PURPOSE / SCOPE:
The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine recognizes that students may have to be absent from
certain required educational events due to illness, emergencies, and other significant circumstances.
To ensure a fair and consistent procedure in considering individual student situations, the following
policy for absences from required educational events for OMS I and II students is as follows:
POLICY:
- Students' absences must be kept to the absolute minimum number possible, as medical
education requires active and involved participation. Frequent absences, even if excused and
legitimate, may require a meeting with the Dean of Student Services or their designee.
Frequent absences may also result in referral to the Professionalism and Academic Review
(PAR) Committee or to the Dean of the COM. - Excused student absences are generally approved for the following reasons, with reasonable
limitations on the number of days:
1. Serious illness, including illness accompanied by current fever
2. Significant last minute emergency
3. Death in the immediate family
4. Birth or adoption of own or partner baby, with limits on number of days; normally
approved well in advance
5. Attendance to a conference due to a oral or poster presentation; normally approved
well in advance
6. Attendance to a conference due to a requirement as a part of a leadership position,
such as COSGP or SOMA; normally approved well in advance
7. Formal and critical research experience, especially when local research partners such
as Boise State, St. Lukes, or St. Alphonsus are expecting the student to be present for
the research event; normally approved well in advance - Excused student absences are generally not approved for the following reasons:
1. Minor illness, minor allergies, or mild chronic conditions that are responding to
treatment. In cases of minor illness, students should typically continue to come to
educational events, with appropriate precautions such as a facemask.
2. Social events, such as weddings, concerts, family reunions, vacations, graduations, or
sporting events
3. Mild anxiety, emotional, or mental distress
4. Optional conference attendance in which no presentation is being made
5. Optional conference attendance that is not required due to a leadership position
6. Research experience that can be rescheduled, is optional, or does not involve outside
partners - Evidence or proof of the need for an excused absence is generally required, such as a note
from a licensed physician, obituary notice, screen capture of conference registration and
presentation, police report, research summary, or other documentation. - If a student is absent from a required event that has not been approved, the student will
receive a grade of zero for that event. - There is a limit on the number of excused or unexcused absences a student can accrue in a semester before a leave of absence with intent to return will be discussed with the Dean of Student Services or their designee. Typically, three absences in one class from an essential lab session, competency, or skills assessments will require this discussion. For example, missing three OPP sessions in one semester or missing three CMED sessions in one semester may necessitate the student to take a leave of absence with an intent to return. This is because medical education requires active and involved participation and repeated absences from educational events, regardless of legitimacy, will result in decreased competency in critical areas of medical training.
POLICY OWNER:
Associate/Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs
CROSS REFERENCE AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
APPROVAL:
Effective: 3/12/24
Last Reviewed: 3/12/24
Review Requirement: