COM Student Progress Committee (SPC)

The Student Progress Committee (SPC) is a committee of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM), made up of COM faculty and, charged with being responsible for review of the totality of COM students’ academic and professional performance.

The SPC reviews the  academic record of any COM student who has failed any required element for graduation: a course/section/rotation/clerkship, a national board examination, a failure to comply with SPC remediation plan (described in following sections), and/or any student who has failed to show adequate academic progress in his/her path of study. The SPC also evaluates individual cases of a student's lapses in professionalism. 

With regard to academic matters, as a part of the comprehensive review, the SPC makes recommendations as to whether or not students should be granted remediation and/or corrective action after a failure or be suspended or dismissed. SPC is also charged with determining whether COM students are meeting expectations for professionalism and ethics under the CHSU Student Conduct and Professionalism Policy, University Code of Conduct and other applicable University and college level policies which set forth expectations for COM student behavior. For professionalism concerns, the SPC may impose corrective action, up to and including suspension or dismissal from the COM.

1. The membership and structure of SPC are set forth in the COM Governing Statute 3c (e.g., COM bylaws), as it may change from time to time, accessible here.
2. COM students, who are being reviewed by the SPC are expected to meet, in-person, with the SPC, Exceptions to this may be granted by the SPC Chair in cases where there are significant barriers to in-person attendance. In these cases students may meet with the SPC via teleconference or videoconference.
3. The Committee will maintain confidentiality of information it receives except as may be required by law.

SPC Process for Review of Academic Progress

The SPC process for academic-related failures and reviews is generally as follows:

After a First Course/Section/Rotation/Clerkship Failure:

• The student is notified of his/her first course/section/clerkship failure of the date and time of their mandatory meeting with the year-specific subcommittee of the SPC.
• The year-specific subcommittee, meets with the student to discuss the student’s failure. The student’s faculty mentor/advisor will be notified of the meeting and may choose to attend.
• The subcommittee members and the student will meet together to formulate and sign a remediation plan for the failed coursework. The remediation plan may include but is not limited to, the following: a study plan, regular meetings with a learning or behavioral health specialist, appointment(s) with a psychologist or other appropriate provider, use of tutors, use of faculty mentors, and professional conduct expectations. The remediation plan will include timelines and expected outcomes/behaviors that the student will be expected to adhere to in agreeing to the remediation plan.
• The student may not appeal the remediation plan implemented by the SPC subcommittee. While there is no appeal of the SPC’s determination that a remediation plan is needed,
  students may request clarification from the SPC Chair and/or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs as to specific elements of the remediation plan.
• Course/section remediation opportunities will take place only during pre-designated / scheduled remediation times within the academic calendar and will be set by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assessment.
• A student who fails to comply with the signed remediation plan will be required to meet with the full SPC and may result in possible suspension or dismissal, as set forth, below.

After any subsequent Course/Section/Clerkship Failure while on Academic Warning (as provided in the Academic Standard and Progress Policy) or any COMLEX Level 1 or COMLEX Level 2 failure, or Failure to Comply with a Remediation Plan: 

• The student will be notified of the date and time of a mandatory meeting with the full SPC for review of their academic progress.
• Prior to any meeting with SPC, the student is strongly encouraged to meet with the CHSU-COM Office of Student Affairs (OSA) to better understand the SPC process and to ask for assistance in preparing for the SPC meeting or any questions they may have about the process. It is the student’s responsibility to timely contact the COM Office of Student Affairs for assistance in advance of the SPC meeting date and time. The meeting with the SPC will not be postponed or cancelled if the student has not met with OSA.
• The student may invite a representative of their choice for support (“Support Person”). The Support Person’s role is to provide emotional support for the student. The Support Person may not advocate for the student or respond to questions for the student or otherwise communicate with the SPC. If the Support Person thinks clarification is needed, then the Support Person can suggest that to the student, who can then ask the SPC.
• Witnesses or other individuals are not permitted to attend the SPC meeting, unless the SPC Chair has determined that it needs to consult with others before it can reach a decision. The SPC Chair may consult others as needed prior to, during, or after the meeting as needed.
• The meeting may be interactive. If the SPC has questions, the student will be given the opportunity at the meeting with SPC to answer questions posed by the SPC. Similarly, the student can ask questions of the SPC and may also submit a written or verbal statement to the SPC in advance of or during the meeting.
• After the SPC meets with the student, the SPC will deliberate in executive session to discuss the case and vote on any recommendations.
• Recommendations of the SPC are made based on a simple majority vote, with the Chair voting in the event of a tie.
• The recommendation may consist of any of the following:
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​course/section/clerkship/ remediation
  • re-attempt COMLEX
  • academic suspension
  • dismissal​​​​​​​

          The above list is not intended to be a progressive/sequential timeline. 

• ​​​​​​​The Chair of the SPC will promptly communicate the recommendation(s) to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assessment, who will review the recommendation(s) and make a decision. The Associate Dean has discretionary authority to do any of the following:
  • to accept and implement the SPC's recommendation;
  • to modify the SPC's recommendation; or
  • to override the SPC decision.

          The Associate Dean will communicate the decision to the student via email/digital letter.   

• The decision from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assessment will be placed in the student record and may be considered for the issuance of official letters of recommendation (including MSPE, dean’s letter, etc.).
• The appeals process for any SPC decision is explained to the student in the decision letter.
• Students who want to appeal the SPC decision, must appeal in writing to the Dean via email to the Dean within five (5) business days after the date the Associate Dean’s decision is issued.
• Grounds for appeal are limited to:
  • any new and compelling information that was not available to the SPC committee at the time of deliberation which would have impacted the outcome of the matter; or
  • a procedural error in the SPC committee process which would have impacted the outcome of the matter. The student’s written appeal must specifically state which grounds are applicable.
• The Dean shall make a final decision on the student’s appeal as soon as possible but in no event more than fifteen (15) business days from the date of the student’s written appeal is received.

SPC Process for Student Professionalism, Conduct, and Ethics Referrals

Under CHSU’s University Policy for Student Conduct & Professionalism, each college is required to develop policies which govern adjudication of professionalism complaints and concerns, providing required due process to students who are referred to the Student Progress Committee for such matters. Policies and procedures regarding Student Professional and Ethic referrals are spelled out in the: Student Conduct and Professionalism Policy.

The SPC has discretionary authority to determine whether students who are referred to SPC for both professionalism and academic concerns will be reviewed in separate or as a combined hearing.