for Admission, Academic Advancement, and Graduation and agree to assume their obligations prior to registration.
• Students who report for classes later than one week after the scheduled time will be permitted to begin work only by permission of the dean. Attendance at all scheduled classes is expected.
• Notice of change of address should be submitted promptly to the Office of Student Affairs and to the Office of the Registrar.
• All new students, whether they are admitted to the first-year class or with advanced standing, are expected to attend an orientation for new students.

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Grades and Promotion

Final grades for courses in all four years are recorded as follows unless otherwise specified by course director:

A	Excellent
B	Very Good
C	Satisfactory
D	Unsatisfactory-"D" grades are remediable only by examination or other appropriate remediation with a maximum grade of "C" possible on the portion of the course remediated. The final grade will be determined by the course director.
F	Fail-Requires repeat of the course or an approved equivalent.
Inc	Incomplete-This designation is used only when mitigating circumstances exist; e.g., illness or unavoidable absence has prevented the student from completing the course on time. It is to be viewed as a non-prejudicial entry on the student's record; the grade "Inc" remains on the official student transcript.

An award of "Honors" is given to a student who receives a final grade of "A" and performs at a clearly outstanding level and/or who performs an additional scholarly effort. Specific criteria for honors are determined by the course director or course committee.

Other grading policies by specific courses, such as Pass/Fail grading, are announced to the class at the beginning of the course.

In addition to the final objective grade and the "Honors" category, the student's overall performance is evaluated subjectively. The new curriculum, with added small group activities and problem-based learning groups, allows for such assessment in the basic science years. Clinical years' activities are in small groups with close mentoring. A passing grade in any course may be contingent upon a certain level of attendance and participation above and beyond examination performance. Appropriate evaluation forms are designed for this purpose.

Established rules for advancement and dismissal during all four years have been approved by the faculty and student body representatives of the School of Medicine. All regulations related to grading, advancement and dismissal are included in the Academic Handbook given to all entering students at orientation.

The faculty reserves the right to determine whether a student may withdraw, repeat, advance or graduate on academic or moral and personal grounds, including traits of character.

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