Student Rights and Responsibilities

In accordance with Section 5.4 of the Bylaws of the Board of Regents, and in order to insure the protection of students' rights, the University of Nebraska Medical Center has established general procedures which must be followed if any disciplinary action is proposed against students. Disciplinary procedures may be instituted in instances of academic misconduct including but not limited to unauthorized collaboration or use of external information during examinations, plagiarism, falsifying records or clinical reports or engaging in any conduct which is intended to confer unfair advantage with respect to academic matters. Non-academic misconduct subject to disciplinary procedures includes but is not limited to belligerence towards others, sexual harassment, possession of explosive devices, distribution or sale of controlled substances having potential for abuse, violation of patient confidentiality and conduct on or off the campus that reflects poorly on the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. Students will be informed in writing by the Dean's Office of the specific charges, the supporting evidence, and the proposed disciplinary action. The Office of the Dean will also inform students of their right to appeal. The UNMC "Procedural Rules Relating to Discipline" may be found in the UNMC Student Handbook. The procedures insure that the rights of students have been carefully protected. University of Nebraska Medical Center students on clerkships in the Hospital or in Clinics must conform to all the regulations which apply to medical staff and personnel of that hospital.

July 1996

Student Records

The academic record of a student is confidential. An official transcript of this record is sent only at the request or with the consent of the student or alumnus. The only information that will be released without the student's permission is name, dates of attendance, and degree(s) awarded. The student records kept in the Office of Academic Affairs are the official records of the College. They are available to the student and may be inspected upon request. The official records include the original application for admission with its supporting documents, unless the student has previously waived the right to see them; the narrative report describing the student's performance in the medical curriculum; grade sheets; any entries about him or her in the minutes of the Scholastic Evaluation Committee; and the Dean's letter of recommendation written in support of application for residency.

Family Rights and Privacy Act

The University of Nebraska complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 which was designed to protect the privacy of educational records. Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records in departmental offices and the Dean's Office, and to request the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. The policy concerning student records may be found in the UNMC Student Handbook or in the Office of Student Services.

July 1996

Leave of Absence

Students may, under exceptional circumstances, be granted a Leave of Absence (LOA) from medical school. Any such LOA granted shall be solely within the discretion of UNMC based upon the merits of the request, evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The student who is considering a request for LOA should discuss this request with his or her academic advisor, and with the Associate Dean for Student and Multicultural Affairs. The following guidelines apply to all requests for LOA: The student must request the LOA in writing. The request should describe, in detail, the rationale for requesting LOA, and should be addressed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

A student who is the subject of an involuntary dismissal from medical school, for any reason, including but not limited to, academic performance or disciplinary action, may not be eligible to invoke the procedures contained in this policy.

Requests for LOA from students who are experiencing academic failure or who are not in good academic standing, for example, a student on academic probation, or a student with failing grades on conjoint examinations or clerkships, will be referred to the Scholastic Evaluation Committee. If that committee grants a Leave of Absence, it may require specific actions to be completed by the student as a condition for return to classes at a later date.

The student is responsible for initiating determination of the financial consequences of taking a LOA. For example, financial obligations regarding tuition payment and loan repayment as well as scholarships and grants need to be reviewed with the Business Office.

If granted, a LOA will apply to the remainder of an academic year, and the student will be required to return no later than the beginning of the next academic year unless a shorter time is specified. Extension of LOA for longer than one year will require a request in writing directed to the Scholastic Evaluation Committee. Approval will depend upon the strength of the rationale for the request.

Students who have been granted LOA are responsible for notifying the Academic Affairs Office of their intention to return to classes on the appointed date no later than two months before the start of classes. If not so notified, the student's place in the class will be forfeited. Re-entry into the College of Medicine would require re-application through the usual admissions process of the American Medial College Application Service (AMCAS).

Students who withdraw from the College of Medicine without official LOA will be required to approach the college through the regular admissions/applications process, i.e., through AMCAS.

Upon re-enrollment following a Leave of Absence, the student will be subject to all rules and regulations which pertain to the class he or she is joining. Those rules and regulations may differ from those applying to the class into which the student initially matriculated.

Approved by Scholastic Evaluation Committee - 12/5/95

page last modified Wednesday July 07, 2004