Maximum Length of Completion

PURPOSE / SCOPE: 

Provide guidelines for the maximum length of completion.

DEFINITIONS:

COMLEX-USA – Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam, Level 1, Level 2 – Cognitive Evaluation

PAR Committee - Professionalism and Academic Review Committee

POLICY:

The degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine will be granted to and conferred upon candidates who: 

• Have demonstrated good moral, professional, and ethical character. 
• Have satisfied all academic requirements for graduation as attested to by the PAR Committee, as recommended by vote of the faculty, and approved by ICOM’s Board of Trustees 
• Have passed the COMLEX-USA Level 1, COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE, and received the Dean’s attestation of their clinical skills. 
• Completed all required exit paperwork and settled all financial obligations with ICOM and affiliate and collaborative partners incurred during and as a result of the academic program. 

To become eligible for graduation, each student doctor in a four-year single degree DO program must have successfully completed all the above requirements within 150% of the standard time (six years following matriculation). The six years allow for the student doctor to have been in a delayed program due to medical, academic, and/or personal leaves of absence, termed Withdrawal with intent to return. 

The chair of the PAR Committee in conjunction with the Office of the Registrar, will track student progress toward graduation, and counsel student doctors who exceed five years of ICOM enrollment.

The Dean and Chief Academic Officer may permit exceptions to the six-year rule for students participating in a dual degree programs (i.e., DO/PhD students). Additionally, ICOM may allow additional time toward a degree for members of the United States military called to active duty during their term of enrollment as required by the United Stated Department of Veterans Affairs for administration of GI Bill®, Post-9/11 GI Bill® and other related benefits. If exceptions to the six-year rule are made for any single degree DO student, ICOM will provide a list of these students to the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) with a detailed explanation as to the reason for allowing the student(s) to graduate past the six-year (150%) time frame.

POLICY OWNER: 

Associate Dean for Student Services