G. Academic Dismissal

Authority to dismiss students from the School of Dentistry rests with the Dean. Any student who fails to meet the standards of academic progress listed in this section of School of Dentistry policies may be dismissed for academic reasons. The Student Academic Review Committee has the responsibility for monitoring student academic progress, and recommending to the Dean the dismissal of any student who does not make satisfactory academic progress through the curriculum. The SARC shall not recommend the dismissal of any student until the student has been provided an opportunity for a hearing before the SARC.

2.  Standards of Academic Progress
Students whose level of academic achievement falls below the standards of academic progress set forth below will be scheduled for an academic dismissal hearing before the Student Academic Review Committee to be considered for dismissal. A student will be considered for dismissal if:

a. The student's cumulative GPA is below 1.65 at the end of the first semester of the freshman year; or
b. The student's cumulative GPA is below 2.00 at the end of the second semester of the freshman year; or
c. The student earns 8 semester hours of F during a single semester; or
d. The student is on academic probation for two of three consecutive semesters; or

e. The student fails Part I of the National Board Dental Examination three times; or

f.  The student fails Part II of the National Board Dental Examination three times

3.  In addition, the Student Academic Review Committee may  recommend to the Dean the dismissal of any student on academic probation. Prior to such a recommendation, any student being considered for dismissal has the right to a hearing before the Student Academic Review Committee.

4.  Hearing Procedures
The Student Academic Review Committee shall use the following procedures for all academic dismissal hearings initiated by the SARC.

a. Notice to Student
Once the SARC has determined that a dismissal hearing is indicated the Chair of the SARC will immediately notify the student, the Dean and all SARC members that a hearing will be arranged.  Every effort should be made to schedule the hearing within 10 days.  In extraordinary circumstances the hearing may be delayed in order to obtain important additional information, to secure a quorum, etc.  At least 5 days prior to a dismissal hearing before the SARC, the student will receive a written notice of the time, date, and place of the hearing and a written notice of the applicable policies which could lead to the student's dismissal.

b. Hearing Procedure Rules

(1) An audio recording and minutes of the hearing proceedings shall be kept and a copy made available to the parties concerned through the legal department in the event an appeal is filed. 

 (2) The Vice-Chair of the SARC will present the student's academic record to the Committee and may present witnesses from the faculty to provide information about the student's performance in courses.  In the absence of the Vice-Chair or in the event of a potential conflict of interest the Chair may name a designee to serve in place of the Vice-Chair.

(3) Students appearing before the SARC will be permitted an advisor of his\her choice except that a student may not select an attorney as his or her advisor. If a student selects an advisor who is not a faculty member of the Medical College of Georgia, the student must sign a written waiver of confidentiality for the advisor to attend the hearing. Any such waiver of confidentiality is intended to permit the non-faculty advisor to attend the hearing, and the student's right to privacy will otherwise be protected to the extent allowed by law. Advisors may not directly participate in the hearing.

(4) At least eight voting members of the SARC must be present for a dismissal hearing. The SARC will deliberate in executive session to formulate a recommendation regarding the student's academic standing. The recommendation will be voted on by a written, secret ballot. The Vice-Chair shall not vote, and the Chair will vote only in the event of a tie. Recommendations must pass by a simple majority of the voting members present.

(5) The student shall have access to his (her) academic record.

(6) The student shall be afforded an opportunity to obtain and present witnesses and documents or other evidence.

(7) The student and all members of the SARC shall have the right to question all witnesses.

(8) The decision of the SARC shall be based on the student's academic record and shall be presented by the Chair of the SARC to the Dean in the form of a written recommendation within 24 hours of the end of the hearing.

(9) In cases where the Chair of the SARC determines that participation of a faculty member in a student dismissal hearing creates a conflict of interest, the faculty member will be excused from the hearing.

5. Dean's Responsibilities
The Dean may implement the SARC's recommendation or modify the recommendation. At the discretion of the Dean, the Dean may dismiss the student or continue the enrollment of the student as a regular student, a special student on an altered curriculum, or as a student on academic probation. The Dean shall advise the student in writing of his (her) decision within 5 days of receiving the written recommendation of the SARC. The Dean's decision is final for the School of Dentistry.  It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to create, manage and store the written and audio records that are related to the hearing.  The management of the records should follow the institutional policies that apply to all schools of the Medical College of Georgia.

 

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