Health Sciences Calendar
2005 - 2006

2.4.3 Evaluation

The evaluation system is under constant review by the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry. The Faculties reserve the right to change rules and regulations at any time, although in general such changes will not come into effect in the middle of an academic year/promotion period.

The four year dental curriculum is broken down into the following five promotion periods:

BASIS OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY - CYCLE I

Promotion Period I

Units 1 to 6
Unit 9: Introduction to the Patient

Promotion Period II

Units 7 and 8
Unit 9: Introduction to the Practice of Dentistry

PRECLINICAL STUDIES - CYCLE II

Promotion Period III

Unit 10 Oral Health
Unit 11 Oral Disease
Unit 12 Management of Oral Disease
Unit 13 Dental Public Health

CLINICAL STUDIES - CYCLE III

Promotion Period IV

Clinical Studies in third year

Promotion Period V

Clinical Studies in fourth year

2.4.3.1 Student Promotion

All issues related to student promotion and graduation are the responsibility of the Student Promotions Committees.

In the first 16 months of the program (Promotion Periods I and II), students' conduct and promotion is governed by the rules and regulations of the Faculty of Medicine as outlined in their "Student information Manual".

The Faculty of Dentistry Student Promotions Committee reviews students progress for Promotion Periods III, IV and V. Decisions taken by the Student Promotions Committee may be reviewed at any time upon receipt of substantive, new information.

The following rules and regulations apply to Promotion Periods III, IV and V.

In order to qualify for advancement, a student must attain a grade of C+ or higher in each unit or course and a GPA of 2.9 or higher.

PROMOTION PERIOD III - CYCLE II - PRECLINICAL STUDIES

Evaluation will be reflective of the objectives of the individual units. The evaluation system for each unit will be outlined in detail at the start of the unit. A student must complete both the didactic and practical/clinical components in each unit. In the units where the examinations have been divided into sections, the student must pass each section to complete the unit. A student who receives an overall passing grade but fails one or more sections will be asked to take a remedial program in the sections involved.

A student must complete all units successfully to be promoted to Promotion Period IV.

PROMOTION PERIOD IV - CYCLE III - THIRD YEAR

Evaluation will be reflective of the objectives of the individual courses. The evaluation system for each course will be outlined in detail at the start of the course. A student must complete all courses successfully to be promoted to Promotion Period V.

A student receiving a failing evaluation for the course Clinical Practice DENT 310 may be placed on "Probationary Status" during Promotion Period IV. Probationary status implies that a student requires specific attention in order to address areas of weakness. The Promotions Committee automatically reviews the progress of a student placed on probation, and will determine the subsequent course of action. Options include returning to the normal curriculum, repeat of the promotion period, or required withdrawal..

PROMOTION PERIOD V - CYCLE III - FOURTH YEAR

Evaluation will be reflective of the objectives of the individual courses. The evaluation system for each course will be outlined in detail at the start of the course. A student must receive a passing grade in all courses successfully to graduate.

A student receiving a failing evaluation for the course Clinical Practice DENT 410 may be placed on "Probationary Status" during Promotion Period V. Probationary status implies that a student requires specific attention in order to address areas of weakness. The Student Promotions Committee automatically reviews the progress of a student placed on probation and will determine the subsequent course of action. Options include continued probation, repeat of the promotion period, or required withdrawal.

2.4.3.2 Deferred Exams, Supplemental Exams and
Failures

Examinations which are deferred due to documented medical problems, or other exceptional circumstances, will be taken at the earliest possible time, and at the convenience of the course director. Since August is the time set aside for supplemental examinations, students writing deferred examinations at this time forfeit the right to write a supplemental examination.

Students who pass all courses but do not obtain a GPA of at least 2.9 will be permitted to take supplemental examinations in two courses chosen in consultation with the Dean in an attempt to raise their average. If the students do not raise their GPA to at least 2.9, they will be required to repeat the year.

Students who, by the end of the regular academic year, have failed in not more that two courses will be permitted to write supplemental examinations in the course(s) failed, with the exception of the Clinical Practice courses. Students who are unsuccessful in a supplemental examination, or their GPA for all courses remains below 2.9, they will be required to repeat the year. Students who fail in a course comprising laboratory or clinical components may be required to fulfil prescribed additional laboratory or clinical work before presenting themselves for supplemental examinations. A fee may be attached to these requirements. These requirements will not be considered as a substitute for the supplemental examination itself.

Supplemental examinations will be held during the month of August. Applications for supplemental examinations must be made to the Administrative Assistant (Student Affairs) at least 10 days before the date set for supplemental examinations and must be accompanied by a fee of $35 for each examination. This fee must be paid before a student is permitted to write the supplemental examination. Students who were unsuccessful in a course comprising a theoretical and practical/clinical component will have the option of attempting supplemental examinations in both components. Students will not be permitted to choose a third course in order to raise their GPA to 2.9 or higher.

A student who is repeating a year must attain, during the regular academic year, passing final grades of C+ or higher in each course/section and a GPA of 2.9 or higher. If this standard is not achieved the student will be required to withdraw from the Faculty without recourse to further supplemental examinations. A student who has repeated one year in the Faculty is ineligible to repeat another year.

A student who has failed in three or more courses by the end of the regular academic year will be required to withdraw from the Faculty.

Notwithstanding any of the above, the Faculty reserves the right to require the withdrawal of a student at any time if the student has displayed unprofessional conduct or demonstrates incompetence.

Though not exhaustive, such matters as failure to show respect for patients, failure to maintain good personal hygiene, failure to assume responsibility for actions taken, failure to adhere to the Codes of Ethics of the Canadian Dental Association or of l'Ordre des Dentistes du Québec as they apply to students, patient abuse, or rendering any act on a patient which is considered harmful and which jeopardizes the patient's welfare may be taken into consideration. The procedures to be followed in such instances are found in the bylaws of the hospitals through which students rotate.

2.4.3.3 Reread policy

Consultation

In accordance with the Charter of Student Rights, and subject to the conditions stated therein, "every student has the right to consult any written submission for which he or she has received a mark and a right to discuss this submission with the examiner". Students have seven calendar days after receiving their mark to ask for a consultation. Requests for consultations should be addressed directly to the examiner. The examiner has the option of meeting with the student to answer any questions that the student may have about the grading of the paper, or may supply the student with the correct answers to the examination questions in writing. The student may review these in the presence of the Faculty member or designate, but may not take any document away.

Verification

In a case where a student feels that an error has been made in arriving at the final grade, the student can request that the examiner verify that all questions have been marked and that the final grade has been computed correctly.

Reread

In accordance with the Charter of Student Rights, students have the right, subject to reasonable administrative arrangements, "to an impartial and competent review of any mark". The request for a reread must be received within seven calendar days after the consultation. A $35 fee for reread will be charged to the student's McGill account. This will be reimbursed if there is a change upwards in the letter grade for the course.

The request for a formal reread must be made by the student, in writing, to the Faculty of Dentistry, Office of the Administrative Assistant (Student Affairs), and include reasons to justify the request. It must include a statement that the student has already met with the examiner to review the mark or indicating why this has not been possible. In the case of requests for rereads of group work, all members of the group must sign the request, indicating that they agree to the reread. Rereads for computer-scored examinations are not possible, but students may ask for a verification. There are no re-evaluations of oral examinations and laboratory examinations.

A list of possible re-readers will be obtained by the Office of the Administrative Assistant (Student Affairs) by contacting the Director of the Division involved in the reread. The Associate Dean (Academic Affairs) selects the second reader. The Office of the Administrative Assistant (Student Affairs) conducts all communication with second reader. The second reader is given the original documents, with marginalia, summary comments, and mark intact, as well as pertinent notes from the first examiner describing issues such as the general nature of the course or the assignment and grading schemes. The student's and the instructor's name are blanked out to reduce the possibility of prejudice, and to help meet the requirements of the Charter of Student Rights. The re-reader's name will not be made known to the student or examiner at any time. The second reader will provide an assessment of the work, in writing, to the Faculty of Dentistry. This assessment will also be transmitted to the first examiner.

As a result of the reread process, the grade may become higher, lower or remain unchanged. The grade submitted by the second reader replaces the original grade and cannot be challenged. The new grade will be communicated to the student in a letter from the Office of the Administrative Assistant (Student Affairs) with a copy to the first examiner.

2.4.3.4 Appeals

Appeals of a Student Promotions Committee decision may be made only if procedural fairness was not observed or if the student was required to withdraw from the Faculty. Students must submit their appeal, in writing, to the Dean within five working days of having been notified of the matter which is being appealed. The Dean shall decide to either uphold or reverse the decision of the Student Promotions Committee.