The Associate Dean for Students currently may approve a voluntary or involuntary leave of absence for medical students in cases of severe, extenuating, extracurricular circumstances (medical reasons, financial reasons, family reasons, etc.). In cases where these circumstances exist, the Associate Dean for Students may approve a withdrawal from a course, from courses or totally from school for the medical student.
At the time of withdrawal, the academic standing of the student in each of their withdrawn courses will be WP or WF depending upon the current academic standing of the students in each withdrawn course.
All students who withdraw from school/courses/course will be presented to the Promotion Committee at the next scheduled meeting. To maintain student confidentiality, the Associate Dean for Students will meet with the chair of the appropriate academic (pre-clinical or clinical) subcommittee prior to their meeting to discuss those students who withdrew from a course or courses. The Promotion Committee will determine the academic requirements needed for the students to continue their academic progress (remedial coursework, full recycle, dismissal, etc.).
All decisions by the Promotion Committee constitute an action which is final, subject to appeal.
The appeal process for all students is similar for all appeals of the Promotion Committee actions.
All students who withdraw with a grade of WF will remain on academic probation until successful completion of all coursework in years I and 2, and successful completion of USMLE Step I.
Approved on 3/15/97 by Harold J. Fallon, MD MACP, Dean, University of Alabama School of Medicine
See also: Institutional Refund Policy and Federal Return of Title IV Funds Policy