Definitions

Standard Academic Plan: The course of study leading to the MD that corresponds to the curriculum in place at a student’s matriculation and described in Section 2.2 of the Student Handbook.

Individualized Academic Plan (IAP): A modification to the standard course of study approved by the Student Promotion and Academic Review Committee (SPARC). Modifications to the academic standing and progress criteria are specified in approved Individual Academic Plans (IAPs). IAPs may modify the following elements:

• Course sequence
• Course of study and required coursework (rare)
• Timeline for completion of requirements
• Standards for academic standing
• Leave of absence

Extended Program: An extended program is one type of IAP that allows students to spread one year of course work over two years. Reasons for such requests may include pursuing research experiences, parenting and family issues, health issues, and academic difficulty. Students who request an extended program will be apprised of the possible risks before any decision is made. Students are cautioned that any extension of medical school training beyond the traditional four-year period may be perceived to be a negative factor in the residency application process. 

Good Academic Standing & Progress: Good academic standing and progress is the expectation for students in the MD program. To maintain this, students must successfully complete the required curriculum on the standard academic plan or perform in accordance with their Individualized Academic Plan.

• Good academic standing applies to students on the Standard Academic Plan who meet the following criteria
  • All courses passed
  • No courses dropped
  • No IF, PI, or U grades
  • No professionalism or other conduct/behavioral violations

Good Standing in Remediation: Good Standing in Remediation indicates performance below the passing standard in a portion of the MD program. While not at risk for dismissal, students in this category will be more closely reviewed by the Student Promotion and Academic Review Committee and Student Services to ensure full support of the student.

• For students on Standard Academic Plan, this standing applies to students who meet the following criteria:
  • One course where an IF, IR, PI, or DR (drop) is earned
  • No failed (U) course grades
  • No professionalism or other conduct/behavioral citations either by UW-Madison or UWSMPH

On Academic Notice Standing: On Academic Notice Standing is deficient performance in the MD program as defined below.

• For students on a Standard Academic Plan, this standing applies to students who meet the following criteria
  • Any failing grade (U) or course dropped in lieu of failing
  • Two or more IF, I, or DR grades withing a curricular Phase
  • Any professionalism or other conduct/behavioral citation either by UW-Madison or UWSMPH
• For the purposes of assessing On Academic Notice standing, courses dropped or withdrawn in lieu of continuing and failing will be treated as failing grades.

Policy Details

1. Standard Academic Plan
   1. Unless modified in accordance with the policies in this section, all students are expected to complete their standard course of study as enumerated in Section 2: Curriculum.
   2. Curriculum Phases or years must be completed sequentially.
   3. Courses within Phases 1 and 2 are sequential. SPARC will only approve exceptions when dictated by individual student circumstances.
      1. Students earning a grade of “Unsatisfactory” in Patients, Professionalism, and Public Health will not be permitted to continue in Phase 1 until this course is successfully retaken and passed.
      2. Students earning a grade of “Unsatisfactory” in Body in Balance will not be permitted to continue in Phase 1 until this course is successfully retaken and passed.
   4. A student must pass all courses of a curricular year or phase before they can be promoted to the next curricular year or phase, with the following exception:
      1. WARMeRR students will be permitted to take a Phase 2 course in the summer after the M1 year (prior to completion of Phase 1).
   5. A student must have passed all assessments of a phase before being promoted to the next phase.
      1. WARMeRR students will be permitted to take a Phase 2 course in the summer of the M1 year after successful completion of all M1 year assessments.
   6. The Dean for Students, their designee, or SPARC must approve any exceptions to academic plans.
   7. SPARC must approve any exceptions to policies on academic standing.
   8. Failure to meet any of these requirements will lead to review by SPARC.
      
      
2. Individualized Academic Plans (IAPs)
   1. In consultation with course directors and with approval by the Dean for Students, students may adopt an IAP as a deviation from the standard curriculum.
   2. For students in marginal or unsatisfactory academic standing, SPARC may mandate an IAP.
   3. The terms of an IAP are individualized to the student. The Dean for Students is authorized to set the terms for a student’s IAP.
   4. IAPs are automatically invoked when a student is approved for a leave of absence or for any deviation from the standard course of study.
   5. Deviations from the IAP course of study (e.g., course drops) will trigger review by SPARC and may lead to action including dismissal.
   6. Within an IAP, SPARC may establish specific benchmarks for academic progress.
   7. In designing an IAP, SPARC reserves the right to require a student to repeat a previously passed course if this is deemed to be an integral part of a student’s academic progress.
   8. Within an IAP, SPARC reserves the right to determine the site placement for the clinical rotations of any student.
   9. Through an IAP, the Dean for Students or SPARC may set conditions and/or restrictions on continued participation in student organizations, especially the holding of leadership positions.
      
      
3. Good Academic Standing
   1. Students in good academic standing and progress are eligible for school-sponsored scholarships and leadership positions.
   2. Students in good academic standing may request and receive letters of support and institutional sponsorship for extracurricular educational experiences, both external (e.g., national research fellowships) and internal (e.g., Path of Distinction, TRIUMPH).
      
      
4. Good Standing in Remediation
   1. Students with this standing will be reviewed by and may be required to appear before SPARC.
   2. Upon review, SPARC may mandate IAPs as a condition for continued enrollment.
   3. Students with good in remediation academic standing who hold school-sponsored leadership positions or are involved in other extracurricular educational experiences will have their participation reviewed by the Dean for Students and/or SPARC.
      1. Students may be asked to resign from their positions if continued involvement will adversely affect their continued academic performance and progress in the MD curriculum based on lack of a specific plan for improved balance between position duties and academic responsibilities.
         
         
5. On Academic Notice Standing
   1. Students with this standing will be notified and required to meet with the Student Services Office.
   2. Students with this standing are not eligible for leadership positions and are not eligible for extramural rotations or extracurricular experiences such as conference attendance or research projects (unless research is approved as part of an individualized academic plan).
   3. Students with this academic standing will be required to appear before SPARC or be reviewed by formal SPARC statement.
      1. Students with this academic standing will not continue the Standard Academic Plan unless granted approval to do so by SPARC.
         1. If students are not permitted to continue the Standard Academic Plan, SPARC will provide an IAP for the student.
      2. Students reviewed by SPARC for this academic standing may be dismissed from UWSMPH or may be placed on a mandated leave of absence.
         1. If students are placed on a mandated leave of absence, SPARC will determine when they re-enter the UWSMPH MD program and what courses, if any, must be repeated as part of the return plan.
   4. SPARC will review the performance of any student who receives a grade of U, IF, or DR on any Phase 3 required course or elective.
   5. Students with a U grade in any course may be issued detailed IAPs.
   6. A student who fails the same course twice will be dismissed.
      
      
6. Phase 3 Progress Review
   1. SPARC will review the schedules of students who earn failing grades.
   2. If the student receives a U or IF grade on 6 credits or more of Phase 3 work, SPARC may dismiss the student from UWSMPH or require the student to successfully complete a special evaluation before proceeding with regularly scheduled courses or electives.
      1. This evaluation may include but is not limited to evaluation by a panel of clinical faculty on additional clinical course work, written examination, Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE), and/or standardized patient-type examination.
   3. Failed courses or electives, which are graduation requirements, must be made up either by repeating the same course or by taking a similar course with approval of SPARC in consultation with the Medical Education Office.
   4. Phase 3 graduation requirements must be completed in Phase 3. Electives taken in Phase 1 and Phase 2 will not count toward the Phase 3 credit requirement unless specifically approved by SPARC in an IAP. For example, this may be applied to a Phase 1 student who takes Phase 3 independent research elective to remain in student status eligible for financial aid as part of an approved IAP.
      
      
7. Dropping Phase 1 Courses
   1. A student may be allowed to drop a Phase 1 course with permission of the Dean for Students in consultation with the Course Director and staff in Student Academic Success Services.
   2. If the approved drop occurs prior to the date the course is two-thirds complete, the course will be removed from the student’s medical school record and university transcript.
   3. If the approved drop occurs when two-thirds or more of the course is complete, the course will appear as dropped (i.e., grade of DR) on the student’s medical school record and university transcript.
      
      
8. Dropping Phase 2 Courses
   1. A student may be allowed to drop a Phase 2 course with permission of the Dean for Students in consultation with the course director and staff in Student Academic Success Services (SASS).
   2. If the approved drop occurs prior to the date the course is two-thirds complete, the course will be removed from the student’s medical school record and university transcript.
   3. If the approved drop occurs when two-thirds or more of the course is complete, the course will appear as dropped (i.e., grade of DR) on the student’s medical school record and university transcript unless otherwise specified in an approved IAP.
      
      
9. Dropping Phase 3 Courses
   1. Prior to the start date of the course:
      1. Students may drop courses outside of their restriction window without approval or penalty. Each course establishes a restriction window, typically 2-4 weeks prior to each of the section’s start dates. Inside this window, student-initiated adding/dropping of the course on OASIS is restricted by the system.
      2. Students may be permitted to drop courses inside of their restriction windows with the consent of the instructor or Student Services.
   2. After the start date of the course:
      1. Once the course has begun, students may be allowed to drop a course only with the permission of the Dean for Students in consultation with the course director.
      2. If the approved drop occurs when two-thirds or more of the course is complete, the course will appear as dropped (i.e., grade of DR) on the student’s medical school record and university transcript unless otherwise specified in an approved IAP.
         
         
10. Time Limitations, Phase 1 Courses
    1. Unless specified in their IAP, students must successfully complete the Phase 1 curriculum within 36 months of matriculation or be dismissed.
    2. Maximum time requirements may be waived for the following reasons:
       1. To permit the student to engage in research or other scholarly pursuits
       2. Medical illness/injury (self or dependent). If the waiver is sought for personal medical illness, a written evaluation from a physician is required.
       3. For other compelling non-academic reasons
          
          
11. Time Limitations, Phase 2 and 3 Courses
    1. A student who fails to complete clinical curriculum years/phases within 36 months of beginning them will be dismissed from UWSMPH, absent an approved IAP from SPARC.
    2. Unless specified in their IAP, students must successfully complete the MD curriculum within 6 years of matriculation or be dismissed.
       1. Students in the MSTP program are exempted from this time limitation
       2. Students in the MD/MPH dual degree program must successfully complete the dual degree requirements within 7 years of matriculation
       3. Maximum time for completing the requirements may be waived due to illness, student engagement in research or other scholarly pursuits, or for other compelling non-academic reasons.
       4. If the waiver is sought for medical reasons, a written letter of evaluation from a treating physician is required.
          
          
12. Request for Individualized Academic Plan, including Extended Program
    1. To request an IAP, students must submit a request form, which available from the Office of Student Services, 2130 HSLC.
    2. Requests are reviewed and approved by the Office of Student Services and SPARC.
       
       
13. Academic Standing Review
    1. Student Services conducts an academic standing review 4 weeks after completion of the course and after the course grades are posted, unless a different timeline is otherwise defined by the Director of Medical Education Assessment and CQI or the MD Program Assistant Registrar.
    2. Following review of academic standing, student academic standing records are updated.
       1. Students are referred to SPARC if indicated by a change in academic standing.
    3. After a student successfully completes remediation for a course, the student’s academic standing will change at the time of the academic standing review for the subsequent course in the curriculum (or the subsequent course in the student’s academic plan if they are on an IAP).
       1. Phase 1 example: A student who receives an IF in BiB and successfully remediates over the summer after M1 year will have their academic standing reviewed and updated at the end of I&D.
       2. Phase 1 example: A student who receives an IF in I&D and remediates successfully remediates during M&M will have their academic standing reviewed and updated at the end of M&M.
       3. Phase 2 example: a student who receives an IF during Period 1 and successfully remediates during Period 2 will have their academic standing reviewed and updated at the end of Period 2.
    4. When calculating academic standing, all academic performance indicators and criteria (number of IF or U course grades) are evaluated cumulatively across an entire phase.

Related UW-Madison Policies

SMPH 8040 - Advancement and Graduation Standards

External References

LCME Element 10.3

Policy Administration

Approval Authority

Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee (EPCC) and Medical Student Promotion and Academic Review Committee (SPARC)

Policy Manager

Associate Dean for Student Services

Policy Contact(s)

Policy History

Date last reviewed and approved: June 11, 2025

Next review: June 2026