This addendum is to establish an alter academic pathway for OMS-III and OMS-IV students who require structured academic support to become eligible for COMLEX Level 1 or COMLEX Level 2, or to prepare for a retake after an unsuccessful attempt. This addendum supports continued academic engagement while maintaining alignment with the COM Academic Standing and Progress Policy, including Academic Monitoring, Academic Warning, Academic Probation, Student At Risk Committee review, and Student Progress Committee review.
It is the policy of CHSU-COM that eligible OMS-III and OMS-IV students may be placed on an approved Alternate Academic Support Enrollment Pathway when additional structured academic support is necessary for board readiness, board retesting, or continued academic progression. This alternate pathway addendum does not replace or supersede the COM Academic Standing and Progress Policy. Students approved under this addendum remain subject to all applicable academic standing, remediation, professionalism, monitoring, and SPC review requirements.
This addendum applies to OMS-III and OMS-IV students enrolled in the CHSU-COM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program who have experienced academic difficulty related to COMLEX readiness or performance and who may benefit from enrollment in a defined academic support course under an Approved Academic Support Enrollment Pathway.
Approved Academic Support Enrollment Pathway (AASEP)
Eligible students may be enrolled in institutionally approved academic support courses, including Clinical Sciences Integration-II, Comprehensive Clinical Medicine-II, Enhanced Studies, or other approved curricular support. Enrollment is intended to provide structured academic engagement, faculty oversight, individualized board preparation, and documentation of continued participation in the curriculum.
Student enrollment in pathway must be approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Assessment and documented in an AASEP that identifies the student’s academic status, required course enrollment, board preparation milestones, timeline, monitoring expectations, and conditions for completion. Enrollment in AASEP is not course auditing; students must be formally enrolled, participate as required, and complete assigned academic activities.
Title IV and Satisfactory Academic Progress Alignment
For Title IV purposes, students must remain enrolled in an eligible program and continue to meet applicable institutional and federal Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. This Approved Academic Support Enrollment Pathway supports continued participation in the existing Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program and does not create a separate program, non-degree status, or audit status.
Financial aid eligibility during the AASEP period will be determined by the Office of Financial Aid based on Title IV regulations, CHSU policies, enrollment status, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status, cost of attendance, and other applicable requirements. Academic standing designations remain separate from Title IV SAP determinations unless specified by institutional SAP policy. Students not meeting SAP may be required to complete the applicable appeal, financial aid warning, probation, or academic plan process before aid may continue.
Eligibility Criteria
A student in their OMS-III or OMS-IV year may be considered eligible for the AASEP when the student has not met institutional requirements to sit for COMLEX Level 1 or Level 2, has failed COMLEX Level 1 or Level 2 and requires additional preparation, or has been identified through Academic Monitoring, StARC, SPC, or academic leadership review as needing structured academic support. Approval is individualized and based on academic record, board readiness data, remediation history, professional conduct, and likelihood of successful progression. Students who have not achieved the qualifying score as outlined in the syllabus are not eligible for the AASEP.
Students must comply with all terms of the Pathway plan. Failure to meet plan expectations, participate in required support activities, pass required academic work or board examinations, or maintain professional standards may result in referral to the Student Progress Committee and further academic action, including suspension or dismissal, consistent with COM policies.
Required Elements of the AASEP
- Eligibility for AASEP based on current academic standing and academic concern.
- Required academic support course enrollment.
- Board preparation milestones, formative assessments, advising expectations, or other measurable requirements.
- Timeline for completion and anticipated return to the standard sequence, clerkship schedule, or board eligibility pathway.
- Monitoring by the Office of Academic Affairs and designated support personnel.
- Coordination with Financial Aid regarding enrollment status, SAP implications, and Title IV eligibility.