PSP Attendance Policy

Attendance Expectations and Absence Reporting Requirements Policy

Attendance Expectations

All sessions for the Pathway Scholars Program are mandatory.

It is the policy of the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix and Pathway Scholars Program to hold professionalism as a major tenant, and students, as future professionals, should conduct themselves accordingly. This includes arriving to educational activities on-time, avoiding disruptions to any educational environment and using laptops and other electronic devices only for course work during the educational activity. Absences and tardiness negatively impact others. Therefore attendance, including tardiness, is part of the behavioral assessment of professionalism and poor performance may result in decreased grades, and in severe or chronic cases lead to a formal review by the Pathway Advisory Committee.

Students pursuing the Master of Medical Studies degree have indicated they wish to enter the medical profession. A profession in which full participation in the learning environment is an essential component. Throughout students’ Master of Medical Studies education, they are expected to exhibit professional responsibility by actively contributing to their own learning, to the collective educational community at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, and ultimately to the care of their patients. Therefore, the participation is mandatory for all course learning experiences unless a student's individual learning plan indicates otherwise. As such attendance will be tracked and will be used as part of the grading process.

Mandatory Check-in Sessions

*Course syllabi will clearly identify all sessions requiring mandatory check-in or sign-in. Failure to attend a mandatory check-in session will result in an automatic unexcused absence unless approved by the course*[MR-(1]  director.

Students will indicate their presence at sessions either electronically or by signing an attendance sheet. In the case that a student attended the mandatory check-in session but did not sign in, the block director or their designee will remind the student to make sure that they do this in the future. A student who fails to sign in a second time will receive a Level 1 formative assessment and will need to complete a makeup assignment. A student who fails to sign in a third time will receive a Level 1 summative assessment and will need to complete a makeup assignment.

Procedure to report an emergency absence

The student or his/her representative is expected to contact the Course* Director or the Pathway Scholars Sr. Program Manager or the Sr. Program Manager’s designee, by telephone or email to notify them of the unexpected absence. It will be the responsibility of the Sr. Program Manager or designee to pass this information to the appropriate course* Director. The online form must be completed as soon as possible to formally document the absence.

 

 

Procedure to request an excused absence

The student may request an absence using the online form 30 days in advance of the anticipated absence. Students are encouraged to follow up completion of the form with direct communication with the Course* Director. The student will provide the requested dates of the absence AND the reason for the absence including the student’s suggestions on how to remediate the material missed. An excused absence may be granted for one of the following reasons:

• Presentation at a Professional Conference or participation in a leadership activity (e.g. AMSA committee member) or official representation of The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix or Pathway Scholars Program. The number of days excused will be decided by the Course* Director in consideration of the student’s role and duties at the conference AND by considering the requirements and experiences of the course* that would be missed. When completing the online form, the student must outline the details of their role as a presenter or leader. Exceptions to presentation or leadership activities may be considered by the Course* Director in consultation with the Sr. Program Manager of the Pathway Scholars Program.
• Religious Observance
• Extenuating personal circumstances may include significant family or personal events that acutely disrupt the student’s ability to attend to course* responsibilities. However, extended periods of absence may result in a student’s inability to successfully complete the course* as remediation of such absences, as outlined below, may not be possible. Such circumstances should be discussed with the Sr. Program Manager of the Pathway Scholars Program.

Additional considerations regarding requests for excused absences

• In the event the student is granted an excused absence, the Course* Director will establish guidelines for implementation of make up plans, where available, that are specific for the unique requirements of the course. The implementation guidelines will apply for all students in that course*.
• In the case where (1) the absence is requested 30 days in advance and (2) the Course* Director is unable to arrange an alternate make up plan because of a student’s prolonged absence or the Course* Director’s inability to recreate the needed material, the Course* Director may deny approval for the requested absence.
• Absences for social engagements, fund-raising events and non-approved conferences will not be approved as excused absences.
• In the case where (1) an absence is due to illness or unanticipated events (i.e. 30 days advance notice is impossible) the Course* Director will determine if the requirements and experiences can be made up. If the Course* Director is unable to arrange a makeup plan because of a student’s absence (based on duration of absence, inability to recreate the needed material etc.) the Course* Director, in consultation with the Pathway Scholars Program Sr. Program Manager, may refer to the Advisory Committee for review.
• See the Principles of Communication in Medicine syllabus and addenda for variation in procedure

Unexcused Absences

Unexcused absences will impact student professionalism competency rating. Students are responsible for all material missed because of the absence with the understanding that some material cannot be reproduced by the Course* Director.

There will be financial ramifications for unexcused absences in the Principles of Communication in Medicine (Doctoring) course.

*Any component of the curriculum where a grade is earned.

Leave of Absence

POLICY STATEMENT

Due to the unique nature of the Pathway Scholars Program, extended Leave of Absences will indicate withdrawal. The Leave of Absence Policy can be found at http://grad.arizona.edu/academics/policies/enrollment-policies/leave-of-absence.