{"id":2553,"date":"2015-06-11T15:53:08","date_gmt":"2015-06-11T19:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/?page_id=2553"},"modified":"2026-06-17T16:53:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T20:53:56","slug":"evaluation-grading-and-promotion-of-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/offices-services\/office-of-the-dean\/evaluation-grading-and-promotion-of-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Evaluation, Grading and Promotion of Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Policies and Procedures for Evaluation,Grading and Promotion of Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine MD Students Policies<\/a>– Revised 2\/25\/2026<\/p>\n

See Also:<\/em><\/strong> eDAAP-Policy-on-Incomplete-Coursework-3-4-16<\/a><\/p>\n

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is committed to high academic and professional standards for its curriculum, faculty, and students. These policies and procedures are designed to guide students in achieving their educational goals.<\/p>\n

1. Curricular Pathways<\/h4>
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1.1 Standard Curriculum<\/strong>
\nThe Standard Curriculum leads to the completion of the MD degree in four (4) consecutive years following matriculation into the school. Any changes to the standard curriculum must be approved by the Student Evaluations and Promotions Committee (SEPC).<\/p>\n

1.2 Research Year<\/strong>
\nStudents may request a Research Year at Boston University between the M2 and M3, or M3 and M4 years, which will result in a 5th curricular year. The students must meet the curricular research year requirements to participate in the research year. A Research Year is an optional curricular pathway and does not fulfill any M3 or M4 degree requirements.<\/p>\n

1.3 Modified Curriculum<\/strong>
\nA modified curriculum is when a student is approved by the SEPC to complete the 3rd or 4th year in up to 4 semesters.<\/p>\n

A 3rd or 4th year student for a Modified Curriculum for research, internships, clinical experiences, additional educational opportunities, academic, or personal reasons. In the Modified Curriculum, the curricular year is modified and must be completed in no more than 4 semesters. Students may be required to enter a modified or decelerated curriculum by the SEPC.<\/p>\n

Students in the 1st and 2nd year curriculum do not have the option to enter a modified curriculum due to the integrated curriculum design. A student who experiences academic, personal or family difficulties in the 1st and 2nd curricular years may petition the SEPC for a leave of absence.<\/p>\n

1.4 Decelerated Curriculum<\/strong>
\nA student who experiences academic difficulties in the 3rd or 4th curricular years may be required by the SEPC to enter a Decelerated Curriculum. The remaining courses of that curricular year will be spread out over an extended period as determined by the SEPC. A Decelerated Curriculum may continue for up to one additional curricular year. Performance of a student admitted to the Decelerated Curriculum may be re-viewed by the SEPC at any of its meetings. The student may be placed on academic probation by SEPC. All subsequent failures for a student in the Decelerated Curriculum will result in review by the SEPC and may result in dismissal from the school (see section 5).<\/p>\n

1.5 Repeat Year<\/strong>
\nA student who receives a final grade of F in a course in the first three years of the curriculum, will be re-quired to repeat the coursework in the next year and may be placed on probation by the SEPC. Students with absences in excess of 14 days within a course may be required by the SEPC to repeat the course. A 4th year medical student may be able to repeat a failed course in the same academic year. Students should refer to individual course grading policies for more details on the remediation process.<\/p>\n

A student who is required to repeat a course in the 1st and 2nd year is required to return to the curriculum and will be enrolled in a repeat year. Students in a repeat year must retake any course that they have failed. Any course with an incomplete grade must be retaken in its entirety. A course that has a pass grade may be audited by the student or at the requirement of SEPC but a new grade will not be issued. No student will be allowed to repeat any course more than once.<\/p>\n

1.6 Degree Completion Time Requirements<\/strong>
\nStudents must complete the MD program (or MD component, if enrolled in a dual degree program) in no more than six years. All exceptions to curricular length must be approved by SEPC.<\/p>\n

Dual Degree programs<\/em>
\nFor students enrolled in the MD\/PhD program, the PhD portion must be completed within no more than 5 years. Other dual degrees(MD\/MPH, MD\/MBA, MD\/JD, MD\/MS etc.), the additional degree must be completed within the time frame specified by the program.<\/p>\n

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2. The Academic Record and Official Transcript<\/h4>
<\/p>\n

The Academic Record reflects the academic history of the student at Boston University maintained by the Office of the Registrar.<\/p>\n

In addition to serving as a record of courses taken and grades, the student\u2019s Official Transcript documents the student\u2019s participation in the Modified\/Decelerated curriculum, interruptions in the student\u2019s progress through the curriculum, and administrative actions such as Suspension or Dismissal.<\/p>\n

All students graduating from the school are provided with a Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)<\/strong>. The MSPE is an official document that provides a comprehensive summary of a medical student’s academic performance, professional behavior, and personal qualities during their time in medical school, and includes Probation status. The MSPE is part of the residency application for all specialties and is part of the permanent record.<\/p>\n

2.1 Student Evaluation and Assessment<\/strong>
\nStudents are evaluated based on the objectives set for each course and according to the competencies and program objectives defined by the Medical Education Committee. Student evaluation and grading criteria are defined in the course information guidelines\/syllabus for all courses and are provided to students at the start of every course.<\/p>\n

2.2 Grades and Definition of Grades<\/strong>
\nOnce a student initiates a course or clerkship, a grade will be recorded. The grading system is used to de-fine levels of competence and must be expressed as one of the grades listed below. Medical students must earn Pass or higher for all courses to be eligible for promotion and graduation. Grades are informed by multiple factors. Grades cannot be changed once they are on the official transcript except through the grade appeals process.<\/p>\n

Grading Policies of the academic year in which the student is taking the course will apply even if changes to grading policies are made in subsequent and future years.<\/p>\n

First and second year courses<\/strong><\/p>\n