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ACADEMIC POLICY MANUAL
APPLIES TO ALL MEDICAL STUDENTS ENROLLED
DURING THE 2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR AND AFTER
Medical students who entered Stritch School of Medicine prior to August 2026 may be subject to
the provisions of the Academic Policy Manual in effect at the time of their matriculation or as
specified in official correspondence from the Office of the Dean.
Contact the Office of Student Affairs for more information.
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Table of Contents
UNIVERSITY NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY ............................................................................................ 5
RIGHTS RESERVED ................................................................................................................................ 5
MISSION STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................... 7
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 7
Accreditation
Student Responsibility
Access to and Disclosure of Student Records
TECHNICAL STANDARDS ....................................................................................................................... 12
Essential Abilities and Characteristics Required for Completion of the M.D. Degree
REGISTRATION ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Requirements for New and Current Students
Tuition and Fee Payment
COMPLIANCE ....................................................................................................................................... 15
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
.............................................................................................................. 16
General Requirements
United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
Step 1
Step 2
Length of Time to Complete Graduation Requirements
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................................. 19
Year 1 and Year 2
Year 3 and Year 4
Topics in Clinical Medicine - Vertically Integrated Courses
Bioethics and Professionalism
Selective Required Sub-Internship
Electives
COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................................. 22
Competencies
Competency Evaluation and Assessment Review Committee
Academic Review and Intervention Committee
Student Promotion and Advancement Committee
ACADEMIC CALENDARS AND SCHEDULES
............................................................................................... 23
Examinations
PERMANENT RECORDS ......................................................................................................................... 24
Permanent File Contents
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FERPA Compliance
Transcript of Grades
Use of Anonymous Student Data
CLINICAL SCHEDULING ..........................................................................................................................25
Clerkship Track
Workweek
On-Call
Transportation Voucher Post-Call
GRADES ...............................................................................................................................................27
Latin Honors at Graduation
Grading System
Grade Reporting
Class Rank
Conflict of Interest
Petition for Review of Grade Assigned
PROBATION AND NOTICE ......................................................................................................................29
Notice
Probation
FAILURES AND REMEDIATION ...............................................................................................................31
Year 1 and Year 2
Remediation of Single Failure
Remediation of Multiple Failures
Assignment of an Incomplete Grade
Assignment of a U Grade
Remediation of a U Grade
Assignment and Remediation of
Meets With Concern
Competency Evaluation
Assignment and Remediation of
Does Not Meet
Competency Evaluation
Year 3 and Year 4
Unsatisfactory Performance or Academic Failure
Assignment of a U Grade
Remediation of a U Grade
Assignment of an F Grade
Remediation of an F Grade
Remediation of Multiple Failures
Assignment and Remediation of
Meets With Concern
Competency Evaluation
Assignment and Remediation of
Does Not Meet
Competency Evaluation
ATTENDANCE .......................................................................................................................................38
Year 1 and Year 2
Unexpected/Emergency Absences from Required Activities
Non-Emergent Absences from Required Activities
Personal Day Policy
Year 3 and Year 4
Absences
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Unexpected/Emergency Absences
Non-Emergent Absences
No Class Days
On Call During No Class Days
Special Notes
LEAVE OF ABSENCE ............................................................................................................................... 41
General Policies and Procedures
Health Related Leave
Special Academic Programs
Other Absences
Discretionary Time
VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL, DISMISSAL, AND APPEAL PROCEDURES ...................................................... 44
Voluntary Withdrawal
Dismissal
Appeal Procedures
PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR .................................................................................................................... 46
Expectations for Medical Students
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
Conduct Procedures for Academic Dishonesty
Student Wellness
Student Mistreatment and Harassment
DRESS CODE, APPEARANCE, AND SCRUB ATTIRE .................................................................................... 50
General Dress Standards
Preclinical
Clinical
Identification Badges
White Coat
Scrub Attire
RELATED POLICIES ................................................................................................................................ 51
Non-Academic Policies
SSOM Student Handbook
Patient Protected Health Information
Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
Information Technology Services Policies & Guidelines
Copyright Resources
Bursar Office Policies
Medical School Administration
AWARDS AND HONOR SOCIETIES ..........................................................................................................52
Loyola Honors Programs
Loyola Awards
Other Awards
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Honor Societies
POLICY ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION .................................................................................................. 54
APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................ 58
Appendix A: Process for the Assessment of Applicants in Meeting Technical Standards
Appendix B: Process for the Assessment of Students in Meeting Technical Standards Should
Disability Become Evident/Problematic Post-Matriculation
Appendix C: General Disability Documentation Guidelines
Appendix D: Drug Screening Policy
Appendix E: Student Promotion Committee
Appendix F: Artificial Intelligence Policy
Appendix G: Parent Support Policy
Appendix H: Religious Observation Scheduling
Appendix I: Grievance Procedures for Students with Disabilities
Appendix J: SSOM Financial Aid Eligibility
Appendix K: Clock to Credit Hour Conversion Policy
SSOM Readiness for Progression to USMLE Step One Policy
UNIVERSITY NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY
Loyola adheres to all applicable federal and state civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting
discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Loyola does not discriminate against any
employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant for admission on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin,
ancestry, disability, marital status, parental status, military/veteran status, or any other
characteristic protected by applicable law.
This Nondiscrimination Policy prohibits discrimination in employment and in providing access to
educational opportunities. Therefore, any member of the Loyola community who acts to deny,
deprive, or limit the educational or employment benefits or opportunities of any student, employee,
guest, or visitor on the basis of their actual or perceived membership in the protected classes listed
above is in violation of the Nondiscrimination Policy.
This Nondiscrimination Policy also includes protections for those opposing discrimination or
participating in any University resolution process or within the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission or other human rights agencies.
If you have questions about this Nondiscrimination Policy, Title IX, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 (“Title VI”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (“ADA”), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”), or if you
believe you have been discriminated against based on your membership in a protected class, please
contact Tim Love, Executive Director for Equity & Compliance, or another member of the Office for
Equity & Compliance, at (773) 508-7766 or
equity@luc.edu
, and/or submit a report online at
.
RIGHTS RESERVED
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine reserves the right to change, at any time, without
notice, the policies and procedures announced in this manual, technical standards, graduation requirements,
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fees and other charges, curriculum, course structure and content, and other such matters as may be within
its control, notwithstanding any information set forth in this manual. The medical school and university
reserves the right to refuse to admit or readmit any student at any time should it be deemed necessary in the
interest of the student or of the medical school and university to do so and to require the withdrawal of any
student at any time who fails to give satisfactory evidence of academic ability, earnestness or purpose, or
active cooperation in all requirements for acceptable scholarship. This manual is for informational purposes
only and shall not be construed as creating a contract between Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of
Medicine and any student.
Approved December 18, 2006
Updated August 2008
Revision approved January 12, 2009
Updated May 2009
Revisions approved July 2011
Updated July 2012
Revisions approved July 2013
Revisions approved July 2014
Revisions approved May 2015
Revisions approved June 2017
Updated July 2018
Updated July 2019
Updated June 2020
Updated August 2021
Updated August 2022
Updated August 2023
Updated February 2024
Updated August 2024
Updated October 2024
Updated April 2025
Revised and Updated August 2025
Revised and Updated August 2025
Revised and Updated August 2026
APPROVING AGENTS
Office of the Dean:
Sam Marzo, MD; Dean
Office of Student Affairs:
James Mendez, PhD; Senior Associate Dean, Student Affairs
Office of Educational Affairs:
Gregory Gruener, MD, MBA, MHPE; Vice dean for Education
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MISSION STATEMENT
We are Chicago’s Jesuit Catholic medical school — a compassionate community advancing medicine through
exceptional clinical training, scientific inquiry, rigorous research, personal and professional formation, and an
unwavering commitment to those we serve.
INTRODUCTION
The Academic Policy Manual provides students with information regarding the academic policies,
regulations, and procedures of the school and university and applies to all students registered in Loyola
University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM). Failure to comply with and/or remediate in
accordance with policies will normally result in actions to change the student's academic status as
authorized by the SSOM.
For non-academic policies, regulations, procedures, and services of the school and university, please see the Loyola
University Chicago SSOM Student Handbook.
Accreditation
Loyola University Chicago SSOM is accredited by the
Liaison Committee on Medical Education
.
Student Responsibility
It is the responsibility of each student to acquire an active knowledge of all the policies and regulations set forth
in this manual. It is the responsibility of each student to also monitor their academic performance and progress
through the curriculum; this includes reviewing grades soon after they are posted.
Students who need additional interpretation, require assistance in handling a potential problem, or
encounter a situation that is not covered by this manual or the other policies cited in this document are
expected to contact the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).
Stritch faculty, administration, and staff communicate with students primarily via school email.
Students have a
responsibility to check their LUC email frequently and not less than daily and are required to respond to
inquiries by school officials and administrators in a timely manner.
Failure to comply with this policy may result
in actions to change the student's academic status as authorized by the Stritch School of Medicine.
Access to and Disclosure of Student Records
FERPA Rights.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
(FERPA), as amended, delineates the
rights of students as they pertain to their education records. Education records are defined as those records
that directly relate to an individual student, whether currently or formerly enrolled, and that are maintained
by Loyola University Chicago (Loyola).
This section serves as Loyola's annual notification of students' rights under FERPA. It also provides links to
essential resources designed to help members of the Loyola community understand their responsibilities in
relation to FERPA.
Important Notice:
As of January 3, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education's FERPA regulations expand the circumstances under
which your education records and personally identifiable information (PII) contained in such records