Students who do not demonstrate minimum competencies assume the obligation and responsibility to make up academic failures. First- and second-year students must successfully pass all failed courses before they can be promoted to the second or third years, respectively. Likewise, third-year students must pass all requirements of the preclinical curriculum before advancing to clinical rotations. Students who fail one or more courses may be placed on academic probation, or recommended for dismissal. If not dismissed, students are required to retake the course and must earn a C or better to proceed in the program. If the course is not given until the subsequent year, the student may be placed on academic leave of absence until it is offered again. If an equivalent course is available for substitution to be taken in place of the failed course(s) it must be approved by the course coordinator and the Curriculum Committee in advance. If a student fails a course that is a pre-requisite for additional courses offered during that calendar year, and/or there are no available courses for re-take prior to the start of the subsequent academic year the student may be placed on an academic leave of absence, offered an extended course of study plan, or be dismissed. 

Grade for Retaken Course
If a student receives a failing grade, that grade is recorded on the transcript as a letter grade of "F". Upon repetition of a failed course, the original grade of "F" remains on the transcript but is not counted towards GPA calculation. The repeated course and new grade are entered on the transcript. If a repeated preclinical course or clinical rotation is failed, a grade of "F" is again recorded on the transcript. Students who fail a course a second time will be recommended for dismissal.

Academic Standing
Good academic standing is achieved by maintaining >70% cumulative average in all courses at all times. A student on academic warning or academic probation is not considered to be in good academic standing. To return to good academic standing, a student must pass the failed courses and incur no further failures.