Academic Policy Manual Part I (1st and 2nd Years)
Attendance Policy

It is expected that students will attend all lectures, laboratories, and conferences during the first and second years. Attendance is mandatory for the second year Physical Diagnosis course and for clinical courses (clerkships, electives and selectives) during the third and fourth years. Throughout all years of enrollment, any absence of more than three consecutive working days requires prompt notification to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs by the student. This notification constitutes a request for an "excused absence" due to illness or other legitimate extenuating reason. Examinations or other required academic activities which are missed may be made up only if the Associate Dean for Student Affairs has received in advance a formal request and granted permission for the absence. Illness requires written documentation from the Student Health Service and/or the physician who is treating the student. A form for this purpose is available in the Office of Registration and Records or from the Student Health Office on campus.

Leaves of Absence

A student admitted to the Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University Chicago is expected to graduate in four academic years. The four academic periods will be consecutive except in the following circumstances: a student is granted an approved leave of absence due to documented health problems or personal tragedy or to pursue approved educational and research experiences outside of the standard four consecutive year medical school curriculum. All requests for a leave of absence must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and normally must be approved in advance of the proposed starting date. Normally, a student must be in good academic standing with no outstanding F or U grades on his/her transcript and have satisfied all pertinent graduation requirements before the request for a leave of absence will be granted. Requests for leaves of absence for other purposes will be considered by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs on a case-by-case basis. Leaves of absence will normally be one calendar year in length unless noted otherwise below.

The Academic Policy Manual and graduation requirements in effect for the reinstated student's new class will apply to the student for the balance of his/her academic training at Stritch.

1. Health Related - Requests for leave of absence for reasons of physical or mental illness must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs together with a letter from a physician which:
    
   • stipulates the existence of a medical condition of such nature that a leave of absence is recommended, and
   • specifies that an appropriate course of therapy will be instituted, identifies the supervising physician and indicates that, if requested by the school, a progress report authorized by the student will be submitted prior to reinstatement.
2. Depending on the circumstances, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs may require additional supporting documentation.

Upon written request, leaves of absence for health related reasons may be approved for periods up to a maximum of one year. Medical Council reserves the right to extend a leave of absence in unusual circumstances upon written request of the student.

The student must submit in writing a formal petition to resume medical training at least four months in advance of the anticipated date of resumption of training. In all cases of approved leave of absence for health related reasons, the student will not be permitted to return to classes unless the physician also has certified in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs that the student is capable of resuming a full course load in the Medical School.

1. Special Academic Programs - Written requests for a leave of absence for periods up to one year may be approved for the following activities:
    
   1. study for an advanced degree in scientific areas related to medicine (e.g. the Dual Degree Program)
   2. research activities related to medicine, but not necessarily directed toward an advanced degree
   3. a course of study in specialized areas not available at the Stritch School of Medicine, and not necessarily directed toward an advanced degree.

Approval will be given only if the value of the proposed program is considered unique and sufficient to outweigh the disadvantages of interruption of the regular medical curriculum. Decisions for this kind of leave will be made by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs upon receipt of a written proposal submitted by the student. The decision in these cases will also be influenced by logistical constraints associated with translocation of students from one class to the succeeding one.

Students who have been accepted into the M.D./M.S. or M.D./Ph.D. Dual Degree Programs who are not simultaneously enrolled in the Stritch School of Medicine courses, clerkships, or electives may request in writing successive one-year leaves of absence. Upon the recommendation of the Dual Degree Advisory Committee, successive one-year leaves of absences will be granted by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in order that the student may complete required Graduate School courses and requirements.

The Dual Degree Program Advisory Committee will notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs if a student is not progressing satisfactorily toward completion of the graduate degree. In this case, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs will determine whether the leave of absence granted by the Stritch School of Medicine should by continued or revoked. If the leave is revoked, the student will be expected to either resume medical training toward the M.D. degree or voluntarily withdraw from the Stritch School of Medicine.

1. Other Absences - Prolonged absences in excess of normal discretionary time and regularly scheduled holidays and vacations for reasons other than those stated in Sections A and B above will normally not be approved. Specifically, requests to pursue a non-medically related program or unstructured activity, to work, to prepare for the first time taking of USMLE exams, self-study, time to consider alternative career options, travel for residency interviews or other activities not related to the completion of the requirements for the M.D. degree will not be approved. Written requests for leaves of absence for reasons not covered in this Academic Policy Manual will be considered on a case by case basis by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and will be reviewed by the Committee on Promotions.